The natural radioactivity level of heavy oil, ash and soil samples around Assiut Thermal Power Plant
(ATPP) in Egypt was determined using gamma ray spectrometry. The average concentrations of 226Ra,
232Th and 40K in fly ash were found to be 2307±143, 1281±80 and 1218±129 Bq kg-1, respectively,
while the corresponding values in soil samples were 2670±107, 1401±78 and 1495±100 Bq kg-1,
respectively. These are extremely high and higher by several orders of magnitude than the worldwide
population-weighted average values in soil. The radium equivalent activity, the air absorbed dose rate,
external hazard index and the annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the
international recommended values. All averages of these parameters are much higher by several orders
of magnitude than the international recommended values, indicating significant radiological health
hazards around ATPP due to the radionuclides in the soil. Moreover, the water samples investigated
have high activity concentrations indicating that the water is highly contaminated with radioactive
materials. The results of the current study highlight the severity of this radioactive pollution on the
population in the vicinity of ATPP.

The natural radioactivity level of heavy oil, ash and soil samples around Assiut Thermal Power Plant
(ATPP) in Egypt was determined using gamma ray spectrometry. The average concentrations of 226Ra,
232Th and 40K in fly ash were found to be 2307±143, 1281±80 and 1218±129 Bq kg-1, respectively,
while the corresponding values in soil samples were 2670±107, 1401±78 and 1495±100 Bq kg-1,
respectively. These are extremely high and higher by several orders of magnitude than the worldwide
population-weighted average values in soil. The radium equivalent activity, the air absorbed dose rate,
external hazard index and the annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the
international recommended values. All averages of these parameters are much higher by several orders
of magnitude than the international recommended values, indicating significant radiological health
hazards around ATPP due to the radionuclides in the soil. Moreover, the water samples investigated
have high activity concentrations indicating that the water is highly contaminated with radioactive
materials. The results of the current study highlight the severity of this radioactive pollution on the
population in the vicinity of ATPP.

The natural radioactivity level of heavy oil, ash and soil samples around Assiut Thermal Power Plant
(ATPP) in Egypt was determined using gamma ray spectrometry. The average concentrations of 226Ra,
232Th and 40K in fly ash were found to be 2307±143, 1281±80 and 1218±129 Bq kg-1, respectively,
while the corresponding values in soil samples were 2670±107, 1401±78 and 1495±100 Bq kg-1,
respectively. These are extremely high and higher by several orders of magnitude than the worldwide
population-weighted average values in soil. The radium equivalent activity, the air absorbed dose rate,
external hazard index and the annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the
international recommended values. All averages of these parameters are much higher by several orders
of magnitude than the international recommended values, indicating significant radiological health
hazards around ATPP due to the radionuclides in the soil. Moreover, the water samples investigated
have high activity concentrations indicating that the water is highly contaminated with radioactive
materials. The results of the current study highlight the severity of this radioactive pollution on the
population in the vicinity of ATPP.

tThe dynamics of the glass transition in Se76Te21Sb3chalcogenide glass was studied under non-isothermalmeasurements using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The experimental result of the kinetic glasstransition phenomenon, at different heating rates (5–40 K/min), was analyzed on the basis of the relax-ation process occurring in the transition temperature range. The activation energy of the glass transitionwas determined using an advanced isoconversion kinetic methods as well as from the heating ratedependence of the glass transition temperature. The fragility index m of the glass was estimated from themeasurements of the activation energy of the relaxation process, which characterizes the glass transition.Moreover, the isoconversional kinetic analysis of the experimental data show that the activation energyof glass transition process is varying with the degree of transformation (and hence with temperature)from the glassy to the super cooled phase.

tThe dynamics of the glass transition in Se76Te21Sb3chalcogenide glass was studied under non-isothermalmeasurements using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The experimental result of the kinetic glasstransition phenomenon, at different heating rates (5–40 K/min), was analyzed on the basis of the relax-ation process occurring in the transition temperature range. The activation energy of the glass transitionwas determined using an advanced isoconversion kinetic methods as well as from the heating ratedependence of the glass transition temperature. The fragility index m of the glass was estimated from themeasurements of the activation energy of the relaxation process, which characterizes the glass transition.Moreover, the isoconversional kinetic analysis of the experimental data show that the activation energyof glass transition process is varying with the degree of transformation (and hence with temperature)from the glassy to the super cooled phase.

