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Introduction: Topical retinoids are the mainstay of treatment for mild and moderate acne but longer duration of application causes adverse effects. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of application, duration, and dosing frequency on the efficacy and adverse effect of Adapalene in Acne Vulgaris.Materials and Methods: The study design was an open-label randomized controlled split-face trial. Patients with acne grades 1 and 2 were randomized into three groups using the split-face technique on the right and left sides. On the right side, patients applied adapalene daily in all the groups and alternately on the left face. The three groups of the study were overnight, 1 hour, and ½ hour application of adapalene. Follow up period was 4,8 and 12 weeks. Lesion count and side effects were evaluated at each follow-up.Results: Out of 292 who completed the study, the decrease in total lesion count was highest in the overnight group. Regarding specific lesion count, the decrease in non-inflammatory lesions was highest in the overnight group. However, short contact therapy with 1-hour application showed comparable efficacy with the overnight group in regards to inflammatory lesion count. There was a significant reduction of lesions in all groups from baseline to 12 weeks, with ½ hour group having minimal side effects followed by 1 hour and overnight.Conclusion: Short contact therapy for acne shows promising results in regard to efficacy and better tolerance.

Almost all traditional energy sources are on the point of rapid depletion due to over use. There is demand for alternative renewable energy sources, and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are one of the rising solutions. TEGs are a new class of solid-state devices that transform waste heat energy directly into electricity using Seebeck effect. The efficiency of TEGs is governed by dimensionless quantity called Figure of merit (ZT), which plays an important role to determine the overall sustainability of TEGs. Traditional thermoelectric generators have a poor efficiency (12-20%), which is a disadvantage. To obtain higher value of ZT, the prime emphasis is given towards material engineering as the efficiency solely depends on the materials selection. The investigation is on earth-abundant, cost-effective, low-toxic innovative nanomaterials. In addition, the paper covers various elements for TEGs with prime focus towards rare earth free materials and their emerging trends.

The little monoecious tree known asGlochidion velutinumWight also goes by the names Chinna usiri and velvety melon. It is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae. It is capable of reaching heights of 9 metres and has branches and leaves that are elongated. The nations of India, Burma, and Pakistan make up the majority of this plant's distribution range in the world. A broad variety of human health issues, including as diabetes, inflammation, cancer, wound healing, anti-diarrheal effect, and many more, have traditionally been treated with the plant in its whole as well as with many of its individual parts. Many different kinds of compounds, including triterpenoid, glycosides, alkaloids, proteins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, and saponins, may be found in plants. The extracts of the plant have been shown to possess a variety of useful qualities, including those that are anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-urolithiatic, and antibacterial. It is possible to put various approaches to the test in order to determine whether or not they can substantiate the various claims made about the usage of ethnomedicine.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, relapsing and remitting disease with no cure till date. There is a paucity of trials using a combination of methotrexate (MTX) and cyclosporine (CsA) in chronic plaque psoriasis, due to fear of added toxicity, although they are time tested treatment options for monotherapy. Aims: The study aimed to compare the efficacy and adverse effect profile of the standard recommended dose of MTX (i.e. 0.3mg/kg/week) versus a combination of reduced doses of MTX and CsA (i.e. MTX 0.15 mg/kg/week with CsA 2.5mg/kg/day) in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Methods: Study design was a non-blinded randomised controlled trial. Patients of chronic plaque psoriasis with PASI more than 10 were randomised in 1: 1 allocation to receive either 0.3 mg/kg/week of intramuscular MTX injection or a combination of 0.15 mg/kg/week of intramuscular MTX injection and 2.5 mg/kg/day of CsA rounded off to the nearest 25 mg. Patients were followed up at every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. The doses were kept fixed throughout the study period. Results: A total of 66 patients received MTX monotherapy, whereas 67 patients received the combination. At baseline, both groups were comparable in their BSA (P = 0.105, Student t-test) and PASI (P = 0.277, Student t-test), which reduced significantly at 12 weeks in both groups (P < 0.001, paired t-test). The achievement of PASI-75 (P = 0.005), PASI-90 (P < 0.001) and PASI-100 (P = 0.001) was more in the combination group (Chi square test). Intention to treat analysis using Chi square test also showed better outcomes for PASI-75 (P = 0.027), PASI-90 (P < 0.001) and PASI-100 (P = 0.001) in the combination group. Combination group also had earlier onset of action (P = 0.001, Chi square test). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of laboratory and clinical adverse events. Limitations: Non-blinded, no comparison with CsA monotherapy arm, no follow up beyond 12 weeks. Conclusion: The combination of reduced doses of MTX and CsA is more efficacious with earlier onset of action and similar adverse effects as with MTX monotherapy.

