Structural and Electrical Studies of Boric Acid Doped Cadmium Oxide Thin Film by JNSP Technique for Optoelectronic Applications

The present work deals with preparation and characterization of boric acid (b) dopped cdo thin films by the jet nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique at optimized temperature 450°C. Boric acid doped cdo thin films were prepared by jet nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique with different wt% of boric acid (x=0, 0.5,2.5, 4). The xrd pattern of various weight percentage boric acid dopped cdo thin films show the polycrystalline nature with cubic structure. At room temperature, the electrical conductivity of the prepared films increases with 4Wt% of 2.32x10-3 S/cm. The plot of voltage versus current as a function of temperature (RT-30°C) indicates the ohmic behavior of the films. Moreover, significant optoelectronic applications are cadmium oxide dopped with boric acid thin films at room temperature electrical resistivity is in the order of 101Ω cm which is low enough to be a good supercapacitor electrode material

Association between periductal fibrosis and bile duct dilatation among a population at high risk of cholangiocarcinoma: A cross-sectional study of cholangiocarcinoma screening in Northeast Thailand

Objectives To assess associations between periductal fibrosis (PDF) and bile duct dilatation (BDD) in ultrasonography (US) screening of population at risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) due to residence in an endemic area for Opisthorchis viverrini. CCA survival rates are low, and early identification of risk factors is essential. BDD is one symptom that can identify patients at risk of CCA. Detection of PDF by US can also identify at-risk patients, at an earlier stage of CCA development. Identification of association between PDF and BDD will inform screening practices for CCA risk, by increasing the viability of PDF screening for CCA risk. Setting Nine tertiary care hospitals in Northeast Thailand. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Study subjects in the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP) in Northeast Thailand. CASCAP inclusion criteria are all residents of Northeast Thailand aged ≥40 years. Participants are recruited through CCA screening centres and through primary healthcare units. So far, 394 026 have been enrolled. Methods PDF and BDD were identified through US. PDF was categorised into three groups, PDF1, 2 and 3, depending on their high echo locality in the peripheral, segmental and main bile duct, respectively. Associations between PDF and BDD were determined by adjusted OR and 95% CI using multiple logistic regression. Results BDD was found in 6.6% of PDF3, 1.7% of PDF2 and 1.4% of PDF1 cases. Among PDF cases, especially in PDF3, BDD was found in men more than in women (8.9% and 4.6%, respectively). Compared with non-PDF, the association between PDF3 and BDD was highly significant (adjusted OR=5.74, 95%CI 4.57 to 7.21, p<0.001). Conclusions Our findings reveal that there is a relationship between PDF and BDD, which is associated with CCA. Therefore, PDF can also be an indicator for suspected CCA diagnosis through USThe study was also supported by the Data Management and Statistical Analysis Center (DAMASAC), Faculty of Public Health, KKU, Thailand. This work was supported by KKU through CASCAP (Grant No. CASCAP 1/60), the National Research Council of Thailand through the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools (Grant No. MRF.59-076) and National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT/2559-134)

Alcohol-Attributable Fraction in Liver Disease: Does GDP Per Capita Matter?

Background: The alcohol-attributable fraction (AAF) quantifies alcohol's disease burden. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is influenced by alcohol consumption per capita, duration, gender, ethnicity, and other comorbidities. In this study, we investigated the association between AAF/alcohol-related liver mortality and alcohol consumption per capita, while stratifying to per-capita gross domestic product (GDP). Methods: Data obtained from the World Health Organization and World Bank for both genders on AAF on liver disease, per-capita alcohol consumption (L/y), and per-capita GDP (USD/y) were used to conduct a cross-sectional study. Countries were classified as “high-income” and “very low income” if their respective per-capita GDP was greater than $30,000 or less than$1,000. Differences in total alcohol consumption per capita and AAF were calculated using a 2-sample 't' test. Scatterplots were generated to supplement the Pearson correlation coefficients, and F test was conducted to assess for differences in variance of ALD between high-income and very low income countries. Findings: Twenty-six and 27 countries met the criteria for high-income and very low income countries, respectively. Alcohol consumption per capita was higher in high-income countries. AAF and alcohol consumption per capita for both genders in high-income and very low income countries had a positive correlation. The F test yielded an F value of 1.44 with 'P' = .357. No statistically significant correlation was found among alcohol types and AAF. Significantly higher mortality from ALD was found in very low income countries relative to high-income countries. Discussion: Previous studies had noted a decreased AAF in low-income countries as compared to higher-income countries. However, the non-statistically significant difference between AAF variances of low-income and high-income countries was found by this study. A possible explanation is that both high-income and low-income populations will consume sufficient amount of alcohol, irrespective of its type, enough to weigh into equivalent AAF. Conclusions: No significant difference of AAF variance was found between high-income and very low income countries relating to sex-specific alcohol consumption per capita. Alcohol consumption per capita was greater in high-income countries. Type of preferred alcohol did not correlate with AAF. ALD related mortality was less in high-income countries as a result of better developed healthcare systems. ALD remains a significant burden globally, requiring prevention from socioeconomic, medical, and political realms

Correction to: Repeated praziquantel treatment and Opisthorchis viverrini infection: a population-based crosssectional study in northeast Thailand

In the original publication of this article [1], there is an error in the section of 'Ethics approval and consent to participate' at the end of the article, the correct Ethics reference number should be HE551404 rather than HE591067

Spatial analysis of hepatobiliary abnormalities in a population at high-risk of cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a serious health challenge with low survival prognosis. The liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, plays a role in the aetiology of CCA, through hepatobiliary abnormalities: liver mass (LM), bile duct dilation, and periductal fibrosis (PDF). A population-based CCA screening program, the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program, operates in Northeast Thailand. Hepatobiliary abnormalities were identified through ultrasonography. A multivariate zero-inflated, Poisson regression model measured associations between hepatobiliary abnormalities and covariates including age, sex, distance to water resource, and history of O. viverrini infection. Geographic distribution was described using Bayesian spatial analysis methods. Hepatobiliary abnormality prevalence was 38.7%; highest in males aged > 60 years (39.8%). PDF was most prevalent (20.1% of males). The Standardized Morbidity Ratio (SMR) for hepatobiliary abnormalities was highest in the lower and upper parts of the Northeast region.Tis work was supported by Khon Kaen University through CASCAP (Grant no. CASCAP 1/60), the National Research Council of Tailand through the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Tai Medical Schools (Grant no. MRF.59-076) and National Research Council of Tailand (NRCT/2559-134)

Multi-machine analysis of termination scenarios, providing the specifications for controlled shutdown of ITER discharges

The task is to show that the specific ITER design features allow a stable well-controlled termination. This is a joint effort in control, exception handling development and physics modelling. Relevant for ITER is to maintain vertical, radial position, and shape control during the termination, especially at the time of the relatively fast H-L transition. The analysis of a database, built using a selected set of experimental termination cases, is performed