Study of Urbach energy and Kramers-Kronig on Mn and Zn doped NiFe2O4 ferrite nanopowder for the determination of structural and optical characteristics

MxNi1-xFe2O4 spinel ferrite (M = Mn, Zn, and x = 0, 0.05) has been successfully synthesized by co-precipitation technique with hydrazine hydrate reduction agent (instead of NaOH) and Ethylene glycol surfactant. The XRD spectra of the samples illustrated high crystallinity. The structural characterization of pure and doped fcc NiFe2O4 were calculated by Scherrer, Modified Scherrer, Williamson-Hall, and SSP methods. In comparison of several methods, the Scherrer method is unreasonable method and W-H method has an acceptable range and can calculate both < L > and strain without restriction. The specific surface area in Zn-doped increased, demonstrate increment of adsorption properties in Ni ferrite structure. TEM images revealed the shape of grains is spherical, cubic, and irregular, with a grain size in the range of 35-65 nm. Hysteresis loops illustrated the magnetic behavior of samples. From the reflectance data, the band gap energies were estimated at 1.984, 1.954, and 1.973 eV for un-doped, Mn, and Zn-doped NiFe2O4 respectively (red shift). The almost low value of Urbach energy for pure, Mn, and Zn -doped NiFe2O4 indicates low structural disorder, which can approve the high crystallinity of samples. Direct band gap energy (Eg), refractive index, and extinction coefficient were estimated by the Kramers-Kronig method with linear optical evaluations. The Eg by K-K method is in good agreement with the Eg by Kubelka-Munk function.

Triple Thorpe-Ingold Effect in the Synthesis of 18-Membered C3 Symmetric Lactams Stacking as Endless Supramolecular Tubes

Three C₃ symmetric macrolactams were very efficiently cyclized from their linear precursors. Adequately located substituents are responsible for the enhancement of reactivity that is not observed in the unsubstituted parent. DFT calculations show that the properly folded cyclization precursor, the reactive conformer, is more populated than other conformers, leading to a decrease of free energy of activation. The crystal structure of the ring substituted with three very bulky esters indicates that tubular stacking is preserved.

Computational investigations on structural and electronic properties of CuI nanoparticles immobilized on modified poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride), leading to an unexpected but efficient catalyzed synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine via Hantzsch pyridine synthesis

A quantitative description for the interaction of Cu(I) with poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) modified with 4-aminopyridine (denoted as CuI/SMI complex) is presented using density functional theory (DFT) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approaches. Topological analysis of electron density revealed the existence of effective interactions between Cu(I) ions and the nitrogen in the pyridine ring. Interestingly, the results also showed that there is considerable interaction between Cu(I) and the oxygen of the carbonyl motif in the SMI ligand. Thus, CuI/SMI was examined as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst in Hantzsch pyridine synthesis under solvent-free conditions, affording diverse 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) in excellent yields with relatively short reaction times.

Isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions in the synthesis of heterocycles

In this review, we update our previous presentation, underscoring the recent applications of isocyanides as privileged synthons in the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds, especially focused on those synthesizedviamulticomponent reactions.

Study of operated primary and secondary (recurrence) hydatidosis in hospitals of Kermanshah, west of Islamic Republic of Iran

Cystic echinococcosis, caused by the larval stage of Echinoccocus granulosus, is a global public health threat. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases of primary and secondary hydatid cyst in the west of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A retrospective record review was made in 7 public and private hospitals in Kermanshah from 2004 to 2009. Of 526 files of suspected cases analysed, 291 cases of hydatid cyst had been operated upon and confirmed. Of the patients, 51.5% were females, 57.7% lived in urban and suburban areas and the largest age group (17.5%) was 31-40 years. The major organs involved were liver (64.9%) and lung (26.8%) and 18 cases (6.2%) were confirmed as secondary hydatidosis. Most patients (79.4%) had been treated with albendazole. Kermanshah province should be considered an endemic region for human hydatid cyst disease; greater efforts in prevention are needed.

The trend of hydatidosis in kermanshah province, Western iran (1986-2008)

BACKGROUND

Hydatidosis is the larval stage of the Echinococcusgranulosus. This disease is endemic in Iran. There are many studies about hydatidosis in different regions of the country, but there is not any information about the disease in Kermanshah Province. This article will review all available data about hydatidosis in this province.