Microbiological safety is very important aspect of blood transfusion services (BTS). Viral infectious agents possess a great risk of transfusion transmitted disease. On the one hand, blood or component transfusion is a lifesaving modality but on the other hand it can cause great mortality or morbidity in recipient if not used judiciously. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria amongst all types of donors donated at blood bank of Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during the year 2017. This was a retrospective study. The blood donors included in this study include all donors coming directly to blood bank and blood donation camps organized by blood bank. Total donation during that period was 22255 units. A detailed questionnaire was given to the donors for registration. A total of 226 units (1.01%) were seropositive. The sero-prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis were 0.9% (21), 0.79% (177), 0.09% (22), 0.02% (6) respectively. No cases of malaria were detected. TTI can be reduced by motivating maximum voluntary blood donation, reducing replacement donation, public information and donor education awareness programme, stringent donor screening criteria and vigilance of error.

BACKGROUND Dermatophytic infections have undergone unprecedented changes in India in the recent past. Clinical trials to find out the effectiveness of the four main oral antifungal drugs are lacking. OBJECTIVES We tested the effectiveness of oral fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole and terbinafine in chronic and chronic relapsing tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea faciei in an investigator-initiated, randomized, pragmatic trial. METHODS Two hundred patients with microscopy-confirmed tinea were allocated to four groups (50 patients in each group): fluconazole 5 mg kg-1 per day, griseofulvin 10 mg kg-1 per day, itraconazole 5 mg kg-1 per day and terbinafine 7·5 mg kg-1 per day. Allocation was performed by concealed block randomization and the patients were treated for 8 weeks or until cure. Effectiveness was calculated based on intention-to-treat analysis. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2017/04/008281). RESULTS At 4 weeks, all drugs were similarly ineffective, with cure rates being 8% or less (P = 0·42). At 8 weeks, the numbers of patients cured were as follows: fluconazole 21 (42%), griseofulvin seven (14%), itraconazole 33 (66%) and terbinafine 14 (28%) (P < 0·001). Itraconazole was superior to fluconazole, griseofulvin and terbinafine (adjusted P ≤ 0·048). Relapse rates after 4 and 8 weeks of cure with the four treatments were not different (P ≥ 0·42). Numbers needed to treat (vs. griseofulvin), calculated on the basis of cure rates at 8 weeks, were as follows: fluconazole 4, itraconazole 2 and terbinafine 8. CONCLUSIONS The results show limited effectiveness of all four antifungal drugs. In view of cure rates and the number needed to treat, itraconazole is the most effective drug, followed by fluconazole (daily), terbinafine and then griseofulvin, in chronic and chronic relapsing dermatophytosis in India. What is already known about this topic? Oral antifungal drugs are considered to have a high cure rate in tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea faciei. Unprecedented changes have been noticed in the last few years in India in the morphology, course and treatment responsiveness of tinea; however, data about the effectiveness of oral antifungals are lacking. What does this study add? Our results show limited effectiveness of four oral antifungal drugs (fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole and terbinafine) in the current epidemic of altered dermatophytosis in India. Among the four drugs tested, oral itraconazole is the most effective. Linked Comment: Elewski. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:798-799.

High-production methods like longwall mining with hydraulic powered supports are necessary to increase underground coal production in India. Longwall mining had a mixed success record for Indian geo-mining conditions. In this paper, an analysis is presented to optimally design an array of chain pillars in multi-seam longwall mining panels in the deepest coal mine in India. The study found that a chain pillar of 80-m width and 195-m length is necessary for long-term stability without any reinforcement. It was also observed that an optimum chain pillar can be designed by providing suitable side reinforcement (side bolting) which will reduce the chain pillar dimensions to 55-m width and 160-m length. Optimum design of chain pillars will reduce the coal locked up in these chain pillars by ~ 77%. This will also reduce the gestation period of longwall mining panel development. This paper also evaluates the maximum tensile subsidence strain induced at the surface and finds that the values are within the safe working limit of 3 mm/m. Thus, this paper finds direct application in the design of future multi-seam retreating longwall mining panels in Indian geo-mining conditions.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a pre-diabetic condition and has been reported in patients with acanthosis nigricans (AN) and acrochordon. AN and acrochordon are claimed to be cutaneous markers of IR. Aim: The purpose of this paper was to study the association of AN and acrochordon with IR. Methods: It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study. Both groups were assessed for IR by using homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Results: A total of 70 cases and an equal number of controls were studied. IR was observed more in cases (41.4%) compared to controls (17.1%) (P < 0.01). Mean HOMA-IR value was also significantly higher in cases (4.32 ± 4.44) compared to controls (2.27 ± 0.90) (P < 0.05). Limitations: Low number of cases and controls were taken in the study. Association with hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome was not elicited. Conclusions: AN and acrochordons were found to be associated with IR.

