Libyan Open University Journal of Applied Sciences (LOUJAS)
The Libyan Open University Journal of Applied Sciences (LOUJAS) (eISSN: 3106-0919) is a distinguished, peer-reviewed scientific journal proudly published by the Libyan Open University. With a commitment to fostering scientific discourse and knowledge dissemination, LOUJAS releases new issues twice a year, ensuring a consistent platform for researchers. Scope and Disciplines LOUJAS is dedicated to covering a wide array of disciplines within the applied sciences. This broad scope allows the journal to publish cutting-edge research from various fields, including but not limited to: Engineering and Technology Environmental Sciences Computer Science and Information Technology Agricultural Sciences Material Science Biotechnology Applied Physics Applied Chemistry Mathematics and Statistics (with applied focus) The journal welcomes original research articles, review papers, and short communications that contribute significantly to their respective fields and have practical applications. Mission and Vision LOUJAS aims to be a leading journal in the region, providing a robust platform for scholarly exchange and the publication of high-quality, impactful research. Its mission is to: Promote scientific research in applied sciences. Facilitate the dissemination of new knowledge and innovations. Support the academic community by offering a rigorous peer-review process. Contribute to the advancement of science and technology, both locally and globally. Connect with LOUJAS You can explore the journal's published articles and learn more about their submission guidelines by visiting their official website: Website: https://oujournals.ly/index.php/LOUJAS For any inquiries, submissions, or general communication, the LOUJAS team can be reached through the following channels: Email: loujas.editor@ou.edu.ly WhatsApp: 00218913426255 LOUJAS stands as a testament to the Libyan Open University's dedication to academic excellence and its role in advancing scientific understanding in the applied sciences.
Form and Biomimicry and Its Impact on Sustainable Design
The concept of nature imitation (Biomimicry) and its impact on sustainable design is beneficial for maintaining ecological balance, a vital topic given the threats facing our planet. This research explores the influence of nature-mimic architectural thought on the sustainability of the built environment. It then develops an evaluation model for nature-mimic architecture based on levels of design that impersonate nature. This model aims to measure and evaluate the mimicry of modern environmental projects in the Arab world, aligning them with the principles and concepts of nature-mimic architecture. The evaluation model is then applied to selected projects chosen as a case study. These projects were analyzed throughout their lifecycle using indicators for measuring nature-mimic architecture. The research includes a comparative analysis of the selected projects to identify those that most closely mimic nature and to utilize this as a benchmark for environmental projects in the Arab region.
Shape , Nature Simulation (Biomimicry) , Sustainable Design
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Groundwater Pollution in Libya: Sources, Environmental and Health Impacts, Prevention and Remediation Strategies
Libya's arid climate and lack of surface water resources make groundwater the most valuable freshwater resource. Groundwater supplies domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. But, due to the higher pressure on the ground, the intensive agricultural activity, poor wastewater management, poor solid waste management and the intrusion of seawater, the groundwater is exposed to a high risk. This review summarizes the main sources of groundwater pollution in Libya, reviews the chemical contaminants, biological contaminants and emerging contaminants and discusses their environmental and public health impacts. The study is founded on scientific literature review, groundwater quality assessment and international water quality guidelines. Salinity, TDS, nitrate pollution, microbial pollution, and heavy metals have been mentioned in different Libyan regions as concerns in the past. To achieve effective protection of groundwater, integrated monitoring programs, sustainable water management, prevention of pollution and use of suitable remediation technologies are necessary. The current review clearly indicates the necessity for comprehensive groundwater quality assessment and long term protection plan in Libya.
Groundwater pollution; Libya; Aquifer quality; Nitrate contamination; Salinity; Heavy metals; Water remediation
Age Determination of the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Using Growth-Increment Counts in the Beak: Methodology and application to samples collected off the west coast of Libya.
Estimating the age of octopuses has long been one of the more stubborn problems in cephalopod biology, mainly because these animals have no bones, scales, or otoliths of the kind fisheries scientists rely on for fish. What Octopus vulgaris does have is a hard, chitinous beak that grows in layers, and under a microscope those layers show up as a sequence of fine concentric lines – growth increments – that are laid down at a rate close to one per day. This paper sets out, in practical terms, how the beak of the common octopus is prepared, sectioned, and read for ageing purposes, and applies the method to a sample of 150 specimens. We describe specimen handling, beak extraction, embedding and sectioning of the lower beak hood, microscopic reading of the increments, and the statistical treatment of the resulting age estimates, including their relationship with mantle length and body weight. Mean estimated age across the sample was 257.8 ± 125.0 days (range 60–496 days), and the age-length relationship was well described by a Gompertz growth curve (DML∞ = 18.08 cm, k = 0.0119 day⁻¹, r = 0.88). Inter-reader precision, expressed as the Average Percent Error, was low enough to support routine use of the technique. We discuss the strengths and limitations of beak ageing relative to the more commonly used statolith method, and outline where the technique is most useful in practice.Note on the dataset used in this paper: no live specimens were sampled for this document. The 150-specimen dataset used throughout was generated to match the size, weight, and growth-rate ranges reported in the published literature on O. vulgaris beak ageing, purely to illustrate how the data are collected, read, and analyzed. Anyone applying this protocol to a real fishery or laboratory sample should substitute their own beak-reading measurements for the figures and table given here.
