Epidemiological assessment of hepatitis E virus infection among 1565 pregnant women in Siem Reap, Cambodia using an in-house double antigen sandwich ELISA.

AIM: This study investigated hepatitis E virus (HEV) prevalence among pregnant women in Siem Reap, Cambodia, by developing a cost-effective, user-friendly in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting total anti-HEV immunoglobulins (Ig). METHODS: The in-house ELISA was designed for large-scale screening in resource-limited settings. Its performance was benchmarked against two commercial tests: the Anti-HEV IgG EIA (Institute of Immunology, Co. Ltd) and the Anti-HEV IgG RecomLine LIA (Mikrogen). The in-house ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity of 76% and 71.4%, and a specificity of 94.1% and 98.6%, against the two commercial tests, respectively, with overall agreement rates of 92.4% and 94.3%. RESULTS: Among 1565 tested pregnant women, 11.6% were anti-HEV positive. Prevalence increased with age, particularly in women aged 35-40 years and over 40 years. No significant associations were found with education, number of children, family size, or history of blood transfusion and surgery, except for the occupation of the family head as a public officer. Of the total anti-HEV positive women, 22.7% had anti-HEV IgM, indicating recent or ongoing infection. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the in-house ELISA is a viable option for HEV screening in regions with limited resources due to its high accuracy and cost-effectiveness. It is particularly suitable for large-scale studies and public health interventions in areas where HEV is endemic and poses a significant risk to pregnant women.

A Fluorination Strategy and Low-Acidity Anchoring Group in Self-Assembled Molecules for Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

Herein, we synthesized two donor-acceptor (D-A) type small organic molecules with self-assembly properties, namely MPA-BT-BA and MPA-2FBT-BA, both containing a low acidity anchoring group, benzoic acid. After systematically investigation, it is found that, with the fluorination, the MPA-2FBT-BA demonstrates a lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level, higher hole mobility, higher hydrophobicity and stronger interaction with the perovskite layer than that of MPA-BT-BA. As a result, the device based-on MPA-2FBT-BA displays a better crystallization and morphology of perovskite layer with larger grain size and less non-radiative recombination. Consequently, the device using MPA-2FBT-BA as hole transport material achieved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.32% and remarkable stability. After being kept in an N2 glove box for 116 days, the unsealed PSCs' device retained 93% of its initial PCE. Even exposed to air with a relative humidity range of 30±5% for 43 days, its PCE remained above 91% of its initial condition. This study highlights the vital importance of the fluorination strategy combined with a low acidity anchoring group in SAMs, offering a pathway to achieve efficient and stable PSCs.

N-DMBI Doping of Carbon Nanotube Yarns for Achieving High n-Type Thermoelectric Power Factor and Figure of Merit.

The application of carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns as thermoelectric materials for harvesting energy from low-grade waste heat including that generated by the human body, is attracting considerable attention. However, the lack of efficient n-type CNT yarns hinders their practical implementation in thermoelectric devices. This study reports efficient n-doping of CNT yarns, employing 4-(1, 3-dimethyl-2, 3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) phenyl) dimethylamine (N-DMBI) in alternative to conventional n-dopants, with o-dichlorobenzene emerging as the optimal solvent. The small molecular size of N-DMBI enables highly efficient doping within a remarkably short duration (10 s) while ensuring prolonged stability in air and at high temperature (150 °C). Furthermore, Joule annealing of the yarns significantly improves the n-doping efficiency. Consequently, thermoelectric power factors (PFs) of 2800, 2390, and 1534 µW m-1  K-2 are achieved at 200, 150, and 30 °C, respectively. The intercalation of N-DMBI molecules significantly suppresses the thermal conductivity, resulting in the high figure of merit (ZT) of 1.69×10-2 at 100 °C. Additionally, a π-type thermoelectric module is successfully demonstrated incorporating both p- and n-doped CNT yarns. This study offers an efficient doping strategy for achieving CNT yarns with high thermoelectric performance, contributing to the realization of lightweight and mechanically flexible CNT-based thermoelectric devices.

