The yield of transverse momentum (p_T) spectra of integrated hadrons and their ratios produced in pp collisions at 7 TeV are reported using DPMJET-III, EPOS1.99, EPOS-LHC, HIJING1.383, QGSJETII-04, and Sibyll2.3c models. The models’ predictions are compared with the ALICE measurements obtained at mid rapidity and in the p_T range from 0.3–6 GeV/c, 0.2–6 GeV/c, and 0.1–3 GeV/c for protons, kaons and pions respectively. Compared to the experimental data, the EPOS1.99 and EPOS-LHC models predict the yield of pion very well while reproducing yields of kaon and proton at low p_T only. The DPMJET-III model predicts the yield of pions, kaons and protons only at intermediate value of p_T. The HIJING and Sibyll models describe the integrated yield of pion well at high p_T only. The QGSJETII model predicts the yield of kaon for almost the whole p_T range. EPOS1.99 and Sibyll models reproduce excellent prediction of the K/π ratio over the entire range of p_T whereas the EPOS-LHC, HIJING and DPMJET models underpredict with increasing order of discrepancy respectively. The EPOS1.99, EPOS-LHC, and Sibyll models predict the p/π ratio for low values of p_T, but overpredict at high values, while the DPMJET-III and HIJING models underpredict over the entire range of p_T. Although the models’ predictions are mostly consistent with the ALICE measurements but none of the models completely describe the entire distribution for the integrated yield of hadron and their ratios.

Radioactivity in Granites of Pakistan systematically increases from south to north. The Ambella Granite found at the northern edge of Pakistan is highly radioactive. Radioactivity measurements made on, so called, Bajaur Granite, located in northern Pakistan, have been found to be lowest among all the granitic rock of the area. In order to find out the exact nature of Bajaur rocks, mineralogical studies were carried on rock chips and powdered samples. The Bajaur Norite contains plagioclase feldspar more than 45% as the chief constituent. Orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene are 27% and 18%. Quartz, biotite, and some opaque minerals are also found in accessory amounts. Bajaur Granite is in fact not a granite but Norite, which is rich in Na-Ca plagioclase series of feldspars. The plagioclase feldspar rich in Na-Ca are low in radioactivity. Moreover, the average gamma activities of ${}^{226}$Ra, ${}^{232}$Th, and ${}^{40}$K (4.98 ± 0.13 Bqkg ${}^{-1}$, 4.03 ± 0.31 Bqkg ${}^{-1}$, 204.40 ± 4.72 Bqkg ${}^{-1}$ and a total of all three radionuclides are 214.00 ± 5.39 Bqkg ${}^{-1}$) for Bajaur Norites are found too be much less than the average of the world’s Granites. Indoor and outdoor hazard indices of Bajaur Norite are much below building materials used throughout the world and largely beneath their criterion restrictions. As per radiations’ hazards are concerned, the Bajaur Norite as a building stone may be considered as the safest material available in the area that does not pose any radiological hazard.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of radon contamination in twenty-six drinking water samples from natural springs were collected from Dhirkot Azad Kashmir, along with four bottled mineral water samples. Radon gas escapes from the earth’s crust due to uranium ores and diffuses into the atmosphere. This study assessed the levels of radon concentration, the yearly effective radiation dose, and carcinogenic risk from radon exposure in drinking water samples. The radon concentration varied from 0.28 to 30.25 Bq/L. The mean radon concentration of all samples was found to be 7.86 ± 2.3 Bq/L. The radon concentrations in bottled drinking water were found to be lower than those in natural springs. The statistical and GIS analyses included the use of interpolation and Pearson’s correlation matrix. Seven samples had radon concentration that surpassed the standard limit established by the US-EPA, which is 11 Bq/L. The average annual effective dose from inhalation and ingestion was found to be lower than the value (0.1 mSv/y) provided by the WHO, but for some natural spring water samples, it exceeded the risk limit. The cancer risk revealed that 40% of the samples had an elevated lifetime cancer risk from radon exposure. Overall, the majority of the results obtained aligned with the worldwide guidelines established by the US-EPA. However, there were a few instances where the limits were exceeded, and constant monitoring is recommended. This study establishes a baseline for radon concentration in the area and provides a basis for future studies.

This article focuses on the study of strange hadrons ( K S 0 , Λ , Λ ̅ , Ξ + , Ξ − ) at s = 0.2 TeV, recorded by STAR at RHIC, and at s = 0.9 TeV, 5.02 TeV and 7 TeV, recorded by CMS at LHC, in pp collision in the rapidity range from 0 to 2. The p_T distributions of these strange particles have been processed using two statistical models, the Tsallis and the modified Hagedorn model. Both models fit the experimental data well. We extracted different freezeout parameters from the fit procedure using the abovementioned functions. We found that with increasing the collision energy, the effective temperature (T), in the case of the Tsallis model, and kinetic/thermal freeze-out temperature (_T0) and transverse flow velocity (β _T), in the case of the modified Hagedorn model, increase because of greater energy transfer among the participants at higher colliding energies. Both T and T₀ are observed to increase with the increase in the rest masses of the outgoing particles revealing the multi-freeze-out scenario. Furthermore, the multiplicity parameter (N₀) decreases with the increase in the particle mass, confirming the mass differential freeze-out scenario. An inverse relationship between the non-extensivity parameter (q) and the masses of the produced particles has been noticed. Similarly, an inverse correlation between q and T has been found. For lighter particles, smaller T and greater q mean that they decouple from the system later and attain equilibrium slowly compared to heavier ones. In addition, a positive correlation between β _T and T₀ is noticed, which agrees with the literature.

The raw materials of cement contain radioactive elements that come from natural sources. Members of the decay chains of uranium, thorium, and potassium radioisotope ⁴⁰K are the primary sources of this radioactivity. The natural radionuclide concentration levels in cement differ greatly depending on different geographic areas. To estimate the radionuclides concentration in cement specimens from twelve diverse Pakistani companies, gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis was used in the study. ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K had activity concentration levels ranging from 18.08 to 43.18 Bq/kg, 16.73 to 23.53 Bq/kg, and 14.24 to 315.22 Bq/kg, respectively. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) threshold for the ²²⁶Ra was surpassed by five of the studied samples. The indoor and outdoor dose rates as well as different radiological health hazard indices were also examined. The Indoor Absorbed Dosage (D_in) for some of the samples exceeded the permissible limit. These samples also had a high Indoor Effective Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) factor, which makes them unsafe for interior construction purposes. The outdoor dosages as well as the hazard indices were well within the permitted ranges. The outdoor ELCR factor is low for all the cement brands, which makes them safe for exterior construction purposes. The findings were compared with published data from other countries around the globe. Finally, a thorough statistical analysis was performed and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) exhibited a very strong correlation between the different outdoor and indoor radiological health hazard indices.