[en] A set of measurements have been conducted to determine the levels activity of gamma-emitters present in infant formula. The study of different samples shows the presence of the following radionuclides: ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K with respectively average activity of 0.52 ± 0.087, 0.51 ± 0.062, 371.98 ± 3.68 Bq/kg. The mean annual doses lead to 0.62 and 0.24 mSv/year whereas the total risk is about 7.91 × 10^-6 and 5.32 × 10^-6 respectively ≤ 1 year and 1-2 years old infants. The obtained results show that no significant radiation dose and no risk to the infants due to consumption of these milks. (author)

[en] Objective: To assess the disruption in the number of kupffer cells induced by isoniazid and role of propolis extract in male albino mice. Methodology: This randomized Control Trial (RCT) was executed on healthy male albino mice, which were kept in animal house of University of Health Sciences, Lahore in 2012. Group I; received normal diet and fresh water orally. Group II; received normal diet, fresh water and isoniazid 100mg/kg body weight orally for 30 days. Group III, IV and V received 150 mg/kg body weight of propolis extract orally for 10 days, 20 and 30 days, respectively and isoniazid 100mg/kg b.w. orally for next 30 days. Kupffer cells were inclusively enumerated in H & E stained sections after calibrating ocular reticule with the help of light microscope. Results: Group I showed the normal number of kupffer cells. Group II showed that remarkable kupffer cells hyperplasia which was significantly reduced in Group IV and V with increasing duration of administration of same dose of propolis. Conclusion: Isoniazid is a hepatotoxic agent which is shown by kupffer cells hyperplasia in liver and Propolis decreased number of kupffer cells which showed its hepatoprotectivity. (author)

[en] For the first time, 1D Ni ion doped CdS nanowires (NWs) were synthesized via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The synthesized Cd_0.886Ni_0.114S NWs were single crystalline. We have reported here the investigation of optical, electrical and magnetic properties of prepared NWs for optoelectronic and spintronic applications. Successful incorporation of Ni ions in an individual CdS NW has been confirmed through several characterization tools: significantly higher angle and phonon mode shift were observed in the XRD and Raman spectra. SEM-EDX and XPS analysis also confirmed the presence of Ni²⁺ ions. Room temperature photoluminescence (RT-PL) showed multiple peaks: two emission peaks in the visible region centered at 517.1 nm (green), 579.2 nm (orange), and a broad-band near infra-red (NIR) emission centered at 759.9 nm. The first peak showed 5 nm red shift upon Ni²⁺ doping, hinting at the formation of exciton magnetic polarons (EMPs), and broad NIR emission was observed in both chlorides and bromides, which was assigned to d−d transition of Ni ions whose energy levels lying at 749.51 nm (13 342 cm^–1) and 750.98 nm (13 316 cm^–1) are very close to NIR emission. Orange emission not only remained at same peak position—its PL intensity was also significantly enhanced at 78 K; this was assigned to d−d transition (³A_2g → ¹E_g) of Ni²⁺ ions. It was observed that 11.4% Ni²⁺ ion doping enhanced the conductivity of our sample around 20 times, and saturation magnetization (M_s) increased from 7.2 × 10⁻⁵ Am²/Kg to 1.17 × 10⁻⁴ Am²/Kg, which shows promise for optoelectronic and spintronic applications. (paper)

[en] Fractional-order Geomagnetic Field model is considered in this work. A sufficient condition is used to prove that the solution of the fractional-order Geomagnetic Field model exists and is unique in a specific region. Conditions for continuous dependence on initial conditions in our model are discussed. In addition, the conditions of local stability of the model's five equilibrium points are obtained. Chaotic attractors are shown to exist in the proposed fractional model. Also, Lyapunov exponents of the fractional-order Geomagnetic Field model are calculated and computations of Lyapunov spectrum as functions of all the model's parameters and fractional-order are performed. Moreover, a novel linear control technique based on Lyapunov stability theory is introduced here to stabilize the chaotic states of the fractional-order Geomagnetic Field model to its five equilibrium points. Finally, to verify the validity of our theoretical results and the effectiveness of the control scheme, numerical simulations based on the Atangana–Baleanu fractional integral in Caputo-sense are done to produce the chaotic attractors.