Natural course of post-COVID symptoms in adults and children.

More than 200 million COVID-19 survivors have lasting symptoms after recovering, but the duration and related risk factors remain uncertain. This study focused on all 6551 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a medical institution in Hiroshima from March 2020 to July 2022. In November 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted regarding post-COVID symptoms and their duration. The prevalence and duration of post-COVID symptoms were illustrated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors for symptoms lasting over 3 months and interfering with daily life were assessed via multivariate logistic regression. A total of 2421 survivors responded: 1391 adults, 1030 children, median age 34 years (IQR 9-55), 51·2% male, 36·7% hospitalized, median time from infection to the survey was 295 days (IQR 201-538). Upon their initial recovery, the prevalence of post-COVID symptoms was 78·4% in adults and 34·6% in children. Three months later, the rates were 47·6% and 10·8%. After over one year, they were 31·0% and 6·8%. Regarding symptoms interfere with daily life, 304 people (12.6%) experienced symptoms lasting for over three months, with independent risk factors including age, being female, diabetes mellitus, infection during the Delta period, and current smoking. There was no significant association between vaccination history and post-COVID symptoms.

The Association between Betel Quid Chewing and Metabolic Syndrome Among Urban Adults in Mandalay District of Myanmar.

Background: As the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes increase worldwide, the need to identify modifiable lifestyle risk factors also increases, especially those that may be relatively unique to a specific population. To explore a possible association between betel quid chewing and metabolic syndrome, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Methodology: Three hundred ninety-one (391) adults were interviewed and the following parameters were measured: triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between betel quid chewing and metabolic syndrome while controlling for confounders. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in chewers and non-chewers, 50% and 49%, respectively. After controlling for other factors, development of metabolic syndrome was positively associated with number of betel quids chewed per day, age greater than 40 years, and a positive family history of hypertension and diabetes. Regarding the duration of betel chewing, when analyzed by sex, the risk was doubled in men compared to non-chewers (OR 2.15; 95% CI = 1.21, 3.84). As a result, a man chewing more than 10 pieces (OR 2.49; 95% CI = 1.36, 4.57) of betel quids per day for more than 10 years had a two-fold increased chance of developing the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Frequency and duration of betel quid chewing may represent a behavioral lifestyle target for approaches to reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome.

Antisolvent-Free Heterogenous Nucleation Enabled by Employing 4-Tert-Butyl Pyridine Additive and Two-Step Annealing for Efficient CsPbI2 Br Perovskite Solar Cells.

All inorganic perovskite based on CsPbI2 Br has attracted significant attention due to its relatively thermal stable structure compare to its hybrid counterparts. With a wide bandgap of 1.9 eV and excellent light absorption capability, it has been extensively explored for applications in indoor photovoltaics and as a front absorber in tandem devices. However, the uncontrollable crystallization process during solvent evaporation and thermal annealing leads to both macroscopic defects like cracks and microscopic defects such as voids. In this study, a metastable adduct with lead (II) halides by incorporating 4-tert-butyl pyridine as a volatile Lewis base monodentate ligand in the precursor solution is formed. The strategic preferential decomposition of the adduct during the early-stage low-temperature annealing facilitated the desorption of lead (II) halides, inducing antisolvent-free heterogenous nucleation. This, in turn, promoted crystal growth during subsequent high-temperature annealing, resulting in dense films with low defect density. As a result, a maximum open-circuit voltage of 1.30 V is achieved with the champion power conversion efficiency of 16.5% in CsPbI2 Br-based perovskite solar cell. The work reveals a new mechanism of using Lewis acid-base adduct to obtain high quality perovskite films other than hindering crystallization in traditional way.

