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Role of V2O5 as a strong network glass modifier on the optical, elastic, physical, and radiation protection performance of V2O5-based glasses in form 10CaF2-(20-x)Bi2O3-60P2O5-10B2O3:xV2O5, x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.2, 0.2, and 2.5 mol% was investigated in this article. The studied glasses have been synthesized using the melt-quenching technique. The investigated samples coded as V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5 according to x values. Difference theoretical approaches have been utilized to achieve these goals including: radiation shielding calculations, optical, and elasto-mechanical properties. The optical basicity (Λ(Eg)) was found to decrease from 0.5630 to 0.5593 with increasing the mol% of [V4+] in the glass samples. The density was decreased from 4.134 to 3.817 g cm−3 associated with a simultaneous decrease in the oxygen molar volume (OMV) from 12.5 to 12.25 cm3/mol as the mol% of [V4+] increased in the samples. The Vicker's hardness was found to be diminished with increasing V2O5 content in the investigated glasses. All elastic moduli were reduced as V2O5 increased. Refractive index increased from 2.20 to 2.63, while metallization criterion decreased from 0.341 to 0252. The observed trend of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values in the tested energy spectrum followed the sequence: (MAC)v0 > (MAC)v1 > (MAC)v2 > (MAC)v3 > (MAC)v4 > (MAC)v5. Also, we found that linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) increased, while the half value layer (HVL), and transmission coefficient (TF%) were also decreased. The HVL values of the current samples were compared with standard glasses, and it found that V2O5-based samples possess a comparable photon protection capacity as commercial RS-360 and RS-520 glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moduli of elasticity and the ability of gamma radiation shielding as well as transmission factor (TF) of four samples of tungsten bario-phosphate glasses with chemical formula xBaO-40WO3-(60-x)P2O5: (x = 10, 20, 30, and 40 mol% glasses) have been examined. The glass samples have been coded as S1: 10BaO-40WO3-50P2O5, S2: 20BaO-40WO3-40P2O5, S3: 30BaO-40WO3-30P2O5, and S4: 40BaO-40WO3-20P2O5. Makishima-Mackenzie model, the newly online Phy-X/PSD software, and Monte Carlo code were applied to achieve the mentioned purposes. The total dissociation energy (Gt) values were decreased from 62.58 (kJ/cm3) for S1 glasses to 55.92 (kJ/cm3) for S4 glasses. The total packing density (Vt) was 0.613, 0.626, 0.612, and 0.643, for S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively. Values of Young's (EMM) modulus were 76.759 GPa, 75.631 GPa, 71.167 GPa, and 71.966 GPa and Poisson's ratio (σMM) possessed the values 0.273 GPa, 0.278 GPa, 0.273 GPa, and 0.284 GPa for S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively. The S4 sample possessed the highest values of both linear (µ) and mass (µm) attenuation coefficients. However, (µ, µm)S1 < (µ, µm)S2 < (µ, µm)S3 < (µ, µm)S4. Also, The S4 sample possessed the lowest values of half value layer (HVL), tenth (TVL) value layers, and mean free path (MFP) among all studied glasses. Therefore, (HVL, TVL, MFP)S4 < (HVL, TVL, MFP)S3 < (HVL, TVL, MFP)S2 < (HVL, TVL, MFP)S1. Both effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Neff) of the investigated glasses have as similar trend. In terms of transmission factor (TF), the sample S4 achieved the minimum values at a thickness of 3 cm. However, the S4 sample exhibited superior radiation shielding characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of phosphorite deposits as an industrial resource is of paramount importance, and its sustainability largely depends on ensuring safe and responsible practices. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of phosphorite deposits for industrial applications such as the production of phosphoric acid and phosphatic fertilizers. To achieve this goal, the study meticulously examines the geochemical characteristics of the deposits, investigates the distribution of natural Radioactivity within them, and assesses the potential radiological risk associated with their use. The phosphorites are massive and collected from different beds within the Duwi Formation at the Hamadat mining area. They are grain-supported and composed of phosphatic pellets, bioclasts (bones), non-phosphatic minerals, and cement. Geochemically, phosphorites contain high concentrations of P2O5 (23.59–28.36 wt.%) and CaO (40.85–44.35 wt.%), with low amounts of Al2O3 (0.23–0.51 wt.%), TiO2 (0.01–0.03 wt.%), Fe2O3 (1.14–2.28 wt.%), Na2O (0.37–1.19 wt.%), K2O (0.03–0.12 wt.%), and MnO (0.08–0.18 wt.