This study investigates the electronic and optical properties of calcium-doped strontium hydride (SrH₂) using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations via the CASTEP code with generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We explore the impact of calcium (Ca) doping on the electronic band structure, density of states (DOS), and optical absorption spectra of SrH₂. Our results show that Ca doping significantly alters the electronic properties of SrH₂, notably increasing the indirect bandgap from 1.3 eV to 1.6 eV. The DOS analysis reveals new states near the Fermi level, primarily from Ca 3d orbitals. Moreover, the optical absorption spectra display enhanced absorption in the visible range, suggesting the potential for optoelectronic applications. This research highlights the feasibility of tuning the electronic and optical characteristics of SrH₂ through Ca doping, thus opening the way for the generation of advanced materials with tailored properties.

Background: Adulteration of camel milk powder with cheaper alternatives such as cow milk powder has become a growing concern, compromising both nutritional quality and consumer trust. Detecting such adulteration is critical for ensuring product authenticity, especially given the rising demand for camel milk in niche health markets. Objective: This study explores the application of Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometric techniques for the detection and quantification of adulteration in camel milk powder with cow milk powder. Method: Camel milk powder was adulterated with cow milk powder across a range of concentrations from 0 to 50%. Raman spectra of these mixtures were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction, followed by partial least-squares regression (PLSR) modeling with different spectral pretreatments (raw, Savitzky-Golay, gap derivative). Interval PLS (IPLS) in backward mode was applied to enhance variable selection. Results: PCA captured 99.6% of spectral variance. The raw PLSR model already showed strong predictive power (R2cv = 95.93%). Savitzky-Golay further boosted performance (R2 test = 99.47%), while the gap derivative achieved near-perfect prediction (R2 test = 99.94%, RMSEtest = 1.10). IPLS modeling significantly improved robustness, yielding high accuracy (R2 test = 98%) with fewer variables. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the integration of Raman spectroscopy with PCA, PLSR, and IPLS constitutes a robust, precise, and reliable approach for the detection of adulteration in camel milk powder. Highlights: The application of Raman spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modeling proves to be an efficient and robust analytical tool for quality control in the dairy industry, enabling the accurate detection of adulteration and ensuring the authenticity and safety of camel milk powder.

This study explores the effectiveness of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics as an alternative to sensory analysis for detecting camel’s milk adulteration with cow’s milk. A paired comparison test involving various concentrations of adulterants was initially conducted to assess consumers’ ability to detect such adulteration. The analysis successfully classified samples into adulterated and authentic camel’s milk using principal component (PC) analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Moreover, the application of partial least squares regression and PC regression calibration models demonstrated high-performance capabilities in revealing the level of adulteration. These findings highlight the potential of MIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for the authentication of camel’s milk.