Electrical behavior and Optical Properties of Copper oxide thin Films

In this work the structural, electrical and optical Properties of CuO semiconductor films had been studied, which prepared at three thickness (100, 200 and 500 nm) by spray pyrolysis method at 573K substrate temperatures on glass substrates from 0.2M CuCl2•2H2O dissolved in alcohol. Structural Properties shows that the films have only a polycrystalline CuO phase with preferential orientation in the (111) direction, the dc conductivity shows that all films have two activation energies, Ea1 (0.45-0.66 eV) and Ea2 (0.055-.0185 eV), CuO films have CBH (Correlated Barrier Hopping) mechanism for ac-conductivity. The energy gap between (1.5-1.85 eV)

Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Treated Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Analysis of 14 Consecutive Cases

Background Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an increasing global health problem that continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of PTB has been measured in terms morbidity and mortality and little attention has been paid to continuing respiratory disability in those who were cured. Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a serious respiratory disability that results from structural lung damage and chronic hypoxia. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of PHT in a cohort of treated PTB patients who presented with shortness of breath. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that included 14 consecutive patients who were cured of PTB and presented with shortness of breath. Demographic and clinical data were recorded for all patients. PHT was diagnosed using Doppler echocardiography. Results Fourteen patients who were treated for PTB and were found to have PHT were studied. All patients were sputum smear negative at the time of the study. The mean age (SD) was 43.1 (13.6) and half of the patients were males. The mean number of years since PTB was diagnosed (SD) was 9.4 (10.9). All patients had abnormal chest x-rays. The commonest radiological abnormality was fibrocavitation which occurred in 50% of patients. Estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 51 to 80 mm/Hg was found in 9 patients (64.3%) whereas PASP of 40 to 50 mm/Hg was found in 4 patients (28.6%) and one patient had PASP more than 80 mm/Hg. Conclusions Different grades of PHT occurred in this cohort of treated PTB patients on average about 9 years after cure. The findings of this study support implementation of strategies for early detection and prevention of PTB. For those who were cured from PTB, longer periods of disability should be implemented in assessment of disease burden

Technical Efficiency and its Determinants in Water Melon Production in Borno State, Nigeria

This Study examined technical Efficiency of Watermelon in Borno State, Nigeria. Primary data collected through the use of structured questionnaire from 120 randomly selected watermelon farmers from six (6) villages in the two local government areas were used. Stochastic frontier production function was used to analyze the technical efficiencies of watermelon farmers. The results of the stochastic frontier function analyses revealed a mean technical efficiencies levels of 86%, implying that there was scope for increasing efficiencies by 14%. The main sources of technical inefficiencies were years of farming experience, extension contact, membership of cooperative societies, amount of credit obtained and educational level. The study recommends that extension contact, years of cooperative membership and access to credit were the sources of the inefficiencies and should be addressed through adequately trained and equipped extension workers, right use of credit facilities and the formation of cooperative societies and making membership a condition for microcredit benefit