%), suggesting the low contribution of the detrital material during their deposition. Moreover, they belong to contain enhanced U concentration (55–128 ppm). They are also enriched with Sr, Ba, Cr, V, and Zn and depleted in Th, Zr, and Rb, which strongly supports the low detrital input during the formation of the Hamadat phosphorites. The high Radioactivity of the studied phosphorites is probably due to the widespread occurrence of phosphatic components (e.g., apatite) that accommodate U in high concentrations. Gamma spectrometry based on NaI (Tl) crystal 3×3 has been used to measure occurring radionuclides in the phosphorite samples. The results indicate that the radioactive concentrations' average values of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are 184.18±9.19, 125.82±6.29, and 63.82±3.19 Bq Kg-1, respectively. Additionally, evaluations have been made of the radiological hazards. The calculated risk indicators exceeded the recommended national and world averages. The data obtained will serve as a reference for follow-up studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Radioactivity of phosphatic materials collected from the Hamdat mine area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of study of the Prut River heterotrophic bacterioplankton. The bi-disciplinary technique was used to assess its hydrocarbon-oxidizing activity, namely: microbiological research was carried out in parallel with hydrochemical investigation of the natural water samples and samples enriched with diesel fuel. The Moldovan-Romanian transboundary section of the Prut River includes various ecological zones, such as the Costești-Stanca Reservoir, the mouth of the Jijia River, the Prut floodplains with the relict Beleu Lake (where oil extraction is carried out despite the fact that it is a protected area of the scientific reserve "Prutul de Jos") and the Prut River mouth with the Giurgiulesti International Free Port. The microbial community of fluvial bacterioplankton corresponds to the specific conditions of each these biotopes, being the most reproducible and adaptable component of the biota. The results obtained in the study of the Prut River bacterioplankton demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbon-adapted microorganisms with a good potential to utilize petroleum products in their metabolic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations have been made on the mechanical and gamma-ray attenuation properties of the zinc bismuth-borate ternary glass system with the chemical formula (70-x)Bi2O3–xB2O3–30ZnO, where x = 20 (S1), 25 (S2), 30 (S3), 40 (S4), 45 (S5), and 50 (S6) mol%. Makishima-Mackenzie model and Phy-X/PSD software were used to accomplish this goal. Our research showed that the packing density (Vt) and dissociation energy (Gt) values reduced from S1 glass sample (with B2O3 = 20 mol% and Bi2O3 = 50 mol%) to S6 glass sample (with B2O3 = 50 mol% and Bi2O3 = 20 mol%), respectively, from 0.522 to 0.352 and from 31.53 kJ/cm3 to 26.97 kJ/cm3. By increasing the amount of B2O3 in the glasses, the efficiency of their mechanical features was reduced. The S1 glass sample's linear (µ) and mass attenuation (µm) coefficients had the highest values among the glass materials examined, i.e., (µ, µm)S6 < (µ, µm)S5 < (µ, µm)S4 < (µ, µm)S3 < (µ, µm)S2 < (µ, µm)S1. The S1 glass sample exhibits the lowest values for half value layer (T0.5) and mean free path (λ) of all the examined glasses. Consequently, (T0.5, λ)S6 > (T0.5, λ)S5 > (T0.5, λ)S4 > (T0.5, λ)S3 > (T0.5, λ)S2 > (T0.5, λ)S1. The analyzed glasses' effective atomic numbers (Zeff) follow the same trend for mass and linear attenuation coefficients. Our results show that the values of exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) accumulation factors decreased with increasing Bi2O3 and lowering B2O3 reinforcement for all mean free path values (i.e., from 0.5 to 40 mfp). Results show that of all the glasses under study, the S1 glass sample has the best gamma-ray shielding properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the behavioral changes and symmetrical enhancement on KERMA, mass stopping power and projected range parameters against heavy-charged particles through Indium (In) and Tantalum (Ta) incorporations for various zinc-tellurite glass groups such as TZI and ZTT for nuclear applications. SRIM and PAGEX codes are utilized for the determination of investigated attenuation parameters for alpha and proton particles. In KERMA calculations, the ZTT7 sample is reported to have the greatest release of charged particles because of an increase in kinetic energy. The mass stopping power values of all absorbent glass materials are steadily increased from 0 MeV to 0.1 MeV. TZI and ZTT attained their maximum mass stopping power at a kinetic energy value of 0.1 MeV. While comparable behavior patterns are seen for various energy values on the examined energy scale, the ZTT7 sample is observed with lower mass stopping power and projected range values against proton particles than the other samples. It can be concluded that zinc-telluride glasses through maximum Ta-reinforcement may be considered as promising materials for stopping the proton and alpha particles. Moreover, Ta-reinforcement may be considered as a monotonic tool in terms of providing a symmetry for attenuation enhancement against heavy-charged particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kab Amiri area in the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt comprises ophiolitic rocks, island arc metasediments, and granitic rocks. This study deals with the petrography and geochemistry of the ophiolitic and island arc rocks to understand their petrogenesis and geodynamic evolution of the CED ophiolitic belt. The Kab Amiri ophiolite is dismembered, comprising serpentinites and metabasalt (spilite). Serpentinites have low contents of Al2O3 (1.14 wt%) and CaO (0.65 wt%), suggesting they are depleted peridotite protoliths (e.g., depleted harzburgites to dunites). The high L.O.I. value (13.7 wt%) of serpentinite rocks indicates intense hydration and serpentinization during alteration processes. Petrographic and geochemical studies suggest that serpentinites were likely formed after depleted peridotites in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) setting (e.g., a fore-arc setting). Spilitic basalt shows a tholeiitic affinity of the depleted