Mycotoxins are produced in a strain-specific way, and elicit some complicated and overlapping toxigenic activities in sensitive species that include carcinogenicity, inhibition of protein synthesis, immunosuppression, dermal irritation, and other metabolic disorders. Mycotoxins usually enter the body via ingestion of contaminated foods, but inhalation of toxigenic spores and direct dermal contact are also important routes. In general, myctoxin exposure is more likely to occur in parts of the World where poor methods of food handling and storage are common, where malnutrition is a problem, and where few regulations exist to protect exposed populations. There is sufficient evidence from animal models and human epidemiological data to conclude that mycotoxins cause an important danger to human and animal health. The mycotoxins of major concern as feed contaminants are aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, T-2 toxin, zearalenone and fumonisins. Cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation are mechanisms of myctoxins mediated toxicity. The cell can tolerate a small to moderate amount of ROS by antioxidants molecules e.g. vitamin A, E and C, glutathione and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase and transferase. Trichothecenes cause protein synthesis inhibition via binding to the 18s rRNA of the ribosomal subunit as a major mechanism underlying induction of cell apoptosis. T-2 toxin triggers a ribotoxic response through its high binding affinity to peptidyl transferase which is an integral part of the 60s ribosomal subunit and interferes with the metabolism of membrane phospholipids and increases liver lipid peroxides. Thiol (-SH) is thought to induce caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in a GSH-sensitive manner. FB1-induced inhibition of ceramide synthesis can result in a wide spectrum of changes in lipid metabolism and associated lipid-dependent pathways. OTA has complex mechanisms of action that include mitochondrial impairment, formation of OTA-DNA adducts and induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis through caspase activation. Accordingly, the strict control of food quality is necessary to avoid mycotoxicosis.

The toxic effect of an acute dose of Walterinnesia aegyptia crude venom was studied in male albino
rats. Liver enzymes,alaninetransaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma glutamyltransferase(γ-GT),
total protein concentration and Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) enzyme activity in the liver, abdominal muscles and
cerebrum brain were measured at timed intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 h and 7 days post envenomation. The
histological changes in the liver sections were simultaneously investigated. These parameters were found to be
fluctuated with time, with a tendency to regain to normal control levels within the first 6 h. Histological changes
induced by treatment with LD50 of W. aegyptia crude venom in liver 3 to 6 hours post envenomation showed
inflammatory cellular infiltrations(ICI) around the hepatic vein, dilated blood sinusoids (S), hepatocyticvacuolations
(HV) and prominent van kuffer cells. The 12 to 24 h period seems to be crucial for the process of physiological
recovery. Histological changes induced by treatment with LD50 of W. aegyptia crude venom in liver 12, 24, 72 hrs to
7 days post envenomation showed hepatocytic-vacuolations, inflammatory cellular infiltration and dilated sinusoids.
Under higher magnification, marginal chromatin (mc) patterns appear in some hepatocytes and clumped chromatin
(cm) in others. With this same group, liver sections taken at 72 h and at 7 days showed increased inflammation and
vacuolation as evidenced by an increase in inflammatory cells, some pyknotic cells (Pn), widened sinusoids and
numerous van Kupffer cells. Fatty change or Steatosis(St) represents the intracytoplasmic accumulation of
triglycerides (neutral fats) of parenchymal organs. Physiological adaptation and recovery from an LD50 venom dose
seems to be achieved after one week, leaving the animal alive with several lesions especially in the liver (such as
pyknotic nuclei, steatosis and clumped chromatin and disturbed physiological profile).

Following the selection of the black clay level at 1.56 m in the DBH section in Dababiya Quarry as the GSSP of the
Paleocene / Eocene boundary there arose a question of whether somewhat better preservation of biotic and sedimentary components
might be present in the adjacent subsurface. An attempt at retrieving continuous core samples was made in in two locations. The first location
was directly beside the GSSP (DBH) surface section, and the drilling continued to depth 20 m from the ground-surface with poor
surficial/initial recovery. Asecond corehole was drilled ~ 200meast of the DBD section, and the drilling penetrated to 140 m. The cores
were logged lithologically in the field, thenwrapped in plastic sheets and placed in special wood boxes for storage. The cores are now located
in the core facilities of the in the Geology Department, Assiut University and are undergoing further studies following recent complementary/
additional sampling by Dupuis, Aubry and Berggren (March 2012).

