Iraqi Journal of Physics

This article proposes a new technique for determining the rate of contamination. First, a generative adversarial neural network (ANN) parallel processing technique is constructed and trained using real and secret images. Then, after the model is stabilized, the real image is passed to the generator. Finally, the generator creates an image that is visually similar to the secret image, thus achieving the same effect as the secret image transmission. Experimental results show that this technique has a good effect on the security of secret information transmission and increases the capacity of information hiding. The metric signal of noise, a structural similarity index measure, was used to determine the success of colour image-hiding techniques within ANN. The results of the ANN were in sequence: 41.2813, 0.6914. The results of the ANN were in sequence 41.2813, 0.6914. These results provide insights into how well the hidden information is concealed within the image and the extent to which the visual integrity of the image is preserved.

In this study, twenty samples of wheat flour were collected from local markets. Thirteen of these samples were local flour with different commercial names, and seven were imported flour with different commercial names. Three radionuclides (U-238, Th-232, K-40) were detected in all the wheat flour samples with a multichannel buffer (MCB) detector. The value of the specific activity of the local flour for the element U-238 ranged between 4.34 and 11.88 Bq/kg, with an average value of 7.98 Bq/ kg, as for the element Th-232, its specific activity ranged between 3.22 and 4.84 Bq/ kg, with an average value of 3.94 Bq/kg. For the element potassium K-40, the specific activity ranged between 220.45 and 290.65 Bq/kg with an average value of 248.63 Bq/kg. The average specific activity of imported flour for the element uranium U-238 ranged between 1.25 and 4.38 Bq/ kg, with an average value of 2.48 Bq/kg. As for the element Th-232, its specific activity ranged between 0.22 and 2.88 Bq/kg, with an average value of 1.51 Bq/ kg. As for the element potassium K-40, its specific activity ranged between 152.23 and 161.32 Bq/ kg with an average value of 158.19 Bq/kg. The radioactivity dose calculated for all samples is 0.424 mSv.y-1, which is lower than the allowable limit of 1 mSv.y-1. It was shown through this study that the radioactivity level of local flour was higher than that of imported flour.
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In this study, the charge density distribution was calculated using the folding model, which has been applied to study the roles upon the center of mass and Pauli pair association affect the density relying on the efficient two-body interactions, as a formula for the two-body density applicable to limit nuclei may be derived in terms of the pair correlation function for 20Ne and 24Mg nuclei. The elastic electrons scattering form factors F(q) and the root of the mean square charge radii 〈r^2 〉^(1/2)were determined. The inelastic longitudinal electron scattering form factors associated with the isosceles transitioning T = 0 of the(J_i^π→J_f^π): ( 0^+→2^+ ) and (0^+→4^+) for the 20Ne and 24Mg nuclei were determined. A wave function within the model space, which is defined by the orbits 〖1d〗_(5/2) , 〖2s〗_(1/2) and 〖1d〗_(3/2), is unable to produce an acceptable form factor. Using the folding model to estimate the lower state form for distribution of charge density and adopting the shape of the Tassie model, the core polarization transition density is calculated. An astounding understanding of the computed inelastic longitudinal F(q)'s and those of observational data is seen for all investigated nuclei, and it is noted that the core polarization effects, which reflect the group modes, are crucial to this outcome.

Nuclear medicine makes considerable use of radioisotopes. Enhancing safe practice and promoting radiation protection measures in the radiology department is greatly aided by the analysis of occupational doses received by medical radiation workers, particularly nuclear medicine staff who deal with radioisotopes. The current study sought to establish the most effective dose of F-FDG18 for PET/CT department personnel. An electronic dosimeter measured the whole-body doses received by technologists during 3 months between March 2024 and May 2024 in two PET/CT departments for eight medical staff, three at Al-Andalus hospital and five at Al-Kawthar hospital. In the Al-Andalus hospital PET/CT department, the mean whole-body dose for technologists (1, 2, 3) was (0.19±0.23, 0.055±0.035, and 0.045±0.021) mSv, respectively. At Al-Kawthar hospital, the average whole-body dosages to technologists (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) were (0.053 ± 0.005, 0.053 ± 0.005, 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.056 ± 0.015) mSv, respectively. Although the individual doses are under the permissible limits, the increased workload would necessitate greater staff doses. As a result, both facilities must endeavor to examine their operating procedures and lower their radiation dose.