mantle source. The arc-related metasediments are represented mainly by schists and slate. Many samples of metasediments are relatively low in alumina (Al2O3 < 15%), suggesting a low clay content and formation in an island arc setting. In contrast, protoliths of island-arc metabasalts and meta-andesites crystallized from calc-alkaline magmas in the immature oceanic arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely distributed granitic intrusions in the Nubian Shield can provide comprehensive data for understanding its crustal evolution. We present new bulk-rock geochemistry and isotopic (zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf) data from the Haweit granodiorites in the Gabgaba Terrane (NE Sudan). The dated zircons presented a 206Pb/238U Concordia age of 718.5 ± 2.2 Ma, indicating that they crystallized during the Cryogenian. The granodiorites contain both biotite and amphibole as the main mafic constituents. The samples exhibit metaluminous (A/CNK = 0.84–0.94) and calc-alkaline signatures. Their mineralogical composition and remarkable low P2O5, Zr, Ce, and Nb concentrations confirm that they belong to I-type granites. They exhibit subduction-related magma geochemical characters such as enrichment in LILEs and LREEs and depletion in HFSEs and HREEs, with a low (La/Yb)N ratio (3.0–5.9) and apparent negative Nb anomaly. The positive Hf(t) values (+7.34 to +11.21) and young crustal model age (TDMC = 734–985 Ma) indicates a juvenile composition of the granodiorites. The data suggest that the Haweit granodiorites may have formed from partially melting a juvenile low-K mafic source. During subduction, the ascending asthenosphere melts might heat and partially melt the pre-existing lower crust mafic materials to generate the Haweit granodiorites in the middle segment of the Nubian Shield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to recycle unwanted industrial waste in order to produce innovative nanocomposites with improved mechanical, tribological, and thermal properties for use in various industrial purposes. In this context, powder metallurgy (PM) technique was used to fabricate iron (Fe)/copper (Cu)/niobium carbide (NbC)/granite nanocomposites having outstanding mechanical, wear and thermal properties. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) examinations were used to investigate the particle size, crystal size, and phase composition of the milled samples. Additionally, it was investigated how different volume percentages of the NbC and granite affected the sintered specimens in terms of density, microstructure, mechanical and wear properties, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). According to the findings, the milled powders included particles that were around 55 nm in size and clearly contained agglomerates. The results showed that the addition of 4 vol.% NbC and 8 vol.% granite nanoparticles caused a reduction in the Fe–Cu alloy matrix particle sizes up to 47.8 nm and served as a barrier to the migration of dislocations. In addition, the successive increase in the hybrid concentrations led to a significant decrease in the crystal size of the samples prepared as follows: 29.73, 27.58, 22.69, 19.95 and 15.8 nm. Furthermore, compared with the base Fe–Cu alloy, the nanocomposite having 12 vol.% of hybrid reinforcement demonstrated a significant improvement in the microhardness, ultimate strength, Young's modulus, longitudinal modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, CTE and wear rate by 94.3, 96.4, 61.1, 78.2, 57.1, 73.6, 25.6 and 61.9%, respectively. This indicates that both NbC and granite can actually act as excellent reinforcements in the Fe alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the distribution of natural radioactivity and geological, geochemical, and environmental risk assessments of phosphorite deposits to determine their suitability for international applications (such as phosphoric acid and phosphatic fertilizers). The examined Late Cretaceous phosphorite deposits belong to the Duwi Formation, which is well exposed on the southern scarp boundary at the central part of Abu Tartur Plateau, Gebel Qulu El Sabaya, East Dakhla Oasis. This formation is classified into lower phosphorite, middle shale, and upper phosphorite members. The lower phosphorite ranges in thickness from 2 to 3.5 m and mainly comprises apatite (possibly francolite), dolomite, calcite, quartz, hematite, anhydrite, and kaolinite. They contain an average concentration of CaO (38.35 wt.%), P2O5 (24.92 wt.%), SiO2 (7.19 wt.%), Fe2O3 (4.18 wt.%), MgO (3.99 wt.%), F (1.59 wt.%), Al2O3 (1.84 wt.%), Na2O (1.33 wt.%), and K2O (0.22 wt.%). Natural radioactivity and radiological parameters were investigated for fifteen samples of phosphorites using a NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. Absorbed dose rates, outdoor and indoor annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard, and excess cancer risk values are higher than the recommended levels, reflecting that exposure to these deposits for a long time may lead to health risks to human organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray shielding properties of high dense glassy system (bismuth fluoro-lead-borate doped with chromium (III) ions) with composition of (25-x)PbF 2 –25Bi 2 O 3 –49.8B 2 O 3 –0.2Cr 2 O 3 - xCaF 2 - (where x = 0 (S1), 5 (S2), 10 (S3), 15 (S4), 20 (S5), and 25 (S6) mol%) have been investigated. Phy-X/PSD software was used to achieve this purpose in photon energy range (0.15–15 MeV). Additionally, the superior glass shield sample was