Octopus vulgaris; beak; lateral wall surface; growth increments; age determination; cephalopod ageing; Gompertz growth model
A Comparative Analysis of Enhanced Residual U-Net and DnCNN Architectures for Blind Medical Image Denoising
High resolution CT imaging plays a sigificant role in today's diagnostic practices; yet, the images may be degraded by quantum noise and acquisition artifacts, which hide important anatomical features. Although there have been many studies on denoising using deep learning methods including DnCNN and U-Net models showing outstanding performance, the traditional approaches lack the ability to deal with different noise conditions and preserve fine structures in blind denoising. This paper compares two modified versions of deep learning networks: ER-U-Net and ER-DnCNN. For the purposes of architectural fairness, both models employ the same optimization techniques, namely optimized local residual blocks, dynamic stochastic noise augmentation pipeline with σ noise values between 0.05 and 0.50, and a combined loss function based on the use of Mean Squared Error (MSE) (L2 loss) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) (L1 loss) to enhance numerical and structural preservation of images. The experimental analysis of the two models conducted on a publicly available brain CT dataset has shown that both of them demonstrate strong capabilities of blind denoising at all noise levels. Specifically, the ER-U-Net outperforms in PSNR and SSIM scores, especially in conditions of severe noise, due to the presence of multi-scale feature extraction and skip connection techniques in its architecture. On the other hand, the ER-DnCNN proves to be a good alternative of high quality with simple architecture for medical imaging.
Blind Image Denoising, U-Net, DnCNN, Internal Residual Learning, Hybrid Loss Function
Cross-Dataset Evaluation of Multisensor Self-Supervised Anomaly Detection for Early Thermal-Runaway Warning in Electric Vehicle Battery Cells
Thermal runaway can develop quickly and create severe hazards in electric vehicle battery systems. Early warning is difficult because public fault records are scarce and sensor sets differ across experiments. This study evaluates a multisensor self-supervised anomaly detector using three public cell-level datasets. Healthy fast-charge records supplied unlabeled normal data from six lithium iron phosphate cells. Five target records covered dynamic operation, local heating, uniform heating, and two prismatic NMC abuse tests. A masked denoising autoencoder learned 42 thermal, electrical, pressure, and availability features. We compared it with a conventional autoencoder, Isolation Forest, PCA, one-class SVM, and temperature features. Evaluation used physical-cell splits, leakage-safe prefix calibration, real-time persistence, and block-bootstrap confidence intervals. The masked model detected all three runaway events. Corrected warning leads were 43.77, 34.52, and 1.25 minutes. However, its pooled AUROC was 0.744, and its AUPRC was 0.492. The temperature score performed better, reaching 0.924 AUROC and 0.812 AUPRC. The masked model's negative-window false-positive rate was 0.546. It also produced one persistent warning during the healthy dynamic-load record. Masked training did not improve the conventional autoencoder significantly. The paired AUROC difference was -0.001, with p = .294. These findings show that event detection alone can hide severe calibration problems. Simple thermal features remained more portable under strong domain shift. Multisensor self-supervision still offers useful representations, but it needs better domain adaptation and event labeling. The study provides a reproducible benchmark for safer future validation.
Thermal Runaway; Electric Vehicle Battery; Self-Supervised Learning; Anomaly Detection; Multisensor Fusion; Early Warning; Domain Shift
Climate Change and Groundwater Contamination: A Comprehensive Review of Impacts, Challenges and Adaptation Strategies
Groundwater is a hidden water reservoir, but it supports drinking water, agriculture, and public health. Climate change is now changing the pathways of groundwater restoration and groundwater contamination. The survey explains how temperature rise, changes in rainfall, droughts, sea level rise, and floods affect groundwater quality. The main impacts include salt intake, nitrate entry, arsenic emission, microbial transport, and chemical packaging. This paper uses peer-reviewed studies and general data on intergovernmental issues related to climate change, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA Grace, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Bank. Evidence suggests that the weather rarely works alone. It operates in the fields of pumping, land use, sanitation, and groundwater geology. Public figures show clear pressures in several sectors. GRACE data showed a groundwater loss of about 109 km³ in northwest India during 2002 to 2008. The Tigris-Euphrates-western Iran region lost about 143.6 km³ total water between 2003 and 2009. A study of U.S. nitrates used 293,775 notes from 2001 to 2020. It found that rainfall and temperature influence the annual change in nitrates in 75.2% of the counties. In Bangladesh, multiple hazard maps showed that 5% to 24% of groundwater faces an overall higher risk of groundwater. This risk includes depletion of arsenic, salinity and storage. Adaptation should link climate policy with groundwater conservation. The major initiatives include monitoring, source control, well protection, safe cleaning, carefully managed aquifer recharge, shore pumping limits, and open data systems. This paper supports risk-based geogovernance for hot and less stable climates.
Climate Change, Groundwater Contamination, Nitrates, Arsenic, Salinity Infiltration, Microbials, Depletion of Water Bodies, Systematic Water Recharge, Adaptation, General Data.
Optimization of TIG Welding Parameters for AISI 304 Stainless Steel Using Conventional and Hybrid Tungsten Electrodes: Mechanical Performance, Radiographic Evaluation, Hardness Distribution, and Numerical Simulation
TIG welding is widely used for joining austenitic stainless steels because of the clean, controlled welds it produces with minimal contamination. In this work, we examined how nine different tungsten electrode types affect the weld quality of 3 mm AISI 304 stainless steel plates under direct-current conditions at three current settings: 60 A, 70 A, and 80 A, with argon shielding throughout. Weld quality was evaluated through tensile and bend testing, radiographic examination, microhardness profiling, and finite-element simulation. The results show a clear performance advantage for hybrid electrodes over conventional ones. Among all tested configurations, the MX2 hybrid electrode at 70 A gave the highest tensile strength,around 772 Mpa-with elongation values above 100%. Radiographic inspection of these welds showed very few internal defects. Based on our findings, welding currents in the 60–70 A range appear best suited for this material and thickness.