The research target explores how the bursting current and sodium sulfate (Na2S) concentration affect the structural and morphological properties of lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles. Three currents of 50, 60, and 70 A were run via a 0.5 mm-diameter lead wire. By dissolving 1, 0.75, 0.5 g of the sodium sulfate in 100 ml of water, 3 concentrations of sodium sulfate salt 10, 7.5, and 5 mg/cm3 were obtained. The sulfur ions react with lead ions when the wire explodes, producing PbS nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) of the particle structure revealed a face centered cube arrangement (fcc). The nanoparticles' size and form were detected utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM images showed that the PbS nanoparticle is spherical and that there is a correlation between the current and the size of the nanoparticles. The average particle size was measured at 30, 24, and 36 nm at currents of 50, 60, and 70 A, respectively. The variation in lead sulfate concentration slightly impacted the morphology and dimensions of the particles. This enables us to deduce the viability of creating lead sulfate nanoparticles in an easy, cost-effective, high-purity, and environmentally friendly technique.

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to analyse the main properties of Aloe Vera plasma, where the plasma is generated using a plasma jet. Several parameters of the plasma are measured, including electron temperature (Te), electron density (ne), plasma frequency (fp), Debye length (λD), and Debye number (ND). The study is based on the use of different laser energies ranging from 100 to 400 mJ. The Boltzmann scheme was applied to evaluate the electron temperature, which is based on the analysis of the spectral intensity of optical emissions from the plasma. Stark line broadening was used to figure out the electron density. This method shows how the electric fields created by electrons in the plasma change the width of the spectral lines. In this experiment, the target (Aloe Vera material) was exposed to the laser from a distance of 8 cm. In comparison, the emitted radiation was measured using an optical fiber at a distance of 0.5 cm from the target. All measurements were performed in air, where the electron temperature ranged between 0.793 and 1.124 eV. The results indicated that the electron temperature and density increased with increasing laser power. This increase is in line with expectations, as higher laser power leads to greater detuning of matter and an increase in the number of electrons generated in the plasma, which increases the plasma density and temperature.

This research investigates the properties and behaviour of magnesium (Mg) and magnesium/carbon (Mg/C) plasmas generated using the electric explosion strips technique, a method noted for producing large quantities of nanomaterials and generating plasma in confined environments. Plasma was created by passing high current densities through a metal stripe immersed in distilled, deionized water, leading to rapid ionization. Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) was employed to analyse the plasma properties, as it preserves the original state of the plasma and allows for detailed characterization based on emitted optical spectra. Key parameters, including electron temperature (Te) and electron density (ne), were determined using the Boltzmann diagram and Stark broadening method, respectively. The study observed that increasing exploding current, ranging from 25 to 125 A, enhanced the ionization processes, leading to higher electron temperatures and densities. Te increases from 0.71 to 0.97 eV and ne increases from 21.41 × 1016 to 25.37 × 1016 cm-3 for magnesium plasma. At the same current value, Te climbed from 0.92 to 1.10 eV, and the electron density increased from 11.5×1017 to 19.7×1017 cm-3 when the magnesium bar detonated together with the carbon rod. The findings highlight the significant effect of detonation current on plasma properties, which is attributed to enhanced heating mechanisms and increased ionization, contributing to higher electron densities and temperatures.

