Abstract:

Tobacco is one of the sources that may introduce several heavy metals into the bodies of positive and negative smokers, leading to harmful effects on smokers’ bodies. Because a major number of Libyan populations are smoking different brands of cigarettes alongside raw tobacco leaves which may affect our citizens’ health, accordingly 10 cigarette brands comprising Bon International, Gold Mexico Original, Camel Yellow, D&G, Milano London, Milano, Oris Fliter. Karelia Ligts, Yes and Libyan brand named Ryadi, and another sample of raw tobacco leaves (LRT) planted locally were collected randomly from local shops distributed in Alassaba municipality with aims to determine the total concentration of Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) and calculate the health risk related to the presence of these metals in the most consumed tobacco. The obtained results showed that all collected tobacco samples contained various levels of Cd, Co, Cu Pb and Zn (mg/kg) ranged from 0.38 ± 0.07 to 0.84 ± 0.01, 0.33 ± 0.04 to 0.5 ± 0.07, 15.29 ± 0.88 to 18.75 ± 0.72, 0.42 ± 0.04 to 1.04 ± 0.11 and 14.33 ± 0.33 to 32.45 ± 2.09, respectively. The mean levels of Co, Cu and Zn were within the allowable levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO), whereas Pb and Cd levels were above the acceptable levels. The calculated harm quotient (HQ) of target metals were greater than 1 representing extreme health risk due to the presence of Cd, Cu Pb and Zn in studied tobacco, nevertheless, the HQ of Co were lower than 1 presenting minimal health risk to the smokers. In conclusion, there is a need to emphasize the regulation of the import and tread of tobacco and monitor the content of heavy metals in tobacco to reduce the health effects of these cigarette brands.    

Keywords: Cigarette brands, Heavy metals, Health risk, Smoking, Tobacco.

A B S T R A C T

The current study aimed to the production and partial purification of a cold-active lipase by some fungi isolated from the olive oil processing wastes in Al-Gabal Al-Gharby, Libya. 31 fungal species from 12 genera were isolated. F. solani was the most prevalent comprising 94% of total Fusarium and 28.7% of total fungi, 102 fungal isolates were tested for their lipolytic activity on lipase production agar medium at 10 and 20°C. The most active isolates were Alternaria (2 isolates), Fusarium, and Penicillium (1isolate for each one). Molecular identification of the most active four isolates was carried out by their sequencing (ITS). The four powerful fungal strains' production of cold-active lipase was maximized by optimizing some nutritional and environmental factors. F. solani AUMC 16063 was able to produce the maximum amount of lipase activity (46.66U/mL/min) with specific activity (202.8U/mg), utilizing ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source after 8 days of incubation at pH 3.0 and 15°C. However, at same condition after 6 days when yeast extract was employed as a nitrogen source, the generated cold-active lipase displayed the highest specific activity of (1550U/mg) and lipase activity (36.74U/ml/min). This is the first study in which the production, partial purification, maximized and characterization of a cold-active lipase enzyme by Fusarium solani.

Keywords: cold active enzymes, Lipase, Fusarium solani, lipolytic activity, specific activity.

The current study aimed to the production and partial purification of a cold-active lipase by som fungi isolated from the olive oil processing wastes in Al-Gabal Al-Gharby, Libya. 31 fungal species from 12 genera were isolated. F. solani was the most prevalent comprising 94% of total Fusarium and 28.7% of total fungi, 102 fungal isolates were tested for their lipolytic activity on lipase production agar medium at 10 and 20°C. The most active isolates were Alternaria (2 isolates), Fusarium, and Penicillium (1isolate for each one). Molecular identification of the most active four isolates was carried out by their sequencing (ITS). The four powerful fungal strains' production of cold-active lipase was maximized by optimizing some nutritional and environmental factors. F. solani AUMC 16063 was able to produce the maximum amount of lipase activity (46.66U/mL/min) with specific activity (202.8U/mg), utilizing ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source after 8 days of incubation at pH 3.0 and 15°C. However, at same condition after 6 days when yeast extract was employed as a nitrogen source, the generated cold-active lipase displayed the highest specific activity of (1550U/mg) and lipase activity (36.74U/ml/min). This is the first study in which the production, partial purification, maximized and characterization of a cold-active lipase enzyme by Fusarium solani. Keywords: cold active enzymes, Lipase, Fusarium solani, lipolytic activity, specific activity. 

