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In this study, the shielding properties of novel polymer composites, developed by integrating glycidyl methacrylate with nanoparticles of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and tungsten oxide (WO3), were explored. The ability of the composites to attenuate gamma radiation was evaluated by measuring the emissions from Ba-133, Co-60, Cs-137, and Na-22. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra were obtained for both the pure polymer glycidyl methacrylate and the samples containing nanostructures of Bi2O3, Bi2O3/WO3, and WO3, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the samples. The incorporation of Bi2O3 and WO3 nanoparticles into the polymer glycidyl methacrylate matrix significantly enhanced the composites' ability to attenuate gamma radiation, as demonstrated by the increased linear and mass attenuation coefficients. The results showed good agreement between the experiment and the XCOM database. The composites exhibited significant efficiency in attenuating lower-energy gamma rays, which is particularly advantageous in the medical and nuclear industries.

In this work, we developed a highly sensitive liquid scintillator (LS) using Coumarin 450 (C450) dye to detect gamma ray and localize Compton edges (CEs). C450 exhibited absorption and fluorescence peaks at 350 nm and 407 nm, respectively, in toluene, at an optimized concentration (3 mM). The LS, contained in a standard glass container (1.8 cm diameter, 3.6 cm height), showed an emission peak in the blue region, matching the high quantum yield of typical PMT photocathodes. We exposed the LS to various gamma radiation sources (137Cs, 60Co, and 22Na), recording responses for different PMT voltages. Gaussian fitting of pulse height distribution spectrum allowed CE identification at the half-height for all PMT voltages. We compared theoretical and experimental results to a GEANT4-simulated detector, obtaining CE positions for radiation interactions and scintillation photon transport. The calibrated GEANT4 simulation was compared to experimental spectra to locate the Compton edges.

CeO2-CePO4 and Ag@CeO2-CePO4 nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared using Penaeus semisulcatus and characterized by various analytical techniques. The NCs exhibited spherical morphology, with average particle sizes measuring 2.36 nm, 3.30 nm and 29.64 nm for the samples air dried, annealed at 550 °C and 800 °C respectively, and the Selected Area Electron Diffraction patterns from HR-TEM revealed their crystalline nature. In 3d X-ray Photoelectron Spectra (XPS) of NCs, the highest binding energies were observed at 916.46 eV (3d3/2) and 898.16 eV (3d5/2) with spin–orbit splitting of 18.3 eV. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns of the NCs showed peaks typical of both CeO2 and CePO4 phases. The Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectrum contained bands due to Ce-O stretching at 560 cm−1 and PO43- groups at 1008 and 711 cm−1, which was further substantiated by Raman spectrum, which had an intense peak at 468 cm−1 corresponding to F2g band of CeO2 and another peak at 976 cm−1 due to PO43- tetrahedron. In the Ultraviolet-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (UV-Vis DRS), the broad absorption peak at 352 nm and minor peaks around 300 nm confirmed the formation of CeO2-CePO4 NCs. The green synthesized NCs were excellent fluorescence sensors for Pb2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ in a wide range of concentrations, from 5.0x10-9 M to 4.0x10-5 M. The concentration Vs. emission fitting plot had three distinctive linear ranges. At a low concentration range (5x10-9 to 3.5x10-7 M), the limit of detection for Pb2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ was found to be 2.41x10-8, 2.56x10-8 and 3.11x10-8 M. The sensitive detection of a mixture of heavy metal ions in ppb levels by biocompatible NCs gained insight in treating aqueous industrial wastes. Further, NCs showed cytotoxicity and UV shielding properties.

The properties of a conjugated copolymer (CP), poly[(9,9-Dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene) (PDVF-co-MEH-PV), were investigated in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using absorption, fluorescence, laser, and time-resolved spectroscopy. CPs are usually dissolved in low-polar solvents. Although GO does not dissolve well, rGO and PDVF-co-MEH-PV dissolve in chloroform due to their oxygen acceptor sites. Hence, we studied rGO/PDVF-co-MEH-PV (CP/rGO), performing all experiments and simulations in chloroform. We performed simulations on PDVF-co-MEH-PV, approximate GO, and rGO using time-dependent density-functional theory calculations to comprehend the molecular dynamics and interactions at the molecular level. The simulation polymer used a tail-truncated oligomer model with up to three monomer units. The simulation and experimental results were in agreement. Further, the PDVF-co-MEH-PV exhibited fluorescence, laser quenching, rGO-mediated laser blinking, and spectral broadening effects when GO and rGO concentrations increased. The experimental and simulation results were compared to provide a plausible mechanism of interaction between PDVF-co-MEH-PV and rGO. We observed that for lower concentrations of rGO, the interaction did not considerably decrease the amplified spontaneous emissions of PDVF-co-MEH-PV. However, the fluorescence of PDVF-co-MEH-PV was considerably quenched at higher concentrations of rGO. These results could be helpful for future applications, such as in sensors, solar cells, and optoelectronic device design. To demonstrate the sensor capability of these composites, a paper-based sensor was designed to detect ethanol and nitrotoluene. An instrumentation setup was proposed that is cheap, reusable, and multifunctional.

