Electrochemical supremacy of cobalt-doped nickel oxide and its supercapacitor applications with its mesoporous morphology

In this study, we report on the synthesis of bare and cobalt (Co)-doped nickel oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using a chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that the crystallite size decreases after doping cobalt using the Scherrer formula. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer depicts the metal–oxygen bond (M–O) in the compounds. Scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy revealed a mesoporous spherical-like morphology. XPS spectrum identifies the oxidation states of the constituent ions existing in the sample. The supercapacitor application of nanoparticles was examined via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrochemical performance verified the pseudocapacitive nature of the materials and the highest specific capacitance (717.11 F/g) for BNC3 was recorded, which is higher than values previously reported NiO materials. The weak crystalline nickel–cobalt is easy to form porous structure, which can significantly increase capacitance, also maintaining good rate performance. Cobalt-doped sample shows promising supercapacitor electrode material and ensures that NiO:Co could act as an enhanced working electrode for the upcoming generation of a supercapacitor. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Preserved crystal phase and morphology: Improving the magnetic and electrochemical performance of sulfur doped tin oxide nanoparticles synthesized via the hydrothermal method

Herein, we report synthesis of bare and Sulfur (S) doped SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) using simple and low cost hydrothermal method. S with different concentration (0, 2, 4 and 6) were doped in SnO2 and named as bare SnO2, 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2, respectively. The synthesized NPs were characterized for structural, functional, optical, morphological, electrochemical and magnetic properties. XRD confirms the tetragonal structure of bare SnO2 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2 NPs. The crystallite size and microstrain was calculated using the Scherrer equation, W-H plot, SSP plot, and H-W plot and are in well agreement with each other. The FTIR confirmed formation of S-O and Sn-O bonding. The direct energy band gap values of bare SnO2, 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2 are 3.8 eV, 3.6 eV, 3.1 eV and 2.2 eV, respectively. The electrochemical performance (ECP) of bare SnO2 and 2%S:SnO2 NPs were studied by making their electrodes through CV, GCDs, and EIS measurements. The bare SnO2 and 2%S:SnO2 electrodes show the specific capacitance of 125 F/g and 225 F/g at a current density of 3 A/g proves S doping enhances the capacitive performance of SnO2 NPs. The VSM shows paramagnetic behavior changes into ferromagnetic behavior with S doping

Proceedings of International Conference on Women Researchers in Electronics and Computing

This proceeding contains articles on the various research ideas of the academic community and practitioners presented at the international conference, “Women Researchers in Electronics and Computing” (WREC’2021). WREC'21 was organized in online mode by Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (Punjab), INDIA during 22 – 24 April 2021. This conference was conceptualized with an objective to encourage and motivate women engineers and scientists to excel in science and technology and to be the role models for young girls to follow in their footsteps. With a view to inspire women engineers, pioneer and successful women achievers in the domains of VLSI design, wireless sensor networks, communication, image/ signal processing, machine learning, and emerging technologies were identified from across the globe and invited to present their work and address the participants in this women oriented conference. Conference Title: International Conference on Women Researchers in Electronics and ComputingConference Acronym: WREC'21Conference Date: 22–24 April 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizers: Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, INDI

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research