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The essential variables used to measure radiological pollution and related human health concerns include radionuclides’ distribution and transfer factors (TFs) in plants. The TF is the radionuclide’s specific activity (Bq kg −1 ) ratio in the plant to its dirt equivalent (in dry weight). This research aimed to determine the radionuclides’ soil-to-plant TF, to evaluate natural radionuclides’ transfer level from soil to a selected cultivated crop (wheat) in the Shaqlawa district of Erbil Province, Iraq. The study randomly collected soil and cultivated plant samples from various locations. The collected samples were analyzed using HPGe gamma spectroscopy. The 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K radionuclides, the average TFs from soil to plant root were 0.032, 0.033, and 0.405, respectively. TF values indicate that approximately 3.2%, 3.3%, and 40.5% of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, respectively, were transferred from the soil to the wheat, following the order of 40 K (0.40) > 232 Th (0.033) and 226 Ra (0.032). All TFs were below the global standard of unity. A positive Pearson correlation was found among the three radionuclides in soil and plant samples. The three radionuclides were detected in soil and wheat samples, and the positive correlation among them suggested they originated from a common source in each environmental matrix. The results confirmed that the TF values from soil to wheat are safe for agricultural lands in the Shaklawa district, with no immediate radiological health implications.

Hydrochloric acid-doped polypyrrole one and two dimensions have been produced in the existence of methyl orange dye (MO) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using ferric chloride (anhydrous) as an oxidizing agent via oxidative polymerization method. Both MO and SDS played an exclusive rule in the preparation of polypyrrole. Using MO produces PPy nanotubes (PPy-M) while using SDS produces sheet form (PPy-S). The use of doped polymer instead of polymer is one of the most critical tasks to improve the electrical conductivity of the fabricated polymer solar cells. The structure of doped polypyrrole was examined by FTIR. Surface morphologies were studied by SEM technique. The thin films of the doped polypyrrole [PPy-S] TF and [PPy-M] TF were fabricated by utilizing the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique at 5 × 10 −5  mbar with a thickness of 150 ± 5 nm/25 °C. The doped polypyrrole thin films were tested by both experimental and, DFT theoretical methods (DMOl 3 ), including FT-IR spectrum and optical properties. The results specifically determine that Δ E g Opt values and it found up to 2.88 eV and 2.15 eV by the DFT calculations of HOMO and LUMO for [PPy-S] and [PPy-M], respectively. This result indicates that the doped polypyrrole tubes have a conductor property more than [PPy-S]. The heterojunction represents a photo-voltaic performance through V oc = 0.59 V , J sc = 4.88 mA/cm , FF = 0.532 and, η = 4.85 underillumation neath 50 mW/cm 2 white-light lighting. The comparison between the one and two-dimensional polypyrrole was achieved based on different parameters.

Dumpsites in Lagos raise the contamination of the environment. This study aimed to determine radon exhalation rates and their changes with meteorological parameters on six dumpsites using the accumulation method. The result uncovers the critical relationship between radon concentration and relative humidity at a 5% (p < 0.05) level. Radon exhalation rates varied between 20 and 50 mBq − 2  h − 1 . This study is an illustrative map and an essential reference for studying the pollution from radon gas and its impact on the region’s residents, especially as it poses a threat to their health.

Background Neuropsychiatric manifestations are frequently reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study was done to describe electroencephalographic (EEG) findings in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestation (NPSLE). Results Among 60 SLE patients, there were 50 females (83.3%) and 10 males (16.7%). EEG abnormalities were reported in 12 patients out of 30 (40%) with NPSLE, while all patients with non-NPSLE ( n = 30) had no EEG abnormalities; diffuse slowing (20%) was the most common abnormalities, followed by generalized epileptiform activity (13.3%), and lastly temporal epileptiform activity (6.7%). Seizure was the most reported neuropsychiatric disorder in 13 patients (43.3%); 8 of them had abnormal EEG (61.5%). Periventricular white matter lesion (23.3%) followed by infarction (13.3%) were the most common MRI brain findings among 53.3% of NPSLE group. Half of the cases with EEG abnormality had normal brain MRI. SLEDAI score and ACL IgM positivity were higher in the NPSLE group than the non-NPSLE group. EEG is not a sensitive or specific test for detecting NPSLE with sensitivity (37.5%) and specificity (57.1%). Conclusion Not all patients with NPSLE must have abnormal brain MRI or EEG. EEG is a useful assistant tool in the assessment of different manifestations of NPSLE, but it cannot be used as a screening test alone and must be supplemented by neuroimaging studies.