compared to several types of glass and concrete shields. Results revealed that each photon energy value investigated the maximum linear attenuation coefficient (µ m) values for the S1 glass sample with the heaviest element contribution in its structure were detected at the maximum level. In terms of the µ m , there was a difference of roughly 0.5 cm2/g in the S1 and S6 glasses. The S1 sample with the highest µ m also had the lowest T 0.5 and mean free path (λ). The heavy element contribution to the S1 sample was reflected in the effective atomic number values, which provided the S1 sample with the highest Z eff values. Values of exposure and energy absorption buildup factors (EBF and EABF) were confirmed that the sample S1 has the minimum values. Our findings showed that S1 sample may be considered as superior gamma-ray shielding properties among all studied glasses. • Bismuth fluoro-lead-borate doped with chromium (III) ions glasses have been fabricated. • Phy-X/PSD software was applied. • Radiation shielding capacities have been examined. • Glasses were superior for gamma-ray shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewaters from the textile industry are hazardous effluents containing toxic complex components that without appropriate treatment severely impact the environment; causing harmful effects to the aquatic ecosystems, as well as to human health. The present study extensively reviews the dyes and chemicals utilized in the textile industry focusing on the traditional treatment methods -chemical, biological, physical and hybrid systems-for their removal from industrial wastewaters. In addition, a critical analysis on Internet of Things based management systems for their remote monitoring and control of the water quality is reported. It was found the absence of a common platform for the integration of the different traditional treatment methods in association with modern technologies is the main limiting factor for an effective sustainable manufacturing. Therefore, it is the aim of this research to broaden the scope of potential solutions, proposing cost-effective high-performing combined strategies with promising benefits for future industrial applications. Image 1 • Effective ways of removal of dye in textile effluents are reviewed. • Internet of Things based enabling techniques included. • Sensors with advanced controllers are studied. • Full potential of low cost of adsorbents are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine the content and bioaccumulation patterns of eight trace elements (Li, Cr, Co, As, Se, Cd, Pb and Hg) and one radioisotope (U) in kidney, liver and muscle tissues of two fish species (Squalius orpheus and Barbus strumicae) from Nestos River (northern Greece), and the potential human health risk due to the fish muscle consumption. Kidney and liver accumulate higher element concentrations, except Hg. The site closer to the river-mouth presents higher concentrations since it receives effluents from agricultural activities. The upstream station shows lower element concentrations, due to obstruction of the free transportation of sediments and suspended matter downstream the irrigation dam. The sediment inhabitant and feeder B. strumicae showed elevated concentrations compared to the water column resident S. orpheus. According to calculated hazard indices, the consumption of the fish edible tissue poses zero health risk in developing chronic undesired effects in humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of Annona Muricata (AM) leaves in the prevention of brain damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR). This study was conducted in the Experimental Animal Research Unit of a university with 28 adults female Wistar Albino rats. The experimental groups were as follows: Control group (n = 8), AM group (n = 6), IR group (n = 8), AM + IR group (n = 6). In the IR group, astrocyte hypertrophy, microglial reaction and inflammatory reaction levels were significantly higher than the control and AM groups ( P  < 0.001). Edema was significantly higher in the IR group compared to the control group ( P= 0.001). The MDA of the IR group was significantly higher compared to the control group and AM group ( P= 0.031, P= 0.006, respectively). The MDA of the AM + IR group was significantly higher than the AM group ( P= 0.039). Our findings show that histomorphology and oxidant damage caused by IR can be ameliorated using AM, as demonstrated by the comparison of the controls to AM + IR recipients, which showed similar histomorphology and oxidant damage levels., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The treatment of tuberculosis is still a challenging process due to the widespread of pathogen strains resistant to antibacterial drugs, as well as the undesirable effects of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Hence, the development of safe and effective new anti-antitubercular agents, in addition to suitable nanocarrier systems, has become of utmost importance and necessity. Our research aims to develop liposomal vesicles that contain newly synthesized compounds with antimycobacterial action. The compound being studied is a derivative of imidazo-tetrazine named 3-(3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-yl)-6-(isopropylthio) imidazo [1,2-b] [1,2,4,5] tetrazine compound. Several factors that affect liposomal characteristics were studied. The maximum encapsulation efficiency was 53.62 ± 0.09. The selected liposomal formulation T8* possessed a mean particle size of about 205.3 ± 3.94 nm with PDI 0.282, and zeta