: AISI 304 stainless steel, TIG welding, GTAW, tungsten electrode, hybrid electrode, tensile strength, radiographic testing, hardness, finite element analysis
Smart IoT-Based Multi-Level Parking System with a Real-Time Guidance Mechanism
The development of smart parking systems is a significant topic that has attracted considerable attention from researchers due to their important role in reducing traffic congestion, thereby minimizing environmental pollution, saving drivers’ time and effort, and contributing to improved economic efficiency. This research aims to design and implement a smart parking system featuring a vertical expansion mechanism with multiple levels. Movement between these levels is achieved using an electric elevator, based on the priority of available parking spaces starting from the lower floor. In addition, the system provides a simple user interface that enables users to remotely identify available parking spaces within the facility. This paper presents a model of a multi-story smart parking system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) using an ESP32-S3 development board. Available parking spaces on different levels are detected using LDR sensors, and drivers are then guided to the appropriate space via an LCD display located at the parking entrance. Movement between floors is carried out using an electric elevator that is automatically controlled through a set of infrared sensors (IR) placed inside and outside the elevator. The elevator gate is opened to access the upper floor only when the lower floor is fully occupied and a free space is available on the upper floor. The use of two different types of sensors represents a key aspect of the proposed system, as it achieves a balance between the high performance and reliability of IR sensors and the low cost of LDR sensors. In addition, a web-based interface has been developed to display real-time parking information, allowing drivers to remotely check the availability of parking spaces before arriving at the parking area. The system testing results demonstrated an overall accuracy of approximately 93%, highlighting the effectiveness of sensor diversity in achieving a balanced trade-off between performance and cost. This makes the proposed system both efficient and economically viable.
Multi-Level Parking, IoT, LDR Sensor, IR Sensor, Web page
Leakage Aware Evaluation of Arabic Text Classification: Quantifying Document Level Leakage and the Sufficiency of Linear TF IDF Baselines
The volume of Arabic text online keeps growing, and with it the need for systems that sort it into meaningful categories. A quieter problem often passes unnoticed: when long documents are split into shorter segments and pieces of the same document fall on both sides of the boundary between training and testing, the reported scores can look far better than the model deserves. This study treats that document level leakage as its central subject. Using a purpose built multidomain Arabic corpus of 1,000 segments drawn from 183 source documents across seven categories, we first measure how much leakage distorts the numbers. Under a naive random split, an optimized Linear SVM appears to reach 0.9800 accuracy; under a grouped split keyed to the document identifier, the same model reaches 0.8528. The gap of about 12.7 accuracy points is attributable to leakage, and across models the inflation ranges from roughly 11.9 to 30.4 points. Leakage also flattens the ranking, so a weak Naive Bayes looks almost as strong as the best model. Under the honest protocol, an ablation shows that character level TF IDF alone matches the combined word and character representation and slightly exceeds it on Macro F1, 0.7801 against 0.7713, while word features mainly refine precision. McNemar tests and a document clustered bootstrap show that the strongest linear models are statistically indistinguishable. A fastText baseline reaches 0.6497 accuracy, and two pretrained Arabic transformers, AraBERT and MARBERT, perform comparably to the linear model rather than surpassing it. A class level analysis exposes the General category as a structural confound whose removal raises accuracy to 0.9349. Overall, leakage aware evaluation paired with subword rich TF IDF and a Linear SVM forms a strong, honest, and practical baseline for Arabic text classification.
Arabic text classification; data leakage; grouped evaluation; character level TF IDF; Linear SVM; statistical testing; reproducibility
Artificial Intelligence among Faculty Members in Libyan Universities: Reality, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Artificial intelligence has become an everyday presence in many classrooms from a distant idea. Research offices are also feeling this change. Libyan universities are no exception. This is true despite the fact that the country has managed the political divide for more than a decade. The campus was damaged. The number of senior academic faculty members was steadily declining. This paper examines the way teachers across Libya are coping with this new technology. It is based entirely on published studies, national data, and government documents. No new survey was conducted for this purpose. This review combines the findings of recent Libyan studies. These studies include a survey of 314 faculty members and a separate study of 130 researchers. It is also based on a global framework. These include technology acceptance models and a standard view of technology acceptance and utilization. The picture that appears is mixed but not disappointing. The adoption of basic tools such as ChatGPT is now popular among Libyan academics. However, ethical concerns, weak infrastructure, poor training, and unclear institutional rules are slowing down deep utilization. The paper also highlights the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Libya from 2026 to 2030. The strategy was launched in June 2026. He asks what this strategy means for universities in particular. The strategy itself was written with very little direct reference to higher education. The results show that Libyan faculty members voluntarily use artificial intelligence. However, these operate without any specific institutional support, written guidelines or continuous training. The dissertation concludes with concrete recommendations for the Ministries, University leadership, and Faculty Development Units. These recommendations aim to translate individual concerns into a more credible institutional capacity.
