Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2019 : a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2·72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·66–2·79) in 2000 to 2·31 (2·17–2·46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134·5 million (131·5–137·8) in 2000 to a peak of 139·6 million (133·0–146·9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135·3 million (127·2–144·1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2·1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27·1% (95% UI 26·4–27·8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67·2 years (95% UI 66·8–67·6) in 2000 to 73·5 years (72·8–74·3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50·7 million (49·5–51·9) in 2000 to 56·5 million (53·7–59·2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9·6 million (9·1–10·3) in 2000 to 5·0 million (4·3–6·0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25·7%, from 6·2 billion (6·0–6·3) in 2000 to 7·7 billion (7·5–8·0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58·6 years (56·1–60·8) in 2000 to 63·5 years (60·8–66·1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019

Quantum Dot Photodiodes for Enhanced Short-Wavelength Infrared Photodetection: Engineering Charge Transport

Short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) light detection is becoming increasingly important in depth-sensing, spectroscopy, and night vision. Since SWIR radiation is transparent to silicon — the workhorse of visible photodetection — epitaxial compound semiconductors are instead the dominant SWIR technology. However, the process of epitaxial growth on crystalline substrates increases fabrication cost, and this has, to date, limited the breadth of application of SWIR technologies.Colloidal quantum dot (CQD) photodiodes are an emerging alternative to enable low-cost, high-quality SWIR detection. They benefit from a tunable bandgap, high absorption, and solution-based fabrication. A typical CQD photodiode consists of an active absorber layer of ligand-capped CQDs sandwiched between an electron transport layer (ETL) and a hole transport layer (HTL). In this work, I show that addressing the need for improved charge transport in PbS (lead sulphide) CQD photodiodes improves stability and response time. Prior to the work presented in this thesis, PbS CQD photodiodes suffered from limited stability: photocurrent degraded to <10% of maximum within 2 hours of operation. I showed that the zinc oxide nanoparticles of the ETL cause this instability. These nanoparticles promote charge trapping and oxygen adsorption. I developed a new ETL with 10x lower oxygen binding energy to achieve devices with stability exceeding 120 hours.In the HTL, poor charge transport affects sensor response time rather than stability. Low-mobility organic-ligand-capped CQDs are conventionally used as HTLs. Consequently, response times exceed 800 ns. I developed an improved mobility HTL, based on nickel oxide, that enabled devices with quantum efficiency and dark current similar to the best previous devices; but with response time reduced fourfold to ~200 ns. These devices nevertheless retained an extended temporal decay tail which persisted for >10 µs. Such a tail of response corresponds to lag. I studied the effect of active layer ligand concentration on decay time, finding that ligand concentration has a strong influence on the final trap density and thus temporal response. I was able to reduce this lag effect fourfold while maintaining low dark current and high quantum efficiency. Overall, stability and response time of SWIR PbS CQD photodiodes were enhanced via layer-wise charge transport improvements.Ph.D

Comparative Clinical Efficacy of Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanvati in Management of Amlapitta

Introduction: Amalpitta is most common problem nowadays. Guduchyadi yoga kwatha was indicated in classics in the management of Amlapitta. Kwatha is very effective but it is unpleasant to some patients. So the kwatha was converted into preferable dosage form as requirement of present era. Material and Method: A Clinical trial was carried out on 60 Patients of Amlapitta aged 20 to 60 years with complaints of Aruchi, Avipaka, Tiktodgar, Amlodgar, Urodaha, Kanthadaha etc., who were registered from OPD of Government Ayurved Hospital, Vadodara. They were equally divided into two groups  i.e. Group A- Guduchyadi Syrup given in 20ml BD dose and Group B- Guduchyadi Ghanavati given at 500mg2 BD ). Each group was treated for 28 days administered empty stomach. The clinical assessment was carried out on the 28th  day and  2 weeks after the 28 days of treatment (after follow up period) for the  objective &amp; subjective parameters and it was seen that both the dosage form Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanavati were very effective and cured or markedly relieved the symptoms of Amlapitta. Results: The study shows the effect of Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanavati, which led to cure in 16 patients (53.33%) and 22(73.33%) patients respectively, and markedly improvement in 12(40%) and 8(26.67%) patients affected with Amlapitta disease respectively. Conclusion: Both trial dosage forms of Guduchyadi Yoga, (Group A- Syrup &amp; Group B- Ghanavati )  relieved the symptoms of Amlapitta and both the formulation have comparatively similar efficacy in the management of Amlapitta.&#x0D; </jats:p

Comparative Clinical Efficacy of Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanvati in Management of Amlapitta

Introduction: Amalpitta is most common problem nowadays. Guduchyadi yoga kwatha was indicated in classics in the management of Amlapitta. Kwatha is very effective but it is unpleasant to some patients. So the kwatha was converted into preferable dosage form as requirement of present era. Material and Method: A Clinical trial was carried out on 60 Patients of Amlapitta aged 20 to 60 years with complaints of Aruchi, Avipaka, Tiktodgar, Amlodgar, Urodaha, Kanthadaha etc., who were registered from OPD of Government Ayurved Hospital, Vadodara. They were equally divided into two groups&nbsp; i.e. Group A- Guduchyadi Syrup given in 20ml BD dose and Group B- Guduchyadi Ghanavati given at 500mg2 BD ). Each group was treated for 28 days administered empty stomach. The clinical assessment was carried out on the 28th&nbsp; day and&nbsp; 2 weeks after the 28 days of treatment (after follow up period) for the&nbsp; objective &amp; subjective parameters and it was seen that both the dosage form Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanavati were very effective and cured or markedly relieved the symptoms of Amlapitta. Results: The study shows the effect of Guduchyadi Syrup and Guduchyadi Ghanavati, which led to cure in 16 patients (53.33%) and 22(73.33%) patients respectively, and markedly improvement in 12(40%) and 8(26.67%) patients affected with Amlapitta disease respectively. Conclusion: Both trial dosage forms of Guduchyadi Yoga, (Group A- Syrup &amp; Group B- Ghanavati )&nbsp; relieved the symptoms of Amlapitta and both the formulation have comparatively similar efficacy in the management of Amlapitta