[en] The present study describes preparation of doped activated carbon (NAC), employing waste orange peel as carbon source, melamine as nitrogen dopant and KOH as activating agent. The prepared NAC samples were textually characterized using the techniques of surface area and pore size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. As evident from characterization results, the synthesized NAC materials own porous structure and offers high surface area , and pore volume . Such useful characteristics of NAC indicate its suitability as electrode for supercapacitors. Electrochemical performance of NAC material was evaluated in 6 M KOH aqueous solution, employing the standard electrochemical avenues of analysis. It was found that synthesized NAC sample exhibits high specific capacitance , specific energy and specific power at current load of . The better electrochemical performance of the NAC is probably due to enhanced surface area and availability of nitrogen functional groups. Thus, the porous structure and nitrogen-doping characteristics make NAC a potential electrode material for applications in the field of supercapacitors. (paper)

[en] Fractal-fractional operators have been crucial in detecting some hidden chaotic phenomena that could not be exposed using classical or simple fractional differential and integral operators. To provide new possibilities for capturing more chaotic behaviors, the present study is carried out for the dynamics of a new chaotic system by implementing fractal-fractional differential operator of Mittag-Leffler type kernel. It is also theoretically proved that the present model will have at least one solution and it will also have a unique solution. Numerical scheme is implemented through MATLAB software for the graphical solution of the proposed problem. Some results are found and portrayed through different graphs.

[en] In the present study, activated carbon has been prepared from custard apple (Annona squamosa) shell via chemical activation process, employing zinc chloride as activating agent. Textural properties such as surface morphology, vibratory response, and structural parameters of synthesised activated carbon were studied using SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, surface area and pore size analysis. Electrochemical characteristics of prepared activated carbon were studied by using it as an efficient supercapacitor electrode. The investigation was done in gel polymer electrolyte using conventional electrochemical techniques. High magnitudes of specific capacitance (91.1 F g⁻¹), specific energy (12.7 Wh kg⁻¹) and specific power (14.7 kW kg⁻¹) at current density of 1 mA cm⁻¹ were observed for assembled supercapacitor cell. Also, assembled supercapacitor cell showed notable cyclic stability, with ∼90% retention in capacitance value for more than 25 000 cycles. Therefore, synthesised activated carbon may be assumed to be profitable candidate for energy storage applications. (paper)

[en] A set of measurements have been carried out in order to determine the activity-levels in some powdered milks available in Tunisia. The study has shown that the average activity is about 160 ± 19 and 2.26 ± 0.5 Bq/kg respectively for ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs, whereas it is below the detection limit for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th. The mean annual ingestion dose is about 102 and 225 μSv/y for respectively ≤ 1 year and 1–2 years old infants. The calculation of the radiological risk show that no significant threat on the infant's health due to consumption of these milks. (author)

[en] In the present work, the performance characteristics of symmetric supercapacitor employing activated carbon electrodes have been studied in pure ionic liquid (1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, EMITFSI) and its gel polymer. Activated carbon (AC) was derived from chitosan using chemical activation method. The influence of activation temperature on the porous characteristics of prepared AC was comprehensively investigated, employing surface area and pore size analyzer. Other textural properties of synthesized AC were investigated employing the techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was prepared employing solution cast method. Symmetric supercapacitor cells were prepared and their performance was evaluated in two-electrode system employing standard electrochemical characterization techniques. It was observed that the supercapacitor cell using GPE offers superior performance (in the context of specific capacitance and cyclic stability), as compared to the supercapacitor cell employing pure ionic liquid (IL). (paper)

[en] Highlights: • Impact of wildfire pollutants on COVID-19 cases and deaths was examined in 10 counties in California. • PM 2.5 concentration increased by 220.71%; CO by 151.05%, and O₃ by 19.56%. • COVID-19 cases and deaths increased by 56.9%, and 148.21% respectively. • PM-2.5, CO, and O₃ concentrations were temporally associated with increases in the incidence and mortality of COVID-19. Various regions of California have experienced a large number of wildfires this year, at the same time the state has been experiencing a large number of cases of and deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of wildfire allied pollutants, including particulate matter (PM-2.5 μm), carbon monoxide (CO), and Ozone (O₃) with the dynamics of new daily cases and deaths due to SARS-COV 2 infection in 10 counties, which were affected by wildfire in California. The data on COVID-19 pertaining to daily new cases and deaths was recorded from Worldometer Web. The daily PM-2.5 μm, CO, and O₃ concentrations were recorded from three metrological websites: BAAQMD- Air Quality Data; California Air Quality Index-AQI; and Environmental Protection Agency- EPA. The data recorded from the date of the appearance of first case of (SARS-CoV-2) in California region to the onset of wildfire, and from the onset of wildfire to September 22, 2020. After the wildfire, the PM2.5 concentration increased by 220.71%; O₃ by 19.56%; and the CO concentration increased by 151.05%. After the wildfire, the numbers of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 both increased respectively by 56.9% and 148.2%. The California wildfire caused an increase in ambient concentrations of toxic pollutants which were temporally associated with an increase in the incidence and mortality of COVID-19.