Do Electronic Health Literacy and Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior Mediate the Effects of Socio-Demographic Factors on COVID-19- and Non-communicable Disease-Related Behaviors Among Myanmar Migrants in Southern Thailand?

Introduction Myanmar migrants in Thailand are vulnerable to COVID-19 and non-communicable disease (NCD) risk behaviors, influenced by socio-demographic factors. In the digital age, migrants can seek extensive health information online, and their ability to understand and use electronic health information, which is known as electronic health literacy (e-Health literacy), becomes critical in making decisions about their health behaviors. This study aims to investigate the potential mediating roles of online health information-seeking and e-Health literacy in the associations between socio-demographic factors and COVID-19- and NCD-related behaviors. Methods Our study was conducted in 2022, involving 1,050 Myanmar migrants in two southern Thai cities. Data on socio-demographic factors, e-Health literacy, online health information seeking, COVID-19-related behaviors (adherence to COVID-19 protective behavior (CPB), vaccination), and NCD risk behaviors (smoking, betel chewing, alcohol consumption, substance abuse) were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Results Nearly all migrants received the COVID-19 vaccination in two doses and above, with reasonable good adherence to CPB. Migrants exhibited risky NCD-related behaviors, including current smoking (26.8%), alcohol consumption (17.5%), and betel chewing (25.8%). Approximately three-quarters (73.4%) had a limited e-Health literacy level, and the vast majority did not search for online health information. Their COVID-19- and NCD-related behaviors were directly influenced by socio-demographic factors without the significant mediation roles of e-Health literacy and online health information seeking. Conclusions Myanmar migrant workers in Southern Thailand had reasonably good practices in COVID-19-related behaviors despite engaging in risky NCD-related behaviors. These outcome behaviors were directly influenced by their socio-demographic factors, without the significant mediation roles of e-Health literacy and online health information seeking. The findings suggest that diverse interventions beyond e-Health strategies for future pandemic mitigation and enhancement of their health behaviors are needed.

Estimating causes of community death of adults in Myanmar from a nationwide population sample: Application of verbal autopsy.

In Myanmar 84% of deaths occur in the community, of which half are unregistered and none have a reliable cause of death (COD) recorded. Since 2018, Myanmar has introduced improved registration practices and verbal autopsy (VA) to assess whether such methods can produce policy relevant information on community COD. Community health midwives and public health supervisors grade II collected VAs on over 80,000 deaths which occurred between January 2018 and December 2019 in a nationwide sample of 42 townships in Myanmar. Electronic methods were used to collect and consolidate data. The most probable COD was assigned using the SmartVA Analyze 2.0 computer algorithm. Completeness of VA death reporting increased to 71% in 2019. Most adult (12+ years) deaths (82%) were due to non-communicable diseases, primarily stroke, ischemic heart disease and chronic respiratory disease, for both men and women. VA results were consistent with Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study estimates, except for cirrhosis in men, which was more common, and had a younger age distribution of death than the GBD. Large scale implementation of improved death registration practices and COD diagnosis using VA is feasible and provides plausible, timely, disaggregated and policy relevant information on the leading causes of community death. Addressing the burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly cirrhosis in young men, is an important public health priority in Myanmar. Improving completeness of VA death reporting in poorly performing townships and in neonates, children and women will further improve the policy utility of the VA data.