METHODS

Using web based search engines and a survey on medical student's theses, all the information about hydatid cysts in the province from 1986 -2008 was collected.

RESULTS

During these twenty years, at least 482 proven cases of hydatid cyst have been identified in the province. Accordingly, the trend of hydatid cyst operation in the province has been growing and the average annual number of cases has reached 1.41/100,000. Frequency of disease in urban areas was slightly higher than rural areas and the rate of infection in housewives was more than others.

CONCLUSION

Because of the growing trend of hydatid cyst operation in Kermanshah Province, which may be due to many different reasons, this province should be considered as one of the important endemic regions of hydatidosis in Iran.

Predicting the value of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as an indicator of functional ability in older Iranian adults (Kahrizak elderly study)

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the appropriateness of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) in predicting functional ability in older adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from the Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF).

MEASUREMENTS

Nutritional and ability status were examined using the MNA and the Barthel Index (BI). Participants were divided according to MNA (≤ 23.5 and > 23.5).

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-five ≥ 60-year-old subjects were studied. The MNA and BI were positively correlated (r = 0.199; P = 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for BI with the highest sensitivity and specificity derived from the ROC curve was approximately 91.5 for males and 83.5 for females. The BI was significantly associated with MNA (odds ratio (OR): 1.89; 95% CI: 1.17-3.05, P = 0.009), mobility (OR: 6.39; 95% CI: 3.43-11.89, P < 0.001), consuming ≥ 2 servings of fruit and vegetables (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.72, P = 0.02) and self-view of nutritional status (OR: 4.15; 95%CI: 1.26-13.63, P = 0.01). The sensitivity (62.9% in males; 68.2% in females) and specificity (51.4% in males and 52.9% in females) of these cut-off points justifies the appropriateness of the MNA for determining functional ability.

CONCLUSION

The MNA is potentially able to verify functional status among the elderly (as BI ≥ 91.5 with those of < 91.5 in males and ≥ 83.5 with those of < 83.5 in females) of KCF. It is suggested that this relationship should be further studied in a larger prospective population-based study.

Annotated сhecklist of the freshwater fishes of Iran

The confirmed freshwater fishes of Iran comprise 202 species in 104 genera, 28 families, 17 orders and 3 classes found in 19 different basins. There are also 23 species whose presence in Iranian waters needs confirmation by specimens. The most diverse order is the Cypriniformes with 120 confirmed species (59.4%) followed by Perciformes with 28 species (13.9%), Cyprinodontiformes (10 species, 5.0%), Clupeiformes (9 species, 4.5%), Salmoniformes (7 species, 3.5%), Mugiliformes and Siluriformes each with 6 species (3.0%), Acipenseriformes (5 species, 2.5%), Gasterosteiformes (3 species, 1.5%), and 8 other orders each with one species (0.5%). New species are still being discovered, 7 described in 2009, while others are being resurrected from synonymy, newly recorded from Iran, or exotic species newly established. Some taxonomic problems remain and are commented on briefly. Thirty-nine endemic species (19.3%) in 6 families and 23 exotic species (11.4%) in 8 families are listed here. The mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 is the most widespread exotic species.

MedView-design and adoption of an interactive system for oral medicine

MedView is a joint project with participants from oral medicine and computer science. The aim of the project is to build a large database from patient examinations and produce computerized tools to extend, view, and analyze the contents of the database. The contents of the data base is based on a formalization of health-care processes and clinical knowledge in oral medicine harmonized within the network SOMNET. We give an overview of the current status of the MedView project and discuss background and future directions.

Information visualisation in clinical medicine using 3D parallel diagrams: a case history

An information visualisation tool was implemented and tested as a solution to the problem of visualising clinical experience derived from large amounts of formalised clinical data. The tool was based on the idea of dynamic 3D parallel diagrams with support for direct manipulation, an idea similar to the notion of 3D parallel coordinates. The tool was tested on a knowledge base containing about 1500 examinations obtained from different clinics. Clinical practice showed that the basic idea is conceptually appealing to the involved clinicians as the tool can be used for generating and testing of hypothesis.