STRUCTURAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF Fe-DOPED NiAl2O4 OXIDE

A new spinel solid solution system of Ni1-xFexAl2O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) was synthesized through sol-gel method. The effect of Fe doping on the nickel aluminate prepared was investigated. The synthesized powders were characterized by means of  X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis,  fourier transform  infrared  spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical measurements.  From the preceding analysis, it can be shown that compounds show a single spinel phase in the temperature range 650-1000°C and the solubility of iron in the NiAl2O4 structure was limited to samples with the iron content x < 0.6. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the catalytic activity is strongly influenced by iron doping. The highest electrode performance is achieved with Ni0.7Fe0.3Al2O4 (i=86.84 mA/cm2) which  is ~ 27 times greater than that of NiAl2O4 ( i=3.22 mA/cm2) at  E= +0.8V. After one hundred cycles, the stability of the doped electrode with 30% of iron is much better than the undoped electrode

Determination of “borderline resectable” pancreatic cancer – A global assessment of 30 shades of grey

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Accurate preoperative assessment using computed tomography (CT) to determine resectability is crucial in ensuring patients are offered the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. Despite the use of classification guidelines, any interobserver variability between reviewing surgeons and radiologists may confound decisions influencing patient treatment pathways. Methods: In this multicentre observational study, an international group of 96 clinicians (42 hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons and 54 radiologists) were surveyed and asked to report 30 pancreatic CT scans of pancreatic cancer deemed borderline at respective multidisciplinary meetings (MDM). The degree of interobserver agreement in resectability among radiologists and surgeons was assessed and subgroup regression analysis was performed. Results: Interobserver variability between reviewers was high with no unanimous agreement. Overall interobserver agreement was fair with a kappa value of 0.32 with a higher rate of agreement among radiologists over surgeons. Conclusion: Interobserver variability among radiologists and surgeons globally is high, calling into question the consistency of clinical decision making for patients with PDAC and suggesting that central review may be required for studies of neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches in future as well as ongoing quality control initiatives, even amongst experts in the field