ABSTRACT

Argemone ochroleuca Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard. Ser.1 3(2): pl. 242 (1828) of the family Papaveraceae is reported here for the first time from Libya. This species is native to Mexico. Flowering specimens of A. ochroleuca were collected from the region Ariggiba (26°35’11.8”N 13°29’24.8”E), 110 km southwest of the city of Sabha, which lies about 700 km south of Tripoli. It is presented with updated nomenclature, taxonomic description, geographical distribution, key to genera, location in Libya, and colour photographs taken in the field. The voucher specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Botany Department (ULT), University of Tripoli, Libya.

SUMMARY This research documents the initial finding of Chloris pycnothrix Trin., frequently referred to as spiderweb chloris, in Libya, particularly from the Ariggiba region close to Sabha city. This grass, originating from tropical and subtropical regions, is versatile and may become invasive. It was recognized via morphological examination during field surveys in 2023–2024, with samples stored in a herbarium. The species flourishes in alluvial plains as well as in disturbed habitats like road shoulders. It can be mistaken for Chloris virgata, although they differ in some important morphological aspects. It was previously believed that only one species of Chloris existed in Libya. This study provides a revision and an identification key for them in the context of Libyan flora. The tolerant nature of C. pycnothrix to drought, combined with its ability to colonize poorly maintained land, makes its potential introduction—most likely through anthropogenic means—alarming ecologically and emphasizes the need for management strategies to contain its spread and monitor its impact. 

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore EFL teachers’ perceptions of the 21st-century PD program in six primary schools in Al Jabal Al Gharbi district. 31 teachers participated in the study. The mixed-research approach was used to conduct the research. A structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used to gather the data. The results revealed that participants acquired several teaching skills, such as new techniques for teaching vocabulary, speaking, and listening language skills, from the 21st-century PD program. Furthermore, the participants reported positive changes in their students’ outcomes, including improved speaking, listening and vocabulary. The findings also revealed some complications in implementing the PD program, including a lack of resources and administrative support at some schools.

This paper proposes a novel robust blind color image watermarking technique that combines entropy analysis, lifting wavelet transform (LWT), QR factorization, and discrete cosine transform (DCT) for copyright protection. The RGB components of the color image are first separated, and the R component is then subjected to the 2-level LWT. Following DCT is applied to the 2-level LWT's high-frequency sub-band, the DCT coefficients are separated into 4x4 non-overlapping blocks. Each chosen block is then subjected to QR factorization, and the watermark is embedded in the first row and first column element of the upper triangular matrix. Numerous simulated tests show that the presented scheme is highly imperceptible and robust to attacks. The presented watermarking scheme performs better than the others in terms of invisibility, according to comparisons with comparable schemes.

In recent years, English language learners are becoming highly dependent on the 

use of their smart phones to find out meanings of the vocabulary they usually do 

not know. A study by Soy (2022) highlighted that English language teachers need 

to introduce the use of smartphones as a learning tool to their students and take 

serious actions by not allowing them to use them during classes or making good 

classroom management and strict regulation concerning smartphone use in the 

classroom. The researcher in this paper attempts to shed lights on research 

conducted in this field by exploring advantages and disadvantages of the use of 

smartphones by (EFL) English language learners. This paper aims to identify the 

effectiveness of smartphones in enhancing language acquisition among learners 

by synthesizing data from various studies. The data of this study included 

analyzing 47 articles published between (2014) and (2023). The topics of the 

articles predominately were about smartphones and English language learning. 

This simple paper offers valuable insights for educators and stockholders seeking 

to optimize smartphone use in language education.

This research investigated the challenges medical university students encounter in learning

technical vocabulary. A quantitative research approach was adopted. 61 first-year medical

students at the University of Gharyan participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was

used to gather the data. The findings revealed that medical university students encounter

several challenges in medical vocabulary learning, including pronunciation, spelling, meaning and use. The results also indicated that medical university students struggle to recall some

medical terms, which could be attributed to cognitive overload. The researchers suggest

revaluating the current English medical programs at the Faculties of Medicine in Libya.

Teaching vocabulary in context, highlighting the grammatical categories of words, drawing

distinctions between synonyms through examples, and training students on using medical

words through interactive activities could enhance the current English medical programs.

Abstract

This research investigates the challenges that encountered Libyan English Teachers of implementing technology in teaching English to students in Ghyrian University. Data were collected through focused observations and semi-structured interviews. According to the data analysis, the primary obstacles that EFL Teachers at Ghyrian University encounter when attempting to teach using technology were the absence of computers, internet access, technical support, and teachers who possess the necessary skills and expertise. Additionally, it was found that higher education teachers have a favourable opinion on the usage of technology in the classroom. In order to accomplish the goal of the teaching and learning process, the study concludes that the EFL curriculum in Ghyrian university must take into account integrating technology into education.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a medical plant known for its antioxidant properties, which are attributed to bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and terpenoids. The study aimed to compare the antioxidant efficacy of natural chamomile with three commercial brands, A (Italian chamomile (Sonny)), B (Italian chamomile (Restora)), and C (German chamomile (UTZ)) available in Libyan markets. Methanol extracts of all samples were prepared by maceration, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. All data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, with A p-value < 0.05, which was considered statistically significant. Results revealed significant differences in IC50 values, with natural chamomile exhibiting the highest potency (IC50 = 3.35 mg/ml ± 0.055), followed by Brand A (IC50= 3.56 mg/ml ± 0.04) and Brand C (3.88 mg/ml ± 0.21). Brand B showed the weakest activity (IC50= 5.01 mg/ml ± 0.04). The statistical analysis confirmed the superiority of natural chamomile over commercial variants. Our findings suggest that processing methods, storage conditions, or potential additives in commercial products may degrade bioactive compounds, reducing antioxidant efficacy. This study highlights the advantage of minimally processed natural chamomile for optimal antioxidant benefits, and it underscores the implications for consumer choice and quality control in the manufacturing of herbal products.