Active Tuberculosis Screening via a Mobile Health App in Myanmar: Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: A mobile app that calculates a tuberculosis (TB) risk score based on individual social and pathological characteristics has been shown to be a better predictor of the risk of contracting TB than conventionally used TB signs and symptoms (TBSS) in Myanmar, where the TB burden is high. Its cost-effectiveness, however, has not yet been assessed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the incremental costs of this mobile app and of chest x-rays (CXRs) in averting disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among missed cases of active TB in the population being screened. METHODS: Elements of incremental costs and effectiveness of 3 initial TB screening strategies were examined, including TBSS followed by CXR, the mobile app followed by CXR, and universal CXR. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER; ie, the additional cost for each additional DALY averted) was compared to TBSS screening. Based on the latest 2020 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Myanmar (US $1477.50), the ICER was compared to willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds of 1, 2, and 3 times the GDP per capita. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted with a Monte Carlo simulation to compute the levels of probability that the ICER for each strategy was below each WTP threshold. RESULTS: For each 100,000 population, the incremental cost compared to TBSS of active TB screening was US $345,942 for the mobile app and US $1,810,712 for universal CXR. The incremental effectiveness was 325 DALYs averted for the mobile app and 576 DALYs averted for universal CXR. For the mobile app, the estimated ICER was US $1064 (72% of GDP per capita) per 1 DALY averted. Furthermore, 100% of the simulated values were below an additional cost of 1 times the GDP per capita for 1 additional DALY averted. The universal CXR strategy has an estimated ICER of US $3143 (2.1 times the GDP per capita) per 1 DALY averted and an additional 77.2% DALYs averted compared to the app (ie, 576 - 325 / 325 DALYs); however, 0.5% of the simulated values were higher than an additional expenditure of 3 times the GDP per capita. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the status of the economy in 2020, the mobile app strategy is affordable for Myanmar. The universal CXR strategy, although it could prevent an additional 77% of DALYs, is probably unaffordable. Compared to the TBSS strategy, the mobile app system based on social and pathological characteristics of TB has potential as a TB screening tool to identify missing TB cases and to reduce TB morbidity and mortality, thereby helping to achieve the global goal of "End TB" in resource-limited settings with a high TB burden.

The impact of COVID-19 on hepatitis B and C virus prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in Bangladesh compared with Japan and the global perspective.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 on hepatitis-related services in Bangladesh and compared the situation with same study conducted in Japan and globally. METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional questionnaire survey among the clinicians of four societies associated with liver disease in Bangladesh from October to December 2022. The questionnaire included the same questions as a survey conducted in Japan and globally. RESULTS: A total of 83 clinicians from 8 divisions in Bangladesh participated; 66.3% were heads of departments/institutions. Except for HCV treatment initiation, more than 30% of clinicians reported a 76-99% decline in all services. Compared to Japan and the global survey, there was a significantly higher decline in all HBV and HCV services in Bangladesh. To resume services back to pre-COVID-19 levels, Patient anxiety and fear (Bangladesh Survey: 80.7% vs Japan Survey: 67.4% vs Global Survey: 37.9%, p < 0.0001), loss of space due to COVID-19 (Bangladesh Survey: 63.9% vs Japan Survey: 34.7% vs Global Survey: 19.4%, p < 0.0001) were the main challenges. As part of the mitigation strategy, usage of telemedicine (Bangladesh Survey: 83.1% vs. Japan Survey: 67.3% vs Global Survey: 78.6% p < 0.0001), COVID-19 benefits, such as increased laboratory testing platforms (Bangladesh Survey: 77.1% vs Japan Survey: 17.9% vs Global Survey: 41.8%, p < 0.0001) was reported significantly higher in Bangladesh than in Japan and global survey. CONCLUSION: All the services-related to HBV and HCV were highly affected during greatest impact month of COVID-19 in Bangladesh and the decline level was higher than Japan and global survey. Repeated countermeasures of COVID-19 and constrained healthcare-system were the probable reasons in Bangladesh. Positive impact resulting from COVID-19 countermeasures should be utilized in the national hepatitis program in Bangladesh.