Abstract

Analysis of reservoir characterization data are essential for understanding and managing the

subsurface hydrocarbon. Given that the Nubian Formation is one of the main hydrocarbon

formations in the Sirt basin, its petrophysical properties were examined at three wells (Q2-97, 3V3

and 3V4). The FlexInLog software is used in the current study to evaluate the petrophysical

characterizations using well logs and core analysis results. Petrophysical parameters such as

volume of shale, clay minerals type, porosity, permeability and fluid saturation, in addition to the

volume of matrix are evaluated by using the well log data. Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, and

shale make up the majority of the Nubian Formation's lithology. The upper and lower Nubian

sandstone Formations are primarily composed of the clay minerals illite and chlorite, with minor

amounts of kaolinite and montmorillonite. 3. The effective porosity of Well Q2-97 is the highest,

averaging 9.9%; it reaches 7.6% in the 3V3 well and 6.52% in the 3V4 well. However, well 3V4

had the lowest average permeability value of 0.7 mD, whereas well Q2-97 had the highest average

of 2.3 mD. The 3V4 well, with a hydrocarbon saturation of 49%, has the largest net pay thickness,

reaching 324 feet. The 3V3 well followed it with a net pay 273 feet and high rate of hydrocarbon

saturation reached 66%. Compared to the other two wells, the Q2-97 well has the least amount of

net pay thickness, reaching 235 feet.Abstract

Analysis of reservoir characterization data are essential for understanding and managing the

subsurface hydrocarbon. Given that the Nubian Formation is one of the main hydrocarbon

formations in the Sirt basin, its petrophysical properties were examined at three wells (Q2-97, 3V3

and 3V4). The FlexInLog software is used in the current study to evaluate the petrophysical

characterizations using well logs and core analysis results. Petrophysical parameters such as

volume of shale, clay minerals type, porosity, permeability and fluid saturation, in addition to the

volume of matrix are evaluated by using the well log data. Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, and

shale make up the majority of the Nubian Formation's lithology. The upper and lower Nubian

sandstone Formations are primarily composed of the clay minerals illite and chlorite, with minor

amounts of kaolinite and montmorillonite. 3. The effective porosity of Well Q2-97 is the highest,

averaging 9.9%; it reaches 7.6% in the 3V3 well and 6.52% in the 3V4 well. However, well 3V4

had the lowest average permeability value of 0.7 mD, whereas well Q2-97 had the highest average

of 2.3 mD. The 3V4 well, with a hydrocarbon saturation of 49%, has the largest net pay thickness,

reaching 324 feet. The 3V3 well followed it with a net pay 273 feet and high rate of hydrocarbon

saturation reached 66%. Compared to the other two wells, the Q2-97 well has the least amount of

net pay thickness, reaching 235 feet.

Bread is a staple food for many nations globally. It is prepared by mixing wheat or barley flour with water and other additives. Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is the most used additive in bread industry, because of its efficiency to make the bread cost-effective and favourable to consume. However, KBrO3 is toxic to human and animals due to its ability to affect several body organs, e.g., liver, bones, blood, renal and hepatic, therefore KBrO3 is classified as a carcinogenic chemical and banned for using in the bread industries in most countries. Even though, this material is still in use as bread improver in several countries, nevertheless several oxidising agents was suggested to use as replacements instead of KBrO3 that doesn’t have harmful effects to the consumers. Many technologies have been developed and applied to evaluate the residues of KBrO3 in bakery products. This review paper explored the use of potassium bromate as a flour additive, and its effect on human, animal and environment, and the chemical methods to assess its remains in bread industries.