Faris Abushamma,1,2 Narjis Nassar,1 Sulafa Omar Najjar,1 Sobhe Mahmoud Hijaze,1 Amer Koni,3,4 Sa’ed H Zyoud,4– 6 Amir Aghbar,1,2 Rifat Hanbali,7 Hashim Hashim8 1Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 2Department of Urology, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 3Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Hematology and Oncology Department, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 4Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 5Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 6Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 7Department of Rheumatology, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 8Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UKCorrespondence: Faris AbushammaDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, PalestineEmail farisabushamma@hotmail.comPurpose: To assess the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) female patients with assessment of LUTS and its impact on quality of life (QoL).Patients and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study of female patients with RA was conducted. Demographics and clinical data, Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire (BFLUTS), and the RA Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) were all collected. A correlation has been made between all variables to assess the factors that induce LUTS in RA and the impact on QoL.Results: Eighty-nine patients were enrolled. About 94.4% of RA patients had at least one symptom of LUTS. Concerning DAS28, 55.1% had moderate disease activity and 16.9% had high disease activity, which was not significantly associated with BFLUTS or QoL. The prevalence of overactive bladder syndrome symptoms (OAB: frequency, urgency, nocturia, and urgency incontinence) were found to be 65.2%, 59.6%, 56.2%, and 30.3%, respectively. Stress incontinence was prevalent in 40.4% of patients. The overall interference with life was evident in 27 (30.3%) patients secondary to LUTS. Body mass index (BMI) was positively and significantly correlated with the presence of storage symptoms (r = 0.306, p = 0.004) and with the total BFLUTS (r = 0.251, p = 0.018). BFLUTS subdomains and total scores were significantly correlated to poor QoL. The correlation of the BFLUTS QoL was found to be r = 0.584, p < 0.001 with storage symptoms, r = 0.399, p < 0.001 with voiding symptoms, and r = 0.757, p < 0.001 with incontinence.Conclusion: LUTS is a prominent and significant disability that directly affects QoL in RA. BMI is an independent factor that is linked to LUTS in RA patients.Keywords: lower urinary tract symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, quality of life, DAS28, BFLUTS, overactive bladder

We report the design of flexible, inexpensive, enduring, and efficient composite scintillation based on polystyrene (PS)/blue-emitting conjugated oligomer (CO)/ZnO nanoparticles. The oligomer utilized was 1,4-bis(9-ethyl-3-carbazo-vinylene)-9,9-dihexyl-fluorene (ADS086BE or BECV-DHF). Polystyrene was used as a matrix, and ZnO NPs were used as γ-ray stoppers. The formation of blends was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and EDS. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed micron-sized bun (nearly square)-shaped domains, noodle-like structures, and submicron-sized domains with square-shaped nanosized domains for PS, PS/BECV-DHF, and PS/BECV-DHF/ZnO scintillator samples. The optical properties show that PS/BECV-DHF and PS/BECV-DHF/ZnO had absorption peaks at 350 and 375 nm and fluorescence peaks at 455 nm and 475 nm, respectively. The fabricated scintillators were coupled to the R6094 Hamamatsu Photomultiplier and gamma data acquisition system based on a multichannel analyzer (MCA). Gamma spectra were measured via three gamma-ray sources, Am-241, Cs-137 and Co-60. The results show better scintillation counting in the fabricated PS/BECV-DHF/ZnO than PS/BECV-DHF and the PS sample reference samples.

In this work, different ion co‐doped Mg1‐xAl2O4 nanophosphors, coded as M5Cr‐5LaA, M5Cr‐5CuA, M0.07Si‐0.03CeA, and M0.05Ti‐0.05LaA, where 5Cr‐5La, 5Cr‐5Cu, 0.07Si‐0.03Ce, and 0.05Ti‐0.05La representing the added ions (mol%), were prepared using the sol–gel method. Phase structure, transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, and element feasibility were checked using X‐ray diffraction, TEM analysis, and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Their thermoluminescence (TL) response was checked using a 5 Gy γ‐test dose. The M0.05Ti‐0.05LaA sample was found to be best for the TL response with an ~1.1 times response compared with that of the MTS‐700 commercial detector. A wide range of dose–responses for the M0.05Ti‐0.05LaA sample was found up to a 20 Gy γ‐dose with the lowest detectable dose of ⁓23 μGy. Photon attenuation parameter results were Zeff ⁓10, which mean that the M0.05Ti‐0.05LaA sample could be considered as a near tissue equivalent material. Due to this study, the M0.05Ti‐0.05LaA sample can be considered as a promising detector for application in personal and medical dosimetric monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, different ions incorporated Ca12Al14O33 nanophosphors, labeled as C0.5Ti-0.5LaA, C0.1La-0.03CuA, C0.2Cr-0.08EuA and C0.2Cr-0.07CeA (where added ions in mol%), were synthesized by sol–gel method and their phase purity were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Their thermoluminescence (TL) response were checked using γ—test dose of 5 Gy and we found that sample C0.2Cr-0.07CeA has the best TL response. Good linearity dependence was found at 0.5 up to 22 Gy with lowest detectable dose of 60 µGy. Analysis of the main dosimetric peaks using different experimental techniques indicates that trap depth (E) and pre-exponential factor (s) are in the average range of 0.39–1.0 eV and 2.09 × 1014–2.60 × 1014 s–1, respectively. Our findings elucidated that C0.2Cr-0.07CeA sample can be recommended as a suitable γ-ray dosimeter especially for the skeletal dosimetric purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]