Artificial Intelligence, Libyan Higher Education, Faculty Members, Technology Embras, Digital Infrastructure, AI Policy, ChatGPT, North Africa
"Effect of Supplementing Diets with Different Levels of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Powder on Growth Performance, Digestive Physiology, Carcass Traits, and Fat Distribution Pattern in Barbary Lambs under Semi-Arid Conditions"
This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and anatomical effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of thyme powder (Thymus vulgaris) as a natural phytogenic growth promoter alternative to antibiotics in growing local Barbary lambs under the semi-arid environmental conditions of Bani Walid. Twenty-four male fat-tailed Barbary lambs with an average initial body weight of 24.5 ± 0.32 kg/lamb were randomly assigned to three equal groups (8 lambs/treatment) for a 90-day trial. The experimental groups consisted of the Control group (basal diet without additives) Treatment 1 (T1: supplemented with 1.5% thyme powder of the concentrate feed) and Treatment 2 (T2: supplemented with 3.0% thyme powder of the concentrate feed). The results showed that thyme powder supplementation induced a linear and significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the average daily gain (ADG) The ADG increased from 149g/day in the Control group to 168g/day in T1 and peaked at 185 g/day in T2 leading to a remarkable physiological enhancement in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) without any significant effect on daily dry matter intake. Anatomically, thyme-supplemented groups exhibited significant increases in carcass weights, dressing percentage and Longissimus dorsi (rib-eye) area. Furthermore the study clearly established a "Smart Fat Partitioning" mechanism dietary thyme caused a sharp linear reduction (P < 0.001) in total internal visceral fat (dropping from 1.03 kg in the Control to 0.78 kg in T2) while simultaneously channeling metabolic energy towards increasing the external fat-tail weight. Blood biochemical profiling confirmed safe liver and kidney functions alongside a significant decrease in serum urea total cholesterol and triglycerides. Moreover the bioactive phenolic compounds in thyme enhanced humoral immunity (elevated globulin) and improved systemic blood antioxidant status by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and inducing a sharp continuous decline in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In conclusion incorporating dietary thyme powder up to 3% serves as a highly effective and safe phytogenic strategy to optimize growth performance enhance the anatomical and health value of the carcass and upgrade the metabolic efficiency of local fattening lambs.
Barbary lambs, Thyme powder, Feed efficiency, Fat partitioning, Antioxidant status.
Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminated Groundwater: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment and Policy Design
Groundwater provides drinking water to billions of people around the world. However, in many areas, the resource is quietly poisoned. Heavy metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg) enter water bodies through natural geological weather, mining operations, industrial emissions, and unregulated agricultural inputs. The consequences are severe and often irreversible. This paper provides a systematic assessment of the human health risks (HHRA) of groundwater contaminated with heavy metals, using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) four-step framework as a methodology. We evaluate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks through food, urine absorption, and respiratory tracts. Based on field studies and experimental datasets from South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, the analysis shows that hazard ratio (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) values in affected communities are routinely above acceptable ranges. We evaluate the performance of traditional and modern drinking water treatment techniques such as freezing, absorption, membrane filtration, and electrocogulation, especially in terms of extraction efficiency, cost, and contextual application. Finally, we examine the governance landscape related to groundwater quality and identify critical gaps in monitoring, regulation, and justice. Six evidence-based policy recommendations have been made to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and preventive measures. The findings confirm that heavy metal contamination in drinking water is not just a technical challenge but a profound structural and ethical challenge, requiring an urgent and coordinated response from governments, engineers, scientists, and communities.
Groundwater Contamination, Heavy Metals, Human Health Risk Assessment, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Drinking Water Treatment, USEPA Framework, Risk of Causing Cancer, Risk Scale, Water Policy
Between Coast and Desert: Performance Comparison of Monocrystalline Silicon (Mono-Si) And Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) For Electricity Generation in Seven Libyan Cities
Libya relies heavily on fossil fuels (oil and natural gas) for electricity generation, leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and severe environmental pollution. Conversely, Libya possesses a strategic geographical location in North Africa, with approximately 88% of its 1.75 million km² area being desert terrain. The country exhibits exceptional solar potential, with Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) ranging from 1,940 to 2,338 kWh/m²/year and annual sunshine duration reaching 3,670 hours in the southern regions. Accordingly, this paper presents an integrated spatial, technical, and economic assessment of solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in Libya. The study conducts a comprehensive performance comparison between two leading technologies: Monocrystalline Silicon (Mono-Si) and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) across seven strategically selected climatic zones (Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Sabha, Murzuq, Al-Kufra, and Hun), utilizing validated datasets from the Global Solar Atlas and NASA POWER platforms. The analytical framework employs robust scientific simulation models, including the single-diode equivalent circuit model, cell temperature calculation algorithms, and the Capacity Factor (CF) determination. These two technologies were specifically selected due to their suitability for Libya's extreme climatic conditions, characterized by arid, dusty environments and desert temperatures exceeding 40°C. The results demonstrate the superior productivity of the southern regions (Murzuq, Al-Kufra, and Sabha), with Murzuq achieving the highest Capacity Factor (CF) of 24.77% using CdTe technology, which proved highly efficient in hot desert environments due to its favorable low-temperature coefficient. The study recommends the development of a strategic roadmap prioritizing utility-scale solar installations in the south and promoting distributed generation systems in the north, thereby providing a scientific foundation for sustainable energy transition policies in Libya.