The Western Desert, Egypt includes the major groundwater aquifer in the country. It is apart from the
Major Sahara Nubian Aquifer which is present in Sudan, Chad, Egypt and Libya. Thickness of this aquifer
is changed laterally from south to north and also from west to east. The changes may structurally or litheologicalley
control. The present study is focused on using of Bouguer gravity anomaly mapped at a scale
of 1:500,000 and the lithological logs of about 120 deep wells used to determine the thickness of the sedimentary
sequence containing the main Nubian sandstone water aquifer in important area of Egypt. The
area is located in the southern part of the Western Desert bounded by the latitudes 22000–26300N, and
longitudes 28300–33000E. The predominant structures affecting the basement rocks and the sedimentary
cover were traced and analyzed. The gravity stripping approach was applied to eliminate the gravity
effects caused by sedimentary sequence and to separate density anomalies within the sedimentary fill
from the influence of rocks at deeper levels in the crystalline crust.
The study indicated that the surface of the basement rocks is highly rugged and mostly controlled by
structures which have a direct effect on thickness variation of the sedimentary cover all over the area.
Regionally the area is characterized by two major intracratonic basins (the Dahkla Basin and the Nile valley
Basin) separated by a NE–SW trending swell of the Kharga uplift and bounded at the south by the
Oweinat–Bir Safsaf–Aswan uplift. These major tectonic units are controlled by fault structures trending
in N–S, E–W, NE–SW, NW–SE, which cut the basement rocks and extend upward in the sedimentary
cover. The maximum thickness of sandstone formations is recorded at west Oweinat, west Kurkur, southwest
of Aswan, Gramashin, Dakhla oasis and some localities west of Sohag and Qena towns. At these
localities the thickness ranges between 600 and 900 m. As this formation is the main water aquifer in
the study area, therefore these localities are characterized by the presence of big amount of ground water.
Accordingly, these areas must take the priority in the sustainable development programs of southern
Egypt

The Western Desert, Egypt includes the major groundwater aquifer in the country. It is apart from the
Major Sahara Nubian Aquifer which is present in Sudan, Chad, Egypt and Libya. Thickness of this aquifer
is changed laterally from south to north and also from west to east. The changes may structurally or litheologicalley
control. The present study is focused on using of Bouguer gravity anomaly mapped at a scale
of 1:500,000 and the lithological logs of about 120 deep wells used to determine the thickness of the sedimentary
sequence containing the main Nubian sandstone water aquifer in important area of Egypt. The
area is located in the southern part of the Western Desert bounded by the latitudes 22000–26300N, and
longitudes 28300–33000E. The predominant structures affecting the basement rocks and the sedimentary
cover were traced and analyzed. The gravity stripping approach was applied to eliminate the gravity
effects caused by sedimentary sequence and to separate density anomalies within the sedimentary fill
from the influence of rocks at deeper levels in the crystalline crust.
The study indicated that the surface of the basement rocks is highly rugged and mostly controlled by
structures which have a direct effect on thickness variation of the sedimentary cover all over the area.
Regionally the area is characterized by two major intracratonic basins (the Dahkla Basin and the Nile valley
Basin) separated by a NE–SW trending swell of the Kharga uplift and bounded at the south by the
Oweinat–Bir Safsaf–Aswan uplift. These major tectonic units are controlled by fault structures trending
in N–S, E–W, NE–SW, NW–SE, which cut the basement rocks and extend upward in the sedimentary
cover. The maximum thickness of sandstone formations is recorded at west Oweinat, west Kurkur, southwest
of Aswan, Gramashin, Dakhla oasis and some localities west of Sohag and Qena towns. At these
localities the thickness ranges between 600 and 900 m. As this formation is the main water aquifer in
the study area, therefore these localities are characterized by the presence of big amount of ground water.
Accordingly, these areas must take the priority in the sustainable development programs of southern
Egypt