Theoretical study of the structural stability, electronic and magnetic properties of XVSb (X == Fe, Ni, and Co) half-Heusler compounds

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of half-Heusler compounds XVSb (X $=$ Fe, Co and Ni) are investigated by using the density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation (GGA), and Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) exchange potential approximation. It is found that the half-metallic gaps are generally reasonably widened by mBJ as compared to the GGA approximation. The magnetic proprieties of XVSb (X $=$ Fe, Co and Ni) are well defined within mBJ with an exact integer value of magnetic moment. The band gaps given by TB-mBJ are in good agreement with the available theoretical data. The FeVSb exhibits a semiconductor nature. The CoVSb and NiVSb present half-metallic behaviour with total magnetic moment of $1\mu_\text{B}$ and $2\mu_\text{B}$ in good agreement with Slater-Pauling rule. These alloys seem to be a potential candidate of spintronic devices.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Weyl holographic superconductor in the Lifshitz black hole background

We investigate analytically the properties of the Weyl holographic superconductor in the Lifshitz black hole background. We find that the critical temperature of the Weyl superconductor decreases with increasing Lifshitz dynamical exponent, $z$, indicating that condensation becomes difficult. In addition, it is found that the critical temperature and condensation operator could be affected by applying the Weyl coupling, $\gamma$. Moreover, we compute the critical magnetic field and investigate its dependence on the parameters $\gamma$ and $z$. Finally, we show numerically that the Weyl coupling parameter $\gamma$ and the Lifshitz dynamical exponent $z$ together control the size and strength of the conductivity peak and the ratio of gap frequency over critical temperature $\omega_{g}/T_{c}$.Comment: 25 pages, 22 figure

Vocabulary and Syntactic Knowledge Factors in 5th Grade Students\u27 Reading Comprehension

In this study, we examined 5th grade students’ levels of vocabulary knowledge and syntactic awareness relative to their reading comprehension performance. The aim was to explore the contributions of vocabulary and syntactic awareness as potential sources of reading comprehension difficulty for these readers. Overall, we found that both vocabulary knowledge and syntactic awareness contributed in significant yet unique ways to students’ reading comprehension performance. Students who showed weaknesses in vocabulary and syntax also performed poorly on measures of reading comprehension. Additionally, we found that syntactic awareness explained a small amount of additional variance in reading comprehension beyond what was explained by vocabulary. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of research and practice addressing the relationships among syntax, vocabulary, and reading comprehension for more and less skilled readers

Comparison of protective effects of omega3 fish oil and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root on biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide in male rats

Background and aims: Thioacetamide can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. This study was aimed to evaluate the ability of omega3 fish oil and Glycyrrhiza glabra aqueous extract to attenuate biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide. Methods: In this experimental study, 63 wistar male rats were divided into 9 groups. Control group, Sham group received 0.4ml olive oil orally per day for 3 months. Thioacetamide group received 150 mg/kg of TAA intraperitoneally in a single dose for 3 months. Experimental groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 received 100, 200, 300 mg/kg of omega3 fish oil and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root orally per day for 3 months and 150 mg/kg of TAA intraperitoneally in a single dose for 3 months. The provided blood samples were tested for serum levels of bilirubin, albumin, and total protein. The pathological examination of hepatic tissue samples was done after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Treatment with 100 mg/kg of omega3 fish oil (0.06±0.013) significant reduced the serum level of billirubin comparing with thioacetamide group (0.38±0.015). Treatment with the aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root at all doses (0.37±0.034) (0.34±0.027) (0.15±0.028) showed no significant difference in the serum level of billirubin comparing with thioacetamide group (0.38±0.015). Treatment with the omega3 fish oil (4.40±0.02) (4.32±0.10) (4.34±0.10) and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root at all doses (4.33±0.06) (4.31±0.5) (4.20±0.07) significant reduced the serum level of albumin comparing with thioacetamide group (4.70±0.00). The mean levels of total protein showed no significant difference in the experimental groups (8.77±0.31) (8.53±0.20) (8.63±0.24) (8.58±0.05) (8.57±0.10) (7.92±0.21) comparing with thioacetamide group (8.56±0.08). In all experimental groups, the hepatic tissue changes induced by thioacetamide improved which were dose dependent (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study suggests that biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide in male rats can be ameliorated by oral administration of aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root and omega3 fish oil