Monocrystalline silicon (Mono-Si), Cadmium telluride (CdTe), Photovoltaic performance, Capacity factor, Libya solar energy
Pregnancy Diagnosis and Fetal Age Estimation Using Ultrasonography in Goats
Managing reproduction in dairy goat herds depends heavily on timely pregnancy diagnosis and accurate estimation of fetal age. This study evaluated serial transrectal and transabdominal ultrasonography for monitoring embryonic and fetal development in Damascus (Shami) goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) (n = 7 carrying to term, including 4 singleton and 3 twin pregnancies). Using 4.0–6.5 MHz linear probes from day 15 to day 128 post‑mating, we measured twelve fetal parameters. Placentome diameter, biparietal diameter, occipito‑nasal length, thoracic diameter, fetal heart rate, transverse heart diameter, orbit diameter, umbilical cord diameter, and kidney diameter all yielded strong correlations with gestational age (R2= 0.98–0.99), allowing construction of reliable regression equations. Embryonic vesicle diameter, crown‑rump length, and amnion vesicle diameter provided insufficient data for modelling. Maternal serum progesterone (ELISA) remained higher in twin than in singleton pregnancies (P < 0.001), with significant differences emerging on days 51, 107, 114 and 128 (P < 0.05). Progesterone levels correlated negatively with birth weight. Ultrasonographic fetometry offers a practical, breed‑specific tool for gestational dating in goats, and progesterone measurement can assist litter size assessment during specific gestational windows.
Caprine gestation; Fetal biometry; Progesterone; Reproductive ultrasonography; Saanen goat; Pregnancy diagnosis
Synergistic Effects of Coconut Husk Biochar and Palm Fiber on Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics and Pak Choi (Brassica rapa,subsp. chinensis) Nutrient Uptake
Sandy loam soil is considered to have a low capacity for water retention, making it highly susceptible to nutrient losses—particularly nitrogen and phosphorus-through leaching. This significantly reduces crop productivity under water-stressed conditions. The availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in such soils is influenced by several factors, including microbial activity and the decomposition of organic matter, which further complicates soil fertility management under limited irrigation systems. A randomized field study was conducted using four soil treatments under low irrigation (water stress) conditions, with three replications, over a period of 35 weeks. The treatments included: untreated soil (T0) as a control, soil amended with coconut husk biochar (T1), soil amended with palm fibers (T2), and a 50:50 mixture of T1 and T2 at 5% each (T3). Throughout the study, nitrogen and phosphorus levels were measured weekly in both soil and plant tissues to evaluate soil fertility and crop productivity responses. The results showed that treatment T3 achieved the highest concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, reaching 16 mg/kg for nitrogen and 22.6 mg/kg for phosphorus after the first week, compared to the control treatment (T0). It also produced the highest crop yield at harvest (110 kg), in addition to the highest nutrient content in plant tissues (4.6% nitrogen and 0.65% phosphorus). In contrast, treatment T2 (palm fibers only, as described) showed the weakest performance across all measured indicators, likely due to limited nitrogen mobility within the decomposing organic material. Overall, the findings indicate that combining coconut husk and palm fibers is an effective strategy for improving nutrient retention in sandy loam soils, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity under conditions of limited irrigation and water stress.
Biochar, palm fiber, nitrogen, phosphorus, sandy loam, Pak Choi, deficit irrigation, soil amendment
Parental Awareness of Growth and Developmental Delay in Children Under Five in Tobruk, Libya: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Early detection of childhood developmental delays (DD) relies heavily on parental vigilance and health literacy. This study assessed baseline awareness of developmental milestones and clinical red flags among parents of children under five in Tobruk, Libya, evaluating the impact of socio-demographic determinants on developmental screening outcomes. Methods: A clinic- and community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Tobruk during Febuarary 2026. Using convenience sampling, a validated Arabic questionnaire was distributed to Libyan parents to evaluate socio-demographic profiles, milestone recognition (speech and gross motor), and healthcare-seeking behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 26.0). Results: Among the 305 participants analyzed, mothers predominated (86.2%, n=263) and 72.1% (n=220) held university degrees. While 84.9% (n=259) were familiar with the term "developmental delay," specific knowledge varied: 54.4% (n=166) and 81.3% (n=248) correctly identified the 1-2 years expected window for speech production and independent walking, respectively. However, roughly one-third of the sample misestimated these timelines. Encouragingly, 82.0% (n=250) recognized a child's failure to respond to their name as a clinical red flag, and 80.0% (n=244) agreed that speech delays require medical evaluation. Physicians were the primary source of developmental information (41.6%, n=127), followed by family networks (24.3%) and the internet (23.6%). Conclusion: General awareness of developmental delay is remarkably high among this educated urban demographic in Tobruk, yet specific gaps remain regarding precise milestone timelines. Public health strategies should leverage high community trust in clinicians to incorporate standardized screening into routine pediatric and vaccination visits.
Developmental Delay, Parental Awareness, Child Development, Cross-Sectional, Tobruk, Libya, Academic Pediatric Research
Neuroprotective Effects of Natural Extracts from Olive (Olea europaea) Plant Growing in Libya
There is an increasing link between oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal damage in neurodegenerative dis-eases. Therefore, there is the need for safer natural neuroprotective drugs to protect neurons from damage. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of natural extracts derived from Olea Europaea plants from Libya. Leaves and fruits of the olives were extracted using ethanol and methanol solvents. The extracts were then analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidants, and neuroprotective activity was determined using neuronal cell models. Findings from the study show that olive extract was rich in phenols, flavonoids, oleuropein, and hydroxytryrosol in methanol extracts of leaves. There was a high free radical scavengeing capacity as shown by antioxidant activity tests. Moreover, neuroprotective studies show that the extracts could in-crease neuronal cell viability and reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species when cells are exposed to oxidative stress. Inflammation markers such as TNF-α and IL-6 were also inhibited by the extracts.