The demand for drinking water is increasing daily due to the rising world population, alongside the leakage of water, overuse of groundwater, and occurrence of several pollution issues that led to reducing the quality of groundwater. Consequently, in most countries purifying water technologies have been used to obtain drinkable water. Nationally, Libyans use the purified water extensively in their daily needs. Accordingly, to ensure that our citizen utilize harmless water, the quality of the used water and the efficiency of purification units was assessed by analyzing several physical and chemical characteristics of purified water and raw water supplied to the purification units from some local wells and man-made river (MMR) using recommended standard methods. The study results showed that the quality of purified water is excellent, and the purification process reduced the pH, electro conductivity and the concentration of studied chemical properties significantly to values less than the optimum levels (OL) suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Libyan standards (LS) for drinking water. As a conclusion, the studied purified water may use in the daily needs of human with continuously analytical monitoring.

Abstract—The majority of Neoproterozoic rocks exposed in southern Libya, are comprised of intrusive coarse-grained porphyritic, two-mica, and high K-calc alkaline granite. The Jabal Fezzan Granite (JFG) is located in southwestern Libya. In this study, trace elements and whole-rock geochemistry have been used to understand the origin and the process of petrogenesis of the studied granites. The JFG is high-Si, Rb, Y, Nb, and (ASI values greater than 1.1). Mineralogically, it is characterized by the presence of minor muscovite and biotite and a lack of hornblende, exhibiting features of S-type granites, and having a character that belongs to an alkali-calcic series. According to geochemical value, light REE-enriched, characterized by moderate

enrichments in LREE (La/Sm), HREE, and weak negative Eu-anomalies. The geochemical modeling of the reveals that the JFG derived from the melting of the crust and underwent high fractional crystallization of plagioclase and K-feldspar at (H-P) conditions (750–980°C/1–4 GPa). The Jabal Fezzan (JFG(~50%) ) formed during Pan-African orogenic events during the destabilization of the interior Saharan metacraton due to compression stress and transpressive movements along pre-existing weakness and reactivation of shear zones inherited from Paleoproterozoic evolution. The Neoproterozoic basement forms the northernmost margin of the intracratonic Muruzq Basin, as evidenced by (greenschist facies) and intruded granitic rocksderived at the syn-collision stage (630–540 Ma)

(JFG) .

Abstract: This study aims to analyzing demographic data of patients, isolate and identify Candida species, which causes vaginal infections, and a study of its prevalence among pregnant women in Sorman city, Libya.210 specimens collected from patients admitted to the Maternity Care Center in the combined clinic. carried immediately to the Microbiology Laboratory in the National Cancer Institute, Subrata, Libya for direct microscopy, culturing, and characterization. Each participant was given an interview questionnaire and asked about their age, educational level, employment position, and history of recurrent vaginal yeast infection. Chronic diseases were also listed on the data collecting form. Identification of Candida species using Chrome agar: A total of 100 isolates have been recovered in this study, of which 72isolates were obtained as pure cultures on Chrome agar medium. According to their color on Chrome agar, these 72 colonies were categorized to 5 main species namely Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Genotypic identification of Candida species in this investigation was validated by the ITS tree. Eight strains from this investigation were found in the Candida albicans clade, which had a high bootstrap value of 99 percent ML/99 percent MP. These were therefore identified as Candida albicans., Within the Candida glabrata clade, three isolates were grouped together, demonstrating a strong support value of 99% ML/99%MP. These strains were recognized as belonging to the C. glabrata species, while one isolate was recognized as belonging to the C. tropicalis species, with a high support value of 99% ML/99%MP.

 Keywords: VVC infections, candidemia patients, genotypic identification, and Candida albicans