potential was + 36.37 ± 0.49 mv. The results of the in vitro release study indicated that the solubility of compound I was increased by its incorporation in liposomes. The free compound and liposomal preparation showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 R v (ATCC 27294) at MIC value 0.94-1.88 μg/ml. We predict that the liposomes may be a good candidate for delivering new antitubercular drugs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa OG1 strain was used in the bacterial synthesis of MgSe compound nanoparticles. The obtained samples were subsequently shaped into nanocrystalline MgSe films, and their optical, structural, morphological, and electrical properties were assessed on glass and p-Si substrates. Structural and morphological characterizations showed that the fabricated thin film samples have a polycrystalline structure with high quality and uniform grain sizes. The MgSe films produced on glass substrates exhibit a direct spectral band gap of 2.53 eV, according to optical measurements. The Ag/MgSe/p-Si layered diode structure was fabricated using the produced MgSe nanoparticles and then characterized by electrical properties. Electrical measurements were carried out under these two conditions to assess the effects of dark and illumination conditions on the band dynamics of the heterostructure devices. Under illumination, the barrier height decreased while the interface density states distribution increased. These measurements showed that using bacterial-assisted grown MgSe nanocrystalline films, the developed Ag/MgSe/p-Si device structure exhibited a remarkable photoresponse and stable rectifying property. Green synthesis methods for the production of these nanocrystalline materials have the potential to offer low-cost alternatives for photosensitive applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Magnesium ferrite (MgFe 2 O 4 ) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are materials known for their versatility in various applications. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation of nanostructured MgFe 2 O 4 and its composites with PEG. Through experimentation, it was observed that incorporating PEG into MgFe 2 O 4 did not lead to a high relative observed decrease or increase in electrical conductivity at room temperature. The study revealed that the composites maintained stable electrical behavior at room temperature, with a dielectric constant value of around 9 and a loss tangent value of around 0.1 at high frequency (around 7 MHz). The electron-hole hopping mechanism was identified as the underlying cause for the strong dielectric dispersion with frequency. The low dielectric loss and conductivity of the MgFe 2 O 4 and PEG/ferrite composites make them promising candidates for high-frequency switching applications and microelectronic devices, particularly in scenarios where negligible eddy currents are essential. Additionally, complex impedance data analysis demonstrated that the capacitive and resistive properties of the composites are primarily attributed to grain boundary processes. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the electrical and dielectric properties of MgFe 2 O 4 and PEG composites and highlights their potential for many applications in materials science, particularly in electrical and electronic devices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

WO 3 effects on neutron and ionizing radiation defending factors of ternary tellurite-based glass blocks with molecular formula 80TeO 2 -(20-x)WO 3 - xK 2 O; x = 0-20 mol% (denoted as TKW-glass) has been reported via Phy-X theoretical calculations and Geant4 simulation code. Correlations between shielding factors and kinetics properties of the investigated glasses at different photon energy have been examined. The highest values of mass (MAC) attenuation coefficient were noted at 15 keV of the examined TKW-glass materials with the values of 38.408, 44.388, 49.855, 54.872, 59.492 cm 2 /g for TKW-0, TKW-5, TKW-10, TKW-15, and TKW-20, respectively. Generally, these values of the TKW-glasses obey the sequence: (TKW-0) MAC < (TKW-5) MAC < (TKW-10) MAC < (TKW-15) MAC < (TKW-20) MAC . The highest mean free path (MFP) values of TKW-glasses were registered at 15 MeV with the values of 6.101, 5.591, 5.097, 4.647, and 4.302 cm for TKW-0, TKW-5, TKW-10, TKW-15, and TKW-20, respectively. The two parameters half value layer (HVL) and MFP follow the pattern: (TKW-0) HVL, MFP > (TKW-5) HVL,MFP > (TKW-10) HVL,MFP > (TKW-15) HVL,MFP > (TKW-20) HVL,MFP . The maximum values of effective atomic number (EAN) took place at gamma energy of 15 keV corresponding to 44.35, 48.86, 52.63, 55.83, and 58.58 for TKW-0, TKW-5, TKW-10, TKW-15, and TKW-20, respectively. The trend of the buildup factors was similar for all of the glass specimens. The fast neutron removal cross-section ( Σ R ) enhanced as WO 3 content increased in the specimens. Thus, the peaked value of Σ R is 0.1059 cm -1 was noted in the TKW-20 sample. Mechanical properties, neutron and γ-rays protection parameters were observed to improve with enhanced WO 3 mol% in the TKW-glasses. The current results bear their utilization for neutron and gamma protection purposes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