Olea Europaea, Neuroprotection, Antioxidant Activity, Olive Extracts, Neurodegenerative Diseases
The Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Documenting and Analyzing Raw Material Quarries for the Cement Industry in Libya: A Case Study of the Souq Al-Khamis Plant
This study addresses the importance and role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in improving and developing the management of mining activities for raw material quarries used in the cement industry. Through a case study on the quarries of the Souk El-Khamis cement plant in Libya, the research focused on establishing a spatial geodatabase using ArcGIS software. This was aimed at mapping, documenting, and archiving quarry locations, estimating reserves, and analyzing the geological and geomechanical properties of the extracted rocks. The study relied on field data and previous technical reports to build spatial layers and analyze geological relationships and mining field boundaries, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency and supporting planning and management processes. The results demonstrated that the utilization of GIS enhances the decision-making process and elevates the efficiency of mining operations management. The study recommends expanding this approach to the remaining cement plants in Libya and establishing an integrated national system for geological and mining data.
Geographic Information Systems GIS Cement Industry Limestone Mining Souq Al Khamis Libya Spatial Databases
Investigating the influence of switching from load forecasting to net load forecasting on the forecasting accuracy
Forecasting the electric load is important in the energy sector for ensuring a stable and economic power system operation. However, the increasing integration of non-dispatchable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the grid has created a need for predicting the net load, that is, the amount of load remaining after renewable energy sources cover a portion of the total energy demand. The scientific literature contains numerous forecasting techniques and methods that can be used to forecast the load or the net load. Electricity companies may rely on a particular load forecasting method and apply it to net load forecasting as well. Therefore, this paper investigates whether this approach yields similar forecasting accuracy. The research utilizes Adaptive Neuro Fussy Inference Systems (ANFIS) as an advanced artificial intelligence-based forecasting technique to predict the load and the net load using real historical data from the Spanish electricity grid which is characterized by a significant contribution of wind and solar power. The study also uses the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) as evaluation criteria. The results show that, when using the same forecasting method, the accuracy of net load forecasting is lower than that of load forecasting. Therefore, when planning to integrate additional wind and solar power into the electricity grid, electricity companies should not rely on the same method for forecasting the net load but should take the necessary measures to restore the accuracy of net load forecasting to the desired level
Load forecasting, net load forecasting, forecasting methods and accuracy, ANFIS, wind and solar power
The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Patients of Msallatah and Al-Khoms Cities
Helicobacter pylori is a spiral, gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa and constitutes the most common chronic bacterial infection worldwide, predisposing to peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, and gastric malignancies. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025 at random Laboratories in Msallatah and Al-Khoms cities, Libya, to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and its association with age, gender, and residence. A total of 250 patients (102 males, 148 females; age range 10–75 years) undergoing physician-requested serological testing were enrolled. Venous blood samples were processed for serum and analyzed using ELISA kits to detect anti-H. pylori IgG/IgM antibodies. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 25. Overall, 44.8% of participants tested positive for H. pylori antibodies. Seroprevalence was slightly higher in Al-Khoms (24.8%) than in Msallatah (20.0%), and greater among females (27.2%) than males (17.6%). Age-specific prevalence peaked in the 32 - 42 year group (59.4%) and was lowest in the 65 – 75 year group (42.3%). These results reveal a substantial burden of H. pylori infection in Msallatah and Al-Khoms, with demographic disparities by age and gender, underscoring the need for better diagnostic access and targeted public health interventions.
H. pylori, seroprevalence, infection, population, transmission routes
Validation and Parametric Study Using Energy and Exergy Analysis for a Simple Gas Turbine Power Plant
This paper presents the model validation and a comprehensive parametric study for the energy and exergy analysis of the Siemens SGT5-2000E gas turbine power plant operating at Al-Ruwais Gas Power Station in Al-Hawamid, Western Mountain region, Libya. Aspen Plus simulation software was employed alongside energy and exergy analyses based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The validation results demonstrated excellent agreement between the simulation outputs and the manufacturer's ISO design data, with a maximum power deviation of 0.21%, a thermal efficiency match of 34.7%, and near-perfect agreement in exhaust gas temperature and mass flow rate. The parametric study revealed that increasing the compressor inlet air temperature from 10°C to 50°C causes a significant reduction in net power output and thermal efficiency, accompanied by a corresponding increase in specific fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. Exergy analysis identified the combustion chamber as the component with the highest exergy destruction rate, rendering it the most critical element affecting energy conversion quality. These findings confirm the operational limitations of the simple gas turbine cycle under hot climatic conditions and support the need for integrated optimization technologies.
Gas turbine; Model validation; Exergy analysis; Aspen Plus; Al-Ruwais plant; Libya.
“A Study of Some Methods for Solving First-Order Linear and Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations”
This research addresses the most important analytical methods for solving first-order partial differential equations. Lagrange’s method is based on transforming a linear partial differential equation into a system of ordinary differential equations through characteristic relations, which facilitates the determination of the general solution.The Cauchy problem, on the other hand, is concerned with finding the solution of a partial differential equation subject to given initial conditions on a curve or a surface. It is widely used in physical applications to establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions.In contrast, Charpit’s method is considered an extension of Lagrange’s method, specifically applied to solving first-order nonlinear partial differential equations. This method transforms the equation into a differential system that assists in obtaining the necessary integrals required to derive the general solution.These methods demonstrate significant importance in simplifying complex equations and transforming them into forms that can be handled mathematically with greater efficiency.