This research investigates the properties and behaviour of magnesium (Mg) and magnesium/carbon (Mg/C) plasmas generated using the electric explosion strips technique, a method noted for producing large quantities of nanomaterials and generating plasma in confined environments. Plasma was created by passing high current densities through a metal stripe immersed in distilled, deionized water, leading to rapid ionization. Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) was employed to analyse the plasma properties, as it preserves the original state of the plasma and allows for detailed characterization based on emitted optical spectra. Key parameters, including electron temperature (Te) and electron density (ne), were determined using the Boltzmann diagram and Stark broadening method, respectively. The study observed that increasing exploding current, ranging from 25 to 125 A, enhanced the ionization processes, leading to higher electron temperatures and densities. Te increases from 0.71 to 0.97 eV and ne increases from 21.41 × 1016 to 25.37 × 1016 cm-3 for magnesium plasma. At the same current value, Te climbed from 0.92 to 1.10 eV, and the electron density increased from 11.5×1017 to 19.7×1017 cm-3 when the magnesium bar detonated together with the carbon rod. The findings highlight the significant effect of detonation current on plasma properties, which is attributed to enhanced heating mechanisms and increased ionization, contributing to higher electron densities and temperatures.

Zinc oxide/ Tin oxide (ZnO/SnO2) nanocomposite thin films are prepared on glass substrates by spin coating and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) techniques, utilizing various ZnO/SnO2 ratios. The fabricated thin films are exposed to annealing at 300°C to improve their crystallinity. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties of the produced ZnO/SnO2 nanocomposite thin films are examined. The field emission scanning emission microscopy (FESEM) images of ZnO and ZnO/SnO2 nanocomposite thin films fabricated via the spin coating process demonstrated an increase in particle size from 11 to 18 nm when the ZnO ratio increased from 50% to 90%. The minimum particle size for samples generated via PLD was 6.5 nm, achieved with a ZnO:SnO2 ratio of 70:30. The XRD results indicated that the ZnO and ZnO/SnO2 nanocomposite thin films, prepared via spin coating and PLD methods, exhibited the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO and the tetragonal structure of SnO2. The optical energy gap of pure ZnO produced by both methods was 3.2 eV, which increased to 3.8 eV for 50ZnO/50SnO2 nanocomposite thin films prepared using the spin coating method. The energy gap of 70ZnO/30SnO2 nanocomposite thin films was 3.7 eV when employing the PLD method.

Graphene nanoplatelets have received extensive attention from the scientific community in the 21st century because of their two-dimensional planar structure, high surface area, functionalization abilities, and remarkable electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. In this work, the fabrications of graphene platelets/epoxy nanocomposites, with weight ratios of (0.002, 0.004, 0.006, and 0.008), were synthesized by the combined action of centrifuge and sonication techniques to reduce the aggregation and agglomeration of the graphene. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verifies the prepared samples by the presence of main, distinguishing peaks associated with vibrational groups. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) shows a good dispersion of the graphene in the epoxy, where it is homogeneously dispersed by exhibiting less agglomeration and aggregation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows the average Ra value of the epoxy resin was 29 nm. In comparison, the graphene-based composites were less than 5 nm, significantly decreasing the surface roughness by adding a small amount of nanofillers. Surface roughness shows that epoxy is rougher than nanocomposites.

This paper aimed to test the epoxy and polyester blends as an organic coating on mild steel against the harsh marine environment (NaCl 3.5 wt%) that causes corrosion. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and fitting impedance data by ZsimpWin 3.22 software were used to estimate the barrier of the samples for different exposure times (30, 60, 90, and 120 min). One equivalent electrical circuit was used to fix the physical barrier to get an appropriate fitting. Epoxy and polyester blend coating showed excellent corrosion protection for steel. The blend coating showed better protection and stability against aggressive salt solutions over time. The connection between the coating film's dielectric properties (impedance spectrum) and how it acts as a physical barrier protection tells us about the electrochemical process's capacitive behavior. It lets us guess how it will be a barrier to protection in the real world. The observation is the radius of a semi-circle of a real part and the imaginary part of impedance (Z) in the Nyquist plot. The exponential power (n) of the constant phase element (CPE) is much less than one, indicating that CPE is far from a pure capacitor. All the phase angles for all and impedance with frequency in the Bode plot showed behavior similar to immersion times. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) appears as a thin peak topography with uniform disruption, which refers to a constant roughness for the specimen surface.