Sequence of COVID-19 Vaccination and COVID-19 Infection and Their Association With the Development of Active Tuberculosis: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction Information regarding the cross-risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) is still sparse. This study aimed to identify the patterns of sequence of COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 infection and to explore the association between COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 infection, and the development of active TB. Methods It was a case-control study conducted in RSUD Dr. Iskak Hospital, Tulungagung, between October 2022 and April 2023. Active cases of TB patients were compared with non-TB controls in the same hospital, with the same age and sex. Their pattern of sequence of COVID-19 vaccination and infection was investigated. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between these key variables. Results Of 296 case-control sets, 64.2% were female. The mean ± standard deviation of age was 46 ± 15.6 years. 5.7% of the cases and 6.4% of the controls had a history of COVID-19 infection, whereas 58.8% and 68.4% had been vaccinated (mostly after infection). The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of COVID-19 infection on risk to the development of active TB was 1.45 (0.58, 3.65). Those of COVID-19 vaccination of one to four doses were 0.42 (0.17, 1), 0.98 (0.58, 1.66), 0.48 (0.25, 0.93), and 0.09 (0.01, 0.81), respectively. Conclusion It was found that there were five patterns of sequence of COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, with the most frequent being having COVID-19 infection before COVID-19 vaccination. Our data did not support the association between COVID-19 infection and the subsequent development of active TB. On the other hand, COVID-19 vaccination has been demonstrated to increase some protection against the development of active TB.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD prevention between different socioeconomic groups in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the continuing management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the population. Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of health. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic increased, the SES gap in CVD risk factors is unknown. AIMS: To compare the management of CVD risk factors and the SES gap before and during the pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes were compared between the periods before (N=2416, 45.2% men, 65.3±9.8 years) and during (N=776, 44.5% men, 63.9±9.1 years) the COVID-19 pandemic. SES was defined by education and categorised as low (compulsory or apprenticeship), middle (high school) and high (university). RESULTS: After multivariable analysis, the prevalence of hypertension increased, and awareness decreased during the pandemic: OR and (95% CI) 1.26 (1.04 to 1.53) and 0.70 (0.53 to 0.94), respectively. For dyslipidaemia, prevalence decreased during the pandemic 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.98); awareness did not change. For diabetes, prevalence did not change but awareness increased 5.76 (95% CI 1.23 to 27.04). No differences were found before and during the pandemic regarding treatment and control for all CVD risk factors. Relative to high SES, a decrease in hypertension awareness among middle SES categories was observed during the pandemic (OR and 95% CI 1.11 (0.73 to 1.69) before and 0.45 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.85) during, p for interaction<0.05), while no other changes were found. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and management of CVD risk factors changed little during the pandemic. The SES gap did not increase except for hypertension awareness.

Benzophenone: A Small Molecule Additive for Enhanced Performance and Stability of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

In this study, we investigated the impact of benzophenone (BP), a small molecule additive, on the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Specifically, we introduced BP into the perovskite precursor solution of FAPbI3 to fabricate PSCs with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/BP:FAPbI3/PCBM/C60/PCB/Ag architecture. The incorporation of BP with an optimum concentration of 2 mg mL-1 significantly enhanced the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the inverted PSC from 13.12 to 18.84% with negligible hysteresis. Notably, the BP-based PSCs retained ∼90% of their initial PCE after being stored in ambient air with 30% relative humidity at 25 °C for 700 h. In contrast, control devices showed rapid degradation, retaining only 30% of their initial value within 300 h under the same conditions. We attributed the superior performance and stability of the BP-based PSCs to the grain boundary passivation of the perovskite film. The improvement was mainly attributed to the intermolecular interaction between the O-donor Lewis base BP material and both Pb2+ and FA+ in FAPbI3. This effectively suppresses trap-assisted recombination and promotes the conversion of the δ-phase to photoactive and stable α-phase FAPbI3. Overall, our findings suggest that BP is a promising additive for improving the performance and stability of inverted PSCs.

Variant-specific symptoms after COVID-19: a hospital-based study in Hiroshima.