Objective To examine for presence of subclinical neuropsychiatric lupus and cerebral atherosclerosis and their correlation with MRI/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings and disease activity and to find if these radiological changes compared with laboratory parameters could be predictive of the early NP affection aiming for early management of these dysfunctions. Patients and methods Thirty adult female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were enrolled, with assessment of SLE disease activity using Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; psychometric evaluations using the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination to assess for cognitive dysfunction; Hamilton Depression Rating Scale andHamilton Anxiety Scale to assess for depression and anxiety, respectively; and brain MRI/MRA to detect any changes in subclinical cases. Results The mean age was 31.7 years. Twelve (40%) patients had positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies with or without clinically evident antiphospholipid syndrome, 22 (73.33%) had different NP manifestations, 13 (43.3%) depression, 15 (50%) anxiety, and 16 (53.3%) cognitive dysfunction. All patients with depression and anxiety and 87.5% of patients with dementia showed abnormalities on MRI. All patients with positive aPL showed abnormalities on MRI, whereas abnormalities on MRI were found in only eight patients with SLE with negative aPL (100 vs. 44.4%). There was a significant correlation between SLE disease activity and both NP manifestations and abnormalities on MRI/MRA, and also between aPL antibodies and NP manifestations. Abnormalities on MRI included discrete white matter lesions, cortical atrophy, and gross infarctions. Conclusion Significant number of patients with SLE without overt NP manifestations had subclinical cerebrovascular and cognitive dysfunctions, depression, and anxiety by simple bedside questionnaires. SLE disease activity positively correlates with NP manifestations. The presence of aPL antibodies is a strong risk factor for developing NP SLE. Several distinct brain MRI patterns were observed in patients with active NP SLE, suggestive of different pathogenic mechanisms

Using a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe), the natural and artificial radioactivity in soil samples taken from agricultural regions near the Al-Kasak oil refinery were examined. According to estimates, the average specific activities of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K, and 137 Cs were 20, 15, 283, and 3.6 Bq kg −1 , respectively. The specific activities of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K, and 137 Cs in the soil samples were comparatively lower than the average values of these radionuclides worldwide. The investigation also analyzed several radiological hazard indices. The hazard indices calculated in this study were utilized to assess the potential health risks associated with radiation in the soil. The results indicate that these indices are significantly below their permissible limits. Therefore, the soil in the study area does not pose any excessive radiation exposure to the inhabitants and can be safely used as construction material without presenting an immediate radiological threat to the public.

Background Osteoporosis and related fragility fractures are one of the most common complications seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and dramatically affect quality of life. Objective To evaluate changes in bone mineral density in patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis (< 1 year) and its correlation if any with a modified DAS-28 score and simple erosion narrowing score (SENS). Methods This study included 30 patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis fulfilling the new American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis and 20 healthy volunteers as controls. All were subjected to a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, liver function tests, renal function tests, rheumatoid factor, and plain x-rays of the hands and feet. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DEXA was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) of the left proximal femur, lumbar spine (L1–L4), and lower distal radius at the time of recruitment. Results In the RA patients, 13.3% had osteoporosis, 50% had osteopenia, and 36.7% had normal BMD. The most common site of osteoporosis was the lumbar spine (four patients, 13.3%) followed by the femur (two patients, 6.6%), and forearm (only one patient, 3.3%). There was a significantly higher percentage of osteoporosis among RA males than females and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.009). Osteoporosis was more common in patients treated with corticosteroids and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) than in patients treated with only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P = 0.004). Higher disease activity (DAS-28) was found in RA patients with osteoporosis compared to RA patients with normal BMD or osteopenia, but the difference was not statistically significant. Osteoporotic RA patients were found to have a higher SENS score for radiological damage than nonosteoporotic ones. Conclusion BMD changes do occur in patients with early RA, and are not necessarily correlated with disease activity (DAS-28). However, a significant negative correlation was found between BMD and the score of radiological damage (SENS). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is an important investigation to assess BMD in early RA patients.