This study explores the preparation, structural, and spectroscopic characterization of activated carbon derived from date pits using calcium chloride as an activating agent. Date pits, an abundant agricultural by-product, were processed into activated carbon through chemical activation with varying ratios of calcium chloride. The resulting activated carbon samples were thoroughly analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XRD analysis confirmed the presence of crystalline and amorphous carbon phases, with diffraction peaks corresponding to the 101, 110, and 20 planes, indicating successful carbonization and the formation of ordered structures. FE-SEM images showed that pores grew significantly, with pores that were bigger and more noticeable in samples that were activated with higher concentrations of calcium chloride, meaning they had more surface area. FTIR spectra showed increased conjugated C=C double bonds after activation, creating a more porous and chemically active structure. The EDX analysis revealed that the most common elements were carbon and chlorine, suggesting a successful addition of calcium chloride. Other trace elements like phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium were detected, which can be due to the date pits or impurities.

An electrospinning approach was used to synthesize composite nanofibers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped with different concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 wt%) of Yttrium Oxide (Y2O3). The XRD diffraction pattern revealed a cubic structure of the prepared nanocomposite. The optical characteristics of pure PVA films and PVA/Y2O3 at different ratios were studied, where the energy gap decreases with the increase of Y2O3 concentration. The prepared samples' morphology and functional groups were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. FESEM images confirm the formation of well-defined nanofibers with variations in fibre diameter as the Y₂O₃ content increases, while FTIR spectra reveal characteristic functional groups associated with both PVA and Y₂O₃. Finally, the current-voltage (I-V) characterization of PVA and PVA/ Y2O3 was measured at room temperature showing the non-Ohmic behaviors. The result indicates potential applications in electronic and sensing devices.

Heavy metal pollution is one type of pollution that can affect soil and plants. The research uses spatial analysis techniques to evaluate soil pollution with heavy metals in the areas east and west of the Tigris River in Baghdad. Thirty five soil samples were collected from the study area and analyzed using atomic absorption spectoscopy. When comparing the concentrations of metals (cadmium, lead, nickel, iron, and copper) in the soil samples with the permissible limit, it was found that they were arranged as follows: Cd > Ni > Pb > Cu > Fe. Cd concentrations range was 3.55-5.4 ppm, Pb concentrations range 1.445-8.2 ppm, and Ni concentration 4.7-9.35 ppm. Fe was found in very small proportions compared to the permissible limit, as the concentration of Fe ranged from 43.1 ppm to 70.15 ppm. Cu concentrations in the soil of the study area ranged from 0.47 ppm to 4.86 ppm. Cd concentrations exceeded the permissible limit in the soil of the study area, and the results indicate that the area suffers from Cd pollution. The spatial analysis maps also indicated the accumulation of Cd throughout the study area, indicating the causes of pollution with this metal, such as using sewage water for irrigation and pesticides and fertilizers containing Cd. Cd is an inorganic metal, so if it accumulates in the soil, it can be absorbed by plants and accumulate in edible parts such as leaves and roots.

The sudden thermal warming phenomenon in the stratosphere (SSW) occurred during wintertime, an important thing affecting communication throughout the ionosphere region. This study looks at how the SSW through the stratosphere temperature peak affects the three ionosphere parameters: the total electron content (TEC), the critical frequency foE, and the foF2 of two layers, E and F2. It uses the IRI-20 model over Basrah city, which is in the south of Iraq and lies at 30.4°N 47.7°E. This study spans 2014 and 2019, during the 24th solar cycle. In the same years, 10 hPa pressure heights are taken for hourly stratosphere temperature. It was found that there are (7) SSW events during the period selected, three in 2014 and four in 2019. The relation between stratospheric temperatures and ionospheric parameters was studied to find this effect. The results revealed non-linear relations between them during all event hours, but there is an increase in ionization. The TEC variation is remarkably present in all events, with positive ionization enhancement during the daytime, reaching a maximum in the afternoon and then going down after the sun sets. The foE and foF2 measurements also show a small change due to changes in the thermosphere\'s make-up, temperature, winds, and either the F region dynamo or the E region dynamo. These changes also have an impact on the TEC enhancement values. This increment in values for the ionospheric parameters is irregular with time and varies from one parameter to another.