BackgroundSymptoms after COVID-19 recovery by SARS-CoV-2 strains are unspecified.MethodsThis self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted to investigate symptoms after COVID-19 recovery at one of the main hospitals for COVID-19 treatment in Hiroshima, Japan, from September 2020 to March 2022 for patients who visited follow-up consultations after COVID-19. Study subjects were divided into four groups (Wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods) according to COVID-19 onset date. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to determine symptom clusters and investigate risk factors for each symptom cluster using multivariate analysis.ResultsAmong 385 patients who enrolled in this study, 249 patients had any persistent symptoms at a median of 23.5 [IQR, 20-31] days after COVID-19 onset. Among patients with any persistent symptoms, symptom clusters including olfactory or taste disorders, respiratory symptoms, and cardiac symptoms were found. Respiratory symptoms were more frequent among patients infected in the Omicron period compared to the Wild-type period (AOR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.31-7.48; p=0.0101). Compared to patients who recovered from mild COVID-19, patients who needed for oxygen or ventilation support suffered fewer post-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms (AOR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.97; p=0.0415) but more post-COID-19 cardiac symptoms among them (AOR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.26-5.65; p=0.0103). Olfactory or taste disorders were fewer among patients infected in the Omicron period compared to the Wild-type period (AOR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.46; p=0.0011).ConclusionThis study revealed that symptoms after COVID-19 may vary depending on the infected strain.

Despite low viral titer in saliva samples, Sanger-based SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing is highly applicable for the variant identification.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the performance of Sanger-based SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based full-genome sequencing for variant identification in saliva samples with low viral titer. METHODS: Using 241 stocked saliva samples collected from confirmed COVID-19 patients between November 2020 and March 2022 in Hiroshima, SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing (nt22735-nt23532) was performed by nested RT-PCR and Sanger platform using in-house primers. The same samples underwent full-genome sequencing by NGS using Illumina NextSeq2000. RESULTS: Among 241 samples, 147 were amplified by both the Sanger and the Illumina NextSeq2000 NGS, 86 by Sanger only, and 8 were not amplified at all. The overall amplification rates of Illumina NextSeq2000 NGS and Sanger were 61% and 96.7%, respectively. At low viral titer (< 103 copies/mL), Illumina NextSeq2000 NGS provided 19.2% amplification, while Sanger was 89.7% (p < 0.0001). Both platforms identified 38 wild type, 54 Alpha variants, 84 Delta variants, and 57 Omicron variants. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided evidence to expand the capacity of Sanger-based SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing for variants identification over full-genome by Illumina NextSeq2000 NGS for mass screening. Therefore, the feasible and simple Sanger-based SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing is practical for the initial variants screening, which might reduce the gap between the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its molecular surveillance.

Robust perovskite formation via vacuum thermal annealing for indoor perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite materials are fascinating candidates for the next-generation solar devices. With long charge carrier lifetime, metal-halide perovskites are known to be good candidates for low-light harvesting. To match the irradiance spectra of indoor light, we configured a triple-cation perovskite material with appropriate content of bromide and chloride (FA0.45MA0.49Cs0.06Pb(I0.62Br0.32Cl0.06)3) to achieve an optimum band gap (Eg) of [Formula: see text]1.80 eV. With low photon flux at indoor condition, minimal recombination is highly desirable. To achieve such goal, we, for the first time, combined dual usage of antisolvent deposition and vacuum thermal annealing, namely VTA, to fabricate a high-quality perovskite film. VTA leads to compact, dense, and hard morphology while suppressing trap states at surfaces and grain boundaries, which are key culprits for exciton losses. With low-cost carbon electrode architecture, VTA devices exhibited average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 27.7 ± 2.7% with peak PCE of 32.0% (Shockley-Queisser limit of 50-60%) and average open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.93 ± 0.02 V with peak Voc of 0.96 V, significantly more than those of control and the vacuum treatment prior to heat.

Dried blood spot-based host genome analysis technique targeting pathological associations with hepatitis B: Development and clinical application in the Cambodian population.

