Giant photoelectric energy conversion via a 3C-SiC Nano-Thin film double heterojunction

Enhancing the energy conversion efficiency is utmost important in renewable energy and self-powered optoelectronic sensing applications. In this study, we propose the concept of a p-3C-SiC nano-thin film/p-Si/n-Si double junction (DJ) structure, which exhibits a massive photoelectric energy conversion efficiency and ultra-high sensitivity of optoelectronic sensors. The optoelectronic characteristics of this DJ heterostructure are compared to those of a p-3C-SiC/n-Si single-junction (SJ) heterostructure, which shares similarities in all technical and material parameters, except for the inclusion of the middle p-Si layer in the DJ structure. The experimental results reveal that the lateral photocurrent, sensitivity, theoretical power and maximum power of the DJ structure are more than 100 times (i.e. over 10,000%) greater than those of the SJ structure. We then demonstrated these excellent features of DJ heterostructure through developing of a self-powered position sensitive sensor, which showed an ultrahigh sensitivity. The enormous enhancement in the performance has been elucidated through the efficient photogeneration of charge carriers, electron-hole pair splitting, and the improved charge carrier transport mechanisms in the double heterojunction. This research represents a notable breakthrough in ultra-sensitive optoelectronic sensors and photoenergy conversion, since the proposed concept and theoretical model can be extended to multiple junctions of various semiconductor materials.</p

Highly Efficient Photon Energy Conversion and Ultrasensitive Self-Powered Photodetection via a Monolithic p-3C-SiC Nanothin Film on p-Si/n-Si Double Junction

The pursuit of increased efficiency of photoelectric energy conversion through optimized semiconductor structures remains highly competitive, with current results yet to align with broad expectations. In this study, we discover a significant enhancement in photocurrent performance of a p-3C-SiC nanothin film on p-Si/n-Si double junction (DJ) heterostructure that integrates p-3C-SiC/p-Si heterojunction and p-Si/n-Si homojunction. The vertical photocurrent (VPC) and vertical photoresponsivity exhibit a substantial enhancement in the DJ heterostructure, surpassing by a maximum of 43-fold compared to the p-3C-SiC/n-Si single junction (SJ) counterpart. The p-3C-SiC layer and n-Si substrate of the two heterostructures have similar material and geometrical properties. More importantly, the fabrication costs for the DJ and SJ heterostructure devices are comparable. Our results demonstrate a significant potential for using DJ devices in energy harvesters, micro/nano electromechanical systems, and sensing applications. This research may also lead to the creation of advanced optoelectronic devices using DJ structures, where employing various semiconductor materials to achieve exceptional performance through the application of the concept and theoretical model described in this work.</p

Impact of interventions on the quality of life of cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal research

Abstract The impact of cancer interventions has been conducted in several research due to the significant burden of this non-communicable disease. The interventions that played an important role in the improvement of the patient’s quality of life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) can be classified into two main groups: pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological methods. However, studies so far often analyze a specific group of interventions for specific types of cancer. Thus, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we synthesized the overall impact of cancer interventions on patients’ quality of life in several cancers. In this research, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) to search the longitudinal original research on the Web of Science (WOS) database. After that, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Jadad Scale were used to assess the quality of non-randomized control trials and randomized control trials, respectively. Then, the characteristics of the included studies were described in the six main fields table and the random effect model with robust estimation was applied to analyze the impact of interventions on the health utility of patients. From the database, 122 longitudinal original research were included in the meta-regression, with most of them having high or fair quality. The European Organization for the research and treatment of cancer scale for quality of life (EORTC-QLQ) was the most used health utility measurement at 65.15%. In the adjusted effect models, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) had significant statistics in all models when we compared it with the EQ-5D Scale (p < 0.05) and several types of cancer such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer had significant statistics when comparing with hematological cancer in the model types of cancer (p < 0.01). Moreover, radiotherapy, screening, and a combination of chemotherapy and best supportive care also had significant statistics (p < 0.01) in the model of interventions when compared with radiotherapy applied only. Our research can suggest a vital combination of both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological interventions to improve the quality of life of some common types of cancer patients

Quality of life and mental health of adolescents: Relationships with social media addiction, Fear of Missing out, and stress associated with neglect and negative reactions by online peers.

Social networking is proliferating globally and in Vietnam, but this led to several negative aspects of adolescents' health, including physical activity, sleep quality, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to identify the relationship between social media usage and examine risk factors (Fear of Missing out and Risk of Neglect) on social media usage, and the overall quality of life and mental health among individuals actively using social media networks. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities in Vietnam (Hanoi, Tuyen Quang, and Can Tho) from September through to October 2021. A structured questionnaire assessed for characteristics of social media use and other associated factors. 1891 participants were recruited, with 98.4% having access to social media. s. Factors like "PHQ-9 score", "Problematic Internet use", and "Time average used social media per day", were negatively associated with the EQ5D5L Index. By contrast, "Gender", and "Using smartphone" were positive factors of the EQ5D5L Index. "FOMO score" and "self-harm and suicide" were positive factors of the PHQ-9 score while "Using smartphone" was negative. In terms of self-harm and suicide, "FOMO score" and "Problematic Internet use" were positive factors, by contrast, "Using smartphone" was a negative factor. This is the first study to examine social media addiction among Vietnamese adolescents, its relationship with FOMO score, stresses associated with rejection and neglect, and the overall quality of life. Our results highlighted there is a relationship between FOMO score and impaired overall quality of life, increased depressive symptoms, and an association between stresses relating to negative rejection and FOMO score

Additional file 1 of Impact of interventions on the quality of life of cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal research

Additional file 1: Appendix 1. Searching keyword term

Lack of Knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Implications for STDs Prevention and Care among Dermatology Patients in an Urban City in Vietnam

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a substantial global burden of diseases, especially in developing countries. Lack of awareness of STDs may lead to a delay in treatment. This study aimed to assess knowledge about STDs and the associated factors among dermatological patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 622 patients at Vietnam National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHD). Structured questionnaires were used to investigate the knowledge about STDs. A multivariate Tobit regression was employed to determine factors associated with knowledge about STDs. The percentage of patients knowing that syphilis was an STD was highest (57.8%), followed by herpes warts (57.7%) and HIV/AIDS (57.4%). By contrast, 26.6% and 17.2% of patients knew that chlamydia and hepatitis C were STDs. The most commonly stated symptom of STDs was purulent genital (53.5%). Nearly two-thirds of participants were aware of the curability of STDs, and 34.7% knew about vaccines for STDs. Living with partners, young age, and acquired knowledge of STDs via the Internet, social networks, and health staff were positively related to having better knowledge about STDs. Based on the results of this study, peer education, informal conversations within clusters, mass community campaigns through the Internet and social networks, and the use of online health care providers should be promoted in order to improve awareness of STDs