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in intraosseus ameloblastoma

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been shown as a risk factor in oral carcinogenesis. The association between HPV and benign and malignant neoplasm of oral mucosa, especially surface epithelium-derived tumors, is well established. The role of HPV in pathogenesis of odontogenic cysts and tumors has been published in few articles. The aim of this study was detection of HPV in Iranian patients with intrabony ameloblastoma and investigation of specific risk factors associated with ameloblastoma. One hundred intrabony ameloblastoma and 50 age-sex matched samples as controls were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction for the detection and typing of HPV. Fisher exact and chi square tests were used to assess the data. HPV DNA was detected in 32% of patients and 10% of controls. HPV-6 was the most prevalent genotype (31.6%) in infected cases. It was followed by HPV-11 (12.5%), HPV-16 (12.5%) and HPV-31 (3.1%). We found a significant association between presence of HPV and location of tumor (p = 0.02), traumatic history (p = 0.03) and ododontic therapy (p = 0.01). These findings indicated that HPV-6 probably is one of the most important etiologic agents in causing intraosseous ameloblastoma in Iranian population. © 2006 Academic Journals Inc., USA

On Using Magnetic and optical methods to determine the size and characteristics of nanoparticles embedded in oxide semiconductors

Films of oxides doped with transition metals are frequently believed to have magnetic inclusions. Magnetic methods to determine the amount of nanophases and their magnetic characteristics are described. The amount of the sample that is paramagnetic may also be measured. Optical methods are described and shown to be very powerful to determine which defects are also magnetic.Comment: Manuscript of poster to be presented at MMM-Intermag 2010. Accepted for publication in Magnetic Trans of IEE

Stakeholder-driven multi-attribute analysis for energy project selection under uncertainty

In practice, selecting an energy project for development requires balancing criteria and competing stakeholder priorities to identify the best alternative. Energy source selection can be modeled as multi-criteria decision-maker problems to provide quantitative support to reconcile technical, economic, environmental, social, and political factors with respect to the stakeholders' interests. Decision making among these complex interactions should also account for the uncertainty present in the input data. In response, this work develops a stochastic decision analysis framework to evaluate alternatives by involving stakeholders to identify both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria and performance metrics which carry uncertainties. The developed framework is illustrated using a case study from Fairbanks, Alaska, where decision makers and residents must decide on a new source of energy for heating and electricity. We approach this problem in a five step methodology: (1) engaging experts (role players) to develop criteria of project performance; (2) collecting a range of quantitative and qualitative input information to determine the performance of each proposed solution according to the selected criteria; (3) performing a Monte-Carlo analysis to capture uncertainties given in the inputs; (4) applying multi-criteria decision-making, social choice (voting), and fallback bargaining methods to account for three different levels of cooperation among the stakeholders; and (5) computing an aggregate performance index (API) score for each alternative based on its performance across criteria and cooperation levels. API scores communicate relative performance between alternatives. In this way, our methodology maps uncertainty from the input data to reflect risk in the decision and incorporates varying degrees of cooperation into the analysis to identify an optimal and practical alternative

A cephalometric comparison of twin block and bionator appliances in treatment of class II malocclusion

Class II malocclusion is one of the most common orthodontic problems. In cases of class II malocclusion with mandibular deficiency, functional appliances often are used with the intent of stimulating mandibular growth. Bionator and twin block are two of the more popular functional appliances. The aim of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes of these two appliances using cephalometric radiographs. Cephalometric radiographs of 33 patients who had class II division I malocclusion, before and after treatment were digitalized. The mean changes in twin block and bionator groups were compared using independent t test. Twin block and bionator showed no statistically significant differences in cephalometric parameters except for ANB, NA-Pog, Basal and Ar-Go-Me angles. There were no statistically significant differences in dentoalveolar and mandibular position between twin block and bionator (p>0.1). Twin block was more efficient in inhibition of forward movement of maxilla (p<0.1)