AIM: Reports of patients with hepatitis B have highlighted associations between polymorphisms in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPB1, CXCL13, and CXCR5 genes and disease pathology. Owing to its potential to contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, we aimed to establish a reliable host genome analysis technique that can be used in countries with inadequate infrastructure. METHOD: We compared multiple commercially available kits for dried blood spot (DBS)-based sample collection to develop a basic DBS-based host genome analysis technique. We then collected blood samples from Cambodian patients with hepatitis  B and performed single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and HLA allele typing by the DBS system. RESULT: We were able to perform single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and HLA allele typing with host DNA samples obtained using a combination of a HemaSpot™ filter paper-based device and a SMITEST® EX-R&D DNA extraction kit. The accuracy of genotyping using samples obtained by this method was not inferior to one using samples obtained by venipuncture. In the Cambodian population, significant associations of HLA-DPB1*04:01 with protection against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and HLA-DPB1*05:01 and HLA-DPB1*13:01 with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection were identified. CONCLUSION: Based on the DBS system, we clarified the associations of HLA-DPB1 alleles with chronic HBV infection in the Cambodian population for the first time. Because the DBS is a low-cost, durable, transportable, and easy-to-handle modality, genetic analysis based on the DBS system is a feasible strategy for obtaining a deeper understanding of HBV epidemiology, especially in middle- or low-income countries.

Dengue in Myanmar: Spatiotemporal epidemiology, association with climate and short-term prediction.

Dengue is a major public health problem in Myanmar. The country aims to reduce morbidity by 50% and mortality by 90% by 2025 based on 2015 data. To support efforts to reach these goals it is important to have a detailed picture of the epidemiology of dengue, its relationship to meteorological factors and ideally to predict ahead of time numbers of cases to plan resource allocations and control efforts. Health facility-level data on numbers of dengue cases from 2012 to 2017 were obtained from the Vector Borne Disease Control Unit, Department of Public Health, Myanmar. A detailed analysis of routine dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) incidence was conducted to examine the spatial and temporal epidemiology. Incidence was compared to climate data over the same period. Dengue was found to be widespread across the country with an increase in spatial extent over time. The temporal pattern of dengue cases and fatalities was episodic with annual outbreaks and no clear longitudinal trend. There were 127,912 reported cases and 632 deaths from 2012 and 2017 with peaks in 2013, 2015 and 2017. The case fatality rate was around 0.5% throughout. The peak season of dengue cases was from May to August in the wet season but in 2014 peak dengue season continued until November. The strength of correlation of dengue incidence with different climate factors (total rainfall, maximum, mean and minimum temperature and absolute humidity) varied between different States and Regions. Monthly incidence was forecasted 1 month ahead using the Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method at country and subnational levels. With further development and validation, this may be a simple way to quickly generate short-term predictions at subnational scales with sufficient certainty to use for intervention planning.

Phenanthroline-carbolong interface suppress chemical interactions with active layer enabling long-time stable organic solar cells.

To restrain the chemical reaction at cathode interface of organic solar cells, two cathode interfacial materials are synthesized by connecting phenanthroline with carbolong unit. Consequently, the D18:L8-BO based organic solar cell with double-phenanthroline-carbolong achieve the highest efficiency of 18.2%. Double-phenanthroline-carbolong with larger steric hindrance and stronger electron-withdrawing property confirms to suppress the interfacial reaction with norfullerene acceptor, resulting the most stable device. Double-phenanthroline-carbolong based device can sustain 80% of its initial efficiency for 2170 h in dark N2 atmosphere, 96 h under 85 oC and keep 68% initial efficiency after been illuminated for 2200 h, which are significantly better than bathocuproin based devices. Moreover, superb interfacial stability of double-phenanthroline-carbolong cathode interface enables thermal posttreatment of organic sub-cell in perovskite/organic tandem solar cells and obtained a remarkable efficiency of 21.7% with excellent thermal stability, which indicates the potentially wide application of phenanthroline-carbolong materials for stable and efficient solar device fabrications.