We report the functional assessment of tungsten (VI) oxide on gamma-ray attenuation properties of 60Sb 2 O 3 -(40-x)NaPO 3 -xWO 3 antimony glasses. The elemental mass-fractions and glass-densities of each glass sample are specified separately for the MCNPX Monte Carlo code. In addition to fundamental gamma absorption properties, Transmission Factors throughout a broad radioisotope energy range were measured. According to findings, holmium (Ho) incorporation into the glass structure resulted in a net increase of 0.3406 g/cm3, whereas cerium (Ce) addition resulted in a net increase of 0.2047 g/cm3. The 40% WO 3 reinforced S7 sample was found to have the greatest LAC value, even though seven glass samples exhibited identical behavior. The S2 sample had the lowest HVL values among the glass groups evaluated in this work, computed in the energy range of 0.015-15 MeV. The lowest EBF and EABF values were reported for 40% WO 3 reinforced S7 sample with the highest LAC and density values. According to the findings of this research, WO 3 will likely make a significant contribution to the gamma ray absorption properties of antimony glasses, which are employed for optical and structural modification. Therefore, it can be concluded that WO 3 may be treated monotonically and can be employed successfully in circumstances where gamma-ray absorption characteristics, optical properties, and structural qualities need to be enhanced., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: A lead-acrylic protective screen is suggested to reduce radiation exposure to the unexposed breast during mammography. The presence of toxic lead in its structure may harm the tissues with which it comes in contact. This study aimed to design a CdO-rich quaternary tellurite glass screen (C40) and evaluate its efficiency compared to the Lead-Acrylic protective screen., Methods: A three-layer advanced heterogeneous breast phantom designed in MCNPX (version 2.7.0) general-purpose Monte Carlo code. Lead acrylic and C40 shielding screens were modeled in the MCNPX and installed between the right and left breast. The reliability of the absorption differences between the lead acrylic and C40 glass were assessed., Results and Discussion: The results showed that C40 protective glass screen has much superior protection properties compared to the lead acrylic protective screen. The amount of total dose absorbed in the unexposed breast for C40 was found to be much less than that for lead-based acrylic. The protection provided by the C40 glass screen is 35-38% superior to that of the Lead-Acrylic screen. The C40 offer the opportunity to avoid the toxic Pb in the structure of Lead-Acrylic material and may be utilized for mammography to offer superior radioprotection to Lead-Acrylic and significantly lower the dose amount in the unexposed breast. It can be concluded that transparent glass screens may be utilized for radiation protection purposes in critical diagnostic radiology applications through mammography., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 ALMisned, Elshami, Rabaa, Kilic, Ilik, Sen Baykal, Ene and Tekin.)

We report the critical optical properties such as Average Visible Transmittance (AVT), colour, Color Rendering Index (CRI), and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of a multicomponent glass system with a nominal composition of 50TeO 2 -30B 2 O 3 -(20-x)Li 2 O-xCeO 2 (x = 0,0.5,1,2,3,4,5,10,15,20 mol%). Various advanced theoretical approaches as well as calculations are utilized in terms of determining the optical properties of studied glasses. The maximum transmittance and AVT values of the glass system exceeded 80% and 79.59%, respectively. The colour coordinates are found extremely near to D65 and the achromatic point without CeO 2 contribution. According to our results, the current system has a promising ability to be utilized for coloured window applications in terms of both AVT and colour with 2% CeO 2 doping. Our results showed that, the CeO 2 additive is able to move the glass colour straight into the red spectrum by shifting the transmittance spectrum to the long-wavelength portion of the visible spectrum. With 10% CeO 2 doping, opacity in the visible area and permeability in the NIR region are obtained, and the CCT value changes from 5002 K to 2560 K. It can be concluded that a filter system with modifiable NIR or red optical characteristics may be produced through the CeO 2 alterations in borotellurite glass systems., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Background and Objectives: Quality assurance is an integral part of brachytherapy. Traditionally, radiographic films have been used for source position verification, however, in many clinics, computerized tomography simulators have replaced conventional simulators, and computerized radiography systems have replaced radiographic film processing units. With these advances, the problem of controlling source position verification without traditional radiographic films and conventional simulators has appeared. Materials and Methods: In this study, we investigated an alternative method for source position verification for brachytherapy applications. Source positions were evaluated using Gafchromic™ RTQA2 and EBT3 film and visually compared to exposed RTQA radiochromic film when using a Nucletron Oldelft Simulix HP conventional simulator and a Gammamed 12-i brachytherapy device for performance evaluation. Gafchromic film autoradiography was performed with a linear accelerator (LINAC) on-board imager (OBI). Radiochromic films are very suitable for evaluation by visual inspection with a LINAC OBI. Results: The results showed that this type of low-cost, easy-to-find material can be used for verification purposes under clinical conditions. Conclusions: It can be concluded that source-position quality assurance may be performed through a LINAC OBI device.