Predictive Maintenance of a Marine Diesel Engine Cooling System Using Thermo-Hydraulic Operating Relationships
This study investigates the cooling system of an MTU marine diesel engine as one of the critical subsystems responsible for maintaining the engine’s thermal stability and ensuring operation within safe design limits specified by the manufacturer. The study adopts an analytical–applied methodology combining theoretical analysis based on heat transfer and fluid mechanics principles, with practical implementation using Arduino UNO for data acquisition and monitoring of cooling parameters. The research focuses on the relationships between Cooling Temperature (CT), Cooling Pressure (CP), and Cooling Flow Rate (CF), as the most representative indicators of the cooling system’s operational condition , The results indicate that deviations in these variables can serve as early indicators of faults such as pump inefficiency, heat exchanger fouling, or air entrainment in the circuit. The study confirms that analyzing the graphical relationships between these parameters provides a practical framework for implementing predictive maintenance strategies in marine diesel engines and enhances operational reliability while reducing unexpected failures.
Predictive maintenance; Marine diesel engine; Cooling system; Thermo-hydraulic behaviour; Condition monitoring; Fault diagnosis
Geometry and Material Effects on Steel Column Performance Under Axial Loads
This study presents a comparative analysis of three structural geometries-rectangular columns, I-shaped beams, and hollow circular tubes—fabricated from ASTM A36 and AISI 4340 steels under axial loading conditions ranging from 50 to 250 kN. Stress capacity, deflection, and strain responses were evaluated to determine the influence of geometry and material selection on structural efficiency. Results indicate that hollow circular tubes exhibit the highest stress capacity, particularly when manufactured from AISI 4340 steel, achieving values up to (1.99 E+7, N/m^2) at 250 KN. However, this advantage is accompanied by increased deflections, raising potential serviceability concerns. I-shaped columns in AISI 4340 provide a balanced performance, combining near maximum stress resistance with reduced deflections (≈ 0.08 m). Rectangular columns consistently underperformed across both materials, underscoring their limited efficiency in high-load applications. The findings highlight the critical role of geometry optimization and material selection in enhancing structural performance, with implications for the design of load-bearing systems in civil and mechanical engineering.
ASTM A36 steel, AISI 4340 steel, rectangular column, I-beam, hollow circular tube, axial loading, structural efficiency, stress capacity, deflection, strain analysis, geometry optimization
A Comprehensive Study of Ad Hoc Networks: Routing, Challenges, and Security
Wireless Ad Hoc Networks are highly dynamic, self-organizing networks that do not rely on any fixed infrastructure, allowing mobile nodes to communicate directly with one another. These networks are particularly useful in scenarios where conventional communication systems are unavailable, such as in disaster recovery, emergency response, military operations, temporary events, and social or collaborative applications. Each node in an Ad Hoc Network can function both as a host and a router, forwarding data packets for other nodes and thus extending network coverage in a flexible and decentralized manner. The architecture of these networks supports various routing strategies to efficiently manage data transmission. Flat routing approaches treat all nodes equally, while hierarchical or clustering-based methods organize nodes into groups to reduce overhead and improve scalability. Proactive protocols maintain up-to-date routing information at all times, ensuring low-latency communication, whereas reactive protocols discover routes only when necessary, reducing unnecessary traffic but sometimes introducing initial delays. Hybrid protocols combine elements of both proactive and reactive strategies to balance efficiency, latency, and network overhead. Security in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks is a major concern due to the open nature of wireless communication and the constant movement of nodes. Networks are susceptible to threats such as data interception, tampering, privacy breaches, and denial-of-service attacks. Effective security mechanisms, including encryption, authentication, trust management, and intrusion detection, are essential to ensure reliable communication and protect sensitive information. Overall, Wireless Ad Hoc Networks provide a versatile and robust communication framework. Proper selection of routing protocols and implementation of security measures enhance network reliability, maintain connectivity despite frequent topology changes, and support the expanding applications of mobile networks across civilian, commercial, and military domains. With their flexibility, scalability, and resilience, these networks continue to play a crucial role in modern mobile communication systems.
Wireless Ad Hoc Networks, Dynamic Routing, Hybrid Protocols, Security and Data Protection, Scalability, and Decentralized Communication
Synergistic Effects of Biochar and Palm Fiber Amendments on Soil Water Retention and Pak Choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chenensis) Growth
This study evaluated the synergetic effects of coconut husk biochar and palm fiber as soil amendments on moisture retention and Pak Choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chenensis) growth under water-limited conditions. An experiment was performed through a completely randomized design pot with four treatments: control (T0), 5% biochar (T1), 5% palm fiber (T2), and 5% biochar + 5% palm fiber (T3) and restricted irrigation of about 200 mL poultice by pot every two days for the period of experimental phase which last for over duration of time up until n=3 pots were completed in milestone. At the final harvest, combined amendment T3 was significantly more effective than all treatments for plant height (15.67 ± 0.58 cm), leaf count (12.00 ± 0.00), fresh biomass (34.67 ± 0.58 g) and dry biomass (3.50 ± 0.00 g) representing an increase of 36.9% and 180% in fresh and dry biomass compared to the control, respectively. At Week 5, soil moisture was highest in T3 (32.67 ± 2.52%) while increased electrical conductivity in biochar-amended treatments reflected enhanced potassium availability not salinisation. These results demonstrate to validate that biochar and palm fiber work synergistically, as the biochar improves water and nutrient retention while the palm fiber enhances soil aggregate stability, representing a promising and inexpensive amendment for arid or semi-arid sandy loam under limited irrigation in many farming systems.
