In Ar-Riyadh Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Governorates of Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat and Al-Majmah (north zone), of Al-Hariq, Al-Aflaj and Hawtat Bani Tamim  (south zone), of Hijrat Sa`ad (east zone), of Shaqra, Durma, Al-Qasab, Huraimela`a (west zone) and Riyadh City (central zone) were surveyed for the presence of Pachycondyla sennaarensis monthly during the period from December 2007 to December 2009. The ant was not detected in Al-Majmah or Al-Zulfi.

Black ant (Samsum), Pachycodyla sennarrensis, stings and injects venom and inflicts allergy (a rare clinical problem) due to its local and systemic reaction, which is considered as a health hazard amongst Saudi society. Thus, black ant is a source of serious concern for the government and experts as well.

We report the effect of glucose (C6H12O6) doping on the structural and electromagnetic properties of MgB2 superconductor fabricated by dry mixing using planetary ball milling. Herein, as-prepared bulk polycrystalline Mg (B1–xCx) 2 samples with different doping levels (x = 0, 2, 4, and 6 at. %) were systematically studied by X-ray diffraction, magnetic and resistivity measurements, and microstructure analysis. When carbon doped, the reduction in critical transition temperature and shrinkage in a-lattice were obviously observed.

We report the structural, thermal, optical, and redox properties of Fe-doped cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles, obtained using the polyol-co-precipitation process. X-ray diffraction data reveal the formation of single-phase structurally isomorphous CeO2. The presence of Fe3+ may act as electron acceptor and/or hole donor, facilitating longer lived charge carrier separation in Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticles as confirmed by optical band gap energy.

Direct use of lignocelluloses fibers as substrate for fabrication of conductive, electroactive, biodegradable, and low-cost electrode materials are in demand for high-tech applications of ion-exchange and energy storage devices. This article presents the preparation and characterizations of conductive and electroactive lignocelluloses-polyaniline (cellulose/PANI) composite paper. Lignocelluloses fibers were directly collected from the stem of self-growing plant, Typha Angusitfolia, and subsequently coated with the conductive and electroactive layer of PANI through chemical synthesis.

Ti1-xMnxO2 (x = 0, 0.05) nanoparticles have been synthesized using chemically derived self-propagating combustion reaction method. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate the formation of anatase phase of TiO2 belonging to 141/amd space group in both samples without the formation of any impurity phase. The incorporation of 5 at.% Mn content does not produce any changes in crystal structure which reveals the exact substitution of Mn atoms at Ti sites. Some change in lattice parameters and crystallite size is observed in Mn-doped composition, attributed to the difference in ionic radii.

Zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays were successfully prepared by using dual sonication sol–gel process. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the nanorods exhibited a hexagonal structure with a flat-end facet. The nanorods displayed similar surface morphologies and grew uniformly on the seed layer substrate, with the average diameter slightly increasing to the range of 65 to 80 nm after being immersed for varying growth times. Interestingly, thickness measurements indicated that the thicknesses of the samples increased as the growth time was extended.