The goal of the current study was to investigate the hormonal modulatory efficiency of hesperidin, through its regulatory potential of immunological, inflammatory, and/or antioxidant changes in on hyperthyroidism modeled adult female albino rats. Both normal and hyperthyroidism modeled rats (140-160g) were randomly divided into four groups (10 animals each) as follows: 1) healthy animals were daily ingested with saline for six weeks, and served as control group, 2) healthy animals were intraperitoneally injected with hesperidin (50 mg/kg/day) for a similar period, 3) hyperthyroidism-modeled animals without any treatment acted as positive control, and 4) hyperthyroidism-modeled animals were treated intraperitoneally with hesperidin for a similar period. The findings showed that hesperidin significantly modulated hyperthyroidism deteriorations, this was evidenced by a remarkable decline in serum T4, FT4, T3, FT3, TNF-α, IL1β-, IL4-, IL-6, and IL-10 levels, with a minor increase in TSH and significant raise in CD4+ level. Similarly, valuable improvement was observed in the oxidative status; serum SOD, GPx, CAT, and GSH levels were dramatically enhanced, associated with remarkable drop in MDA and NO levels. Also, hesperidin demonstrated nephro-hepatoprotective and anti-atherogenic potential, this was achieved from the notable reduction in ALAT and ASAT activities as well as urea, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride close to the corresponding values of healthy group. These findings were supported by histological and immunohistochemical ones that showed a notable decrease in the expression of the calcitonin antibody. In conclusion, hesperidin possesses anti-hyperthyroidism, immunoinflammatory regulatory, and antioxidant activities that evidenced from the improvement of physio-architecture of the thyroid gland, reduction of inflammation and restoration of the impaired oxidative stress. This effect might be mechanized through immunological, inflammatory, apoptotic, and/or antioxidant modulatory pathways., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ashry, Askar, Obiedallah, Elankily, Galal El-Sahra, Zayed, Mustafa, El-Shamy, Negm, El-Beltagy, Abdel-Wahhab and Ene.)

This study's primary objective is to provide the preliminary findings of novel research on the design of Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass container that were thoroughly developed for the purpose of a nuclear material container for transportation and waste management applications. The shielding characteristics of an Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass container with a certain elemental composition against the 60 Co radioisotope was thoroughly evaluated. The energy deposition in the air surrounding the designed portable glass containers is measured using MCNPX general-purpose Monte Carlo code. Simulation studies were carried out using Lenovo-P620 workstation and the number of tracks was defined as 10 8 in each simulation phase. According to results, the indium oxide-doped C6 (TZI8) container exhibits superior protective properties compared to other conventional container materials such as 0.5Bitumen-0.5 Cement, Pb Glass composite, Steel-Magnetite concrete. In addition to its superiority in terms of nuclear safety, it is proposed that the source's simultaneous observation and monitoring, as well as the C6 (TZI8) glass structure's transparency, be underlined as significant advantages. High-density glasses, which may replace undesirable materials such as concrete and lead, provide several advantages in terms of production ease, non-toxic properties, and resource monitoring. In conclusion, the use of Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass with its high transparency and outstanding protection properties may be a substantial choice in places where concrete is required to ensure the safety of nuclear materials., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: We report the breast and chest radiation dose assessment for mammographic examinations using a three-layer heterogeneous breast phantom through the MCNPX Monte Carlo code., Methods: A three-layer heterogeneous phantom along with compression plates and X-ray source are modeled. The validation of the simulation code is obtained using the data of AAPM TG-195 report. Deposited energy amount as a function of increasing source energy is calculated over a wide energy range. The behavioral changes in X-ray absorption as well as transmission are examined using the F6 Tally Mesh extension of MCNPX code. Moreover, deposited energy amount is calculated for modeled body phantom in the same energy range., Results and Discussions: The diverse distribution of glands has a significant impact on the quantity of energy received by the various breast layers. In layers with a low glandular ratio, low-energy primary X-ray penetrability is highest. In response to an increase in energy, the absorption in layers with a low glandular ratio decreased. This results in the X-rays releasing their energy in the bottom layers. Additionally, the increase in energy increases the quantity of energy absorbed by the tissues around the breast., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 ALMisned, Elshami, Kilic, Rabaa, Zakaly, Ene and Tekin.)