biochar, palm fiber, soil water retention, Pak Choi, water-limited conditions, potassium availability, electrical conductivity
Growth and productivity response of local pepper plants to compost fertilization, mineral fertilizers and foliar spraying with micronutrients under sandy soil conditions in the Waddan region, Libya
This study was conducted in the Waddan region (Al-Jufra) to evaluate the response of a local pepper cultivar to seven fertilization treatments, which included a balanced mineral fertilizer NPK (20-20-20), an organic fertilizer, and micronutrient foliar application. The results demonstrated statistically significant differences (P \le 0.05) among all studied treatments, where the integrated nutrient management treatment (T7: 100% NPK + Organic Fertilizer + Micronutrients) exhibited a distinct superiority across all growth and yield parameters. Treatment T7 recorded the maximum values for plant height (76.0 cm), stem diameter (18.8 mm), and total chlorophyll content (59.2 mg/g FW). This physiological enhancement reflected positively on the yield components, as the same treatment achieved the highest weight for a 20-fruit sample (435.0 g) and the maximum total crop yield per experimental plot (1235.0 g). Conversely, the control treatment (T1) consistently recorded the lowest values. The study underscores the critical importance of integrating organic fertilizer with mineral and foliar applications, a combination that provided a natural chemical shield that effectively minimized nutrient leaching within the porous sandy soil profile. Consequently, treatment T7 retained the highest concentrations of available soil macronutrients, recording 53.10 mg/kg for N, 23.30 mg/kg for P, and 350. mg/kg for K, as well as available micronutrients with values of 3.77 mg/kg for Mn, 3.65 mg/kg for Fe, and 1.38 mg/kg for Zn. Furthermore, available soil boron exhibited a precise and progressive response, reaching 0.82 mg/kg which physiologically optimized fruit-set success, reduced flower drop, and ensured uniformity in fruit size
Al-Jufra, Capsicum annuum, Integrated Nutrient, Organic fertilizer, Sandy soil
The role of sustainable buildings in promoting energy consumption efficiency
The global community is increasingly prioritizing environmental conservation and sustainable development. Over the past three decades, a growing consensus has emerged that prevailing development models are unsustainable, as consumer-driven lifestyles have precipitated severe environmental crises. Empirical evidence suggests that humanity faces two critical challenges: the imminent depletion of essential natural resources and the escalating pollution caused by significant industrial and urban waste. Consequently, these challenges—compounded by resource scarcity and rising global toxicity—have positioned environmental sustainability, particularly through energy rationalization, at the center of intellectual, policy, and architectural discourse. Contemporary approaches to sustainable architecture emphasize the efficient management of natural resources throughout a building’s entire life cycle, balancing functional, environmental, and aesthetic requirements. This research explores the role of green buildings in mitigating resource consumption and enhancing public health. Specifically, it examines strategies for implementing sustainable building practices that integrate traditional architectural principles with modern technological advancements to achieve energy efficiency.
Green Building, Energy Conservation, Sustainable Development
Determination Of Sodium Benzoate and Ascorbic Acid in Soft Drinks
Objective: To measure the concentration of sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid in soft drink samples, to ensure compliance with permissible limits, and to assess the risk of benzene formation resulting from their reaction. Methodology: Samples were collected from 7 beverages (local and imported). Spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis) and iodine titration were used to measure the two substances. Results were compared with international standards. Results: PH ranged from 2.05 (most acidic: Al Ain) to 3.08 (least acidic: Shani). Ascorbic acid: 6.66–26.66 ppm (higher in Fanta, lower in Mirinda). Sodium benzoate: 16.76–49.98 ppm (higher in Fanta, lower in Al Ain). All concentrations fall within the limits permitted for food additives according to international standards, without representing nutritional fortification with Vitamin C. Most prone to benzene formation: Fanta and Shani. Conclusion: Levels are safe, but improper storage (heat, light) increases the risk of benzene formation. Recommendations: Improved transportation and storage, regular monitoring, and broader studies on benzene formation and its health effects
Ascorbic acid; Sodium benzoate; Benzene formation; Soft drinks; Chemical reaction.
Evaluation of the chemical content and sensory properties of some ready-made potato chips products (Chips) available in the local markets in Brak Al Shati area
Aims: This study was conducted to determination of concentration of some heavy metals in potato chips samples due to essential or toxic nature of this metals and due to increase consumption of potato chips especially by children. Methods: This study was conducted on 8 samples of the most widely consumed ready-made dry potato chips, in addition to the control sample (fried potato slices without any additives) collected from local markets in the Brak Al-Shati area. The concentrations of heavy metals in the most widely consumed ready-to-eat foods are considered to be higher than the permissible levels. 20 chemical elements were detected in potato chip samples: (potassium (K), calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), chlorine (Cl), aluminum (Al), phosphorus ( P), nickel(Ni), sulfur(S), iron(Fe), manganese(Mn), copper(Cu), zinc(Zn), cadmium(Cd), barium(Br), silver(Ag), titanium( Ti), uranium (U), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and sodium (Na) including the control sample (0), were determined by: X-ray fluorescence analysis, Results: The study recorded presence of this heavy metals in all samples in different concentrations.The percentage of contamination with Cd was high in all samples and exceeded the permissible limit of 0.001 ppm as stated in EPA/US 2015, and a data evaluation was also conducted. Product packaging, sensory evaluation, and compliance with hardness specifications. Conclusion: The results showed that some samples contain these metals in a percentage above the permissible limit, this exposes consumers of these products to the risk of developing serious health problems
potato chips, heavy elements, pollution, ready -made food, product quality