Background : During mammography, a lead-acrylic protective screen is recommended to reduce radiation exposure to the unexposed breast. Objectives: This research study aimed to construct an Indium-(III)-oxide-rich tellurite-glass screen (TZI8) and compare its performance to that of lead acrylic. Materials and Methods : A three-layer heterogeneous-breast phantom was developed, using the MCNPX (version 2.7.0) Monte Carlo code. An MCNPX-simulation geometry was designed and implemented, using the lead-acrylic and TZI8 shielding screens between the right and left breast. Next, the reliability of the phantom and the variations in absorption between the lead-acrylic and TZI8 glass were investigated. Results: The findings show that the TZI8-protective-glass screen offers significantly greater radioprotection than the lead-acrylic material. The quantity of total dose absorbed in the unexposed breast was much lower for TZI8 than for lead-based acrylic. The TZI8-glass screen gives about 60% more radioprotection than the lead-acrylic screen. Conclusion: Considering the toxic lead in the structure that may be hazardous to the human tissues, the TZI8-glass screen may be used in mammography examination to provide greater radioprotection than the lead-acrylic screen, in order to greatly reduce the dose to the unexposed breast.

The nuclear spectroscopy method has long been used for advanced studies on nuclear physics. In order to decrease costs and increase the efficiency of nuclear radiation investigations, quick and efficient solutions are required. The purpose of this research was to calculate the whole energy peak efficiency values for a range of gamma-ray energies, from 30.973 keV to 1408 keV, at various source-detector distances using the MCNPX Monte Carlo code, which is extensively used in nuclear medicine, industry, and scientific research. As a result, the modeled detectors' full-energy peak efficiencies were calculated and compared to both experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations. Experiment results and prior studies using Monte Carlo simulations were found to be very consistent with these results. The counting efficiency against source-detector distance is then calculated using the modeled detectors. The data we have show that LaBr 3 (Ce) has outstanding detection properties. This study's findings might be used to improve the design of detectors for use in wide range of high-tech gamma spectroscopy and nuclear research applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The current contribution goal is to measure the distribution of the radionuclide within the exposed rock units of southwestern Sinai, Seih-Sidri area, and assess the radiological risk. Gneisses, older granites, younger gabbro, younger granites, and post granitic dikes (pegmatites) are the main rock units copout in the target area. Radioactivity, as well as radiological implications, were investigated for forty-three samples from gneisses (seven hornblende biotite gneiss and seven biotite gneiss), older granites (fourteen samples), and younger granites (fifteen samples of syenogranites) using NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. External and internal hazard index (H ex , H in ), internal and external level indices (Iα, Iγ), absorbed dose rates in the air (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AED), radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), annual gonadal dose (AGDE), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), and the value of Upper Continental Core 232 Th/ 238 U mass fractions were determined from the obtained values of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K for the examined rocks of Seih-Sidri area. The average 238 U mg/kg in hornblende biotite gneiss and biotite gneiss, older granites, and syenogranites is 2.3, 2.1, 2.7, and 8.4 mg/kg, respectively, reflecting a relatively higher concentration of uranium content in syenogranites. The results suggest that using these materials may pose risks to one's radiological health.

Melt quenching technique is used for preparing glasses with chemical formula (70P 2 O 5 )-(16 - x)CdO-(14ZnO)-(xEr 2 O 3 ), (x = 1-6 mol%). These glasses were named Er1, Er2, Er3, Er4, Er5, and Er6, respectively. Photon buildup factors, fast neutron absorption, and electron stopping of the prepared glasses were examined. Glasses' density was varied from 3.390 ± 0.003 for the Er1 glass sample to 3.412 ± 0.003 for the Er6 glass sample. The Buildup factor (BUF) spectra have relatively higher values in the Compton Scattering (CS) dominated areas compared to both Photoelectric effect (PE), and Pair Production (PP) dominated energy regions. The highest BUF appeared at the Er atom K-absorption edge, whose intensity increases as the molar concentration of Er 2 O 3 in the glasses increases. The photon absorption efficiency (PAE) of the glasses increases according to the trend (PAE) Er1 < (PAE) Er2 < (PAE) Er3 < (PAE) Er4 < (PAE) Er5 < (PAE) Er6 . Fast neutron removal cross-section, FNRC (ΣR) values of the glasses obtained via calculation varied from 0.1045-0.1039 cm -1 for Er1-Er6. Furthermore, the continuous slowing down approximation mode (CSDA) range enhances the kinetic energy of electrons for all glasses. Generally, results revealed that the investigated glasses could be applied for radiation shielding and dosimetric media.