Background: There is a rising prevalence of dermatophyte infection especially in the tropics. It has been observed that the antifungals are not as effective as they used to be. Aims: To determine the effectiveness of terbinafine and itraconazole in different doses and in combination in the treatment of tinea infection. Materials and Methods: Study design was a randomized parallel group trial. Patients were randomly divided into five parallel arms in which two of the standard drugs in recommended doses were compared with their double doses and with combination of both the drugs. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks. Cure was considered as complete clinical resolution of the lesions. Fungal culture and sensitivity were done by disk diffusion method for all patients. Parametric one-way analysis of variance (F test) and Chi-square test were used for the analysis. Results: Two-hundred seventy-five patients were included in the study. Itraconazole containing groups showed significantly higher cure rates than terbinafine only groups both at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.001). Itraconazole containing groups, when compared against each other, were not found to be significantly different. The outcomes between terbinafine only groups were also not significantly different. Cure rates at 8 weeks were found to be greater than that at 4 weeks for all groups which were found to be highly significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Itraconazole seems to be more effective than terbinafine. There is no benefit in increasing the dose or using a combination regimen in the treatment of tinea. Prolonged duration of treatment is required for complete cure.

Mars orbiter mission (MOM) is India’s first interplanetary mission. MOM was planned to be launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) into an Earth elliptic parking orbit (EPO) in Oct-Nov 2013 utilizing the 2013 opportunity to rendezvous with Mars. This paper covers the mission design and analysis carried out for the MOM/PSLV mission. New software tools were designed and developed to design interplanetary trajectories, to generate total maneuver strategy from earth EPO to target Martian orbit, to design trajectory correction maneuvers in interplanetary cruise phase targeting to desired B-plane parameters and to design Mars orbit insertion maneuver. The launch window and optimum EPO requirements were generated and provided to PSLV. The target Martian orbit was selected considering all the specified s/c platform and payload constraints. Maneuver strategies were designed considering operational constraints and total mission profiles were studied comprising orbital events and Earth-Satellite-Sun geometry and distance characteristics. Non-nominal mission scenarios were studied, comprising launcher dispersions, missing any of the earth phase burns and backup maneuver plans generated. Mars orbit insertion maneuver strategy was designed considering nominal and non-nominal scenarios. MOM was launched on 5th November, 2013 and successfully captured into the desired Martian orbit on 24th September, 2014 achieving the main technological objective of the mission in India’s first interplanetary endeavor.

This paper analyzes the electrical parameters of Si/ZnO heterojunction diodes in the wide temperature range, i.e. from room temperature (298 K) to 573 K to study the electrical performance of the diode in very high temperature environment. In this work, sol-gel derived nanostructured ZnO thin film was deposited directly on p-Si substrate using spin coating technique. Electrical parameters, such as rectification ratio, reverse saturation current, ideality factor, barrier height, series resistance and activation energy are derived from current-voltage characteristics of the device, measured using semiconductor parameter analyzer in the temperature range of 298 K–573 K for bias voltage of ±5 V. The ideality factor, barrier height and series resistance is derived as 2.66, 0.789 eV and 3554 Ω respectively at 298 K, whereas at 573 K these are modified as 1.58, 1.15 eV and 801 Ω respectively. The above-mentioned results indicate the presence of spatial barrier height inhomogeneities (BHI) in high temperature environment. Hence, we have included the Gaussian distribution of spatial BHI in our analysis to calculate the effective Richardson constant (RC). Before inclusion of spatial BHI, RC was 4.026 × 10−6 Acm−2K−2. However, after inclusion of spatial BHI, RC is modified to 29.14 Acm−2K−2, which is nearer to the theoretical value (32 Acm−2K−2). Therefore, this study indicates that our as-fabricated Si/ZnO heterojunction diodes can sustain their electrical behaviour in very high temperature environment also and they are suitable for high temperature electronic and optoelectronic application.

Background: Identification of culprit drug causing adverse cutaneous drug reactions may not be possible clinically due to the intake of more than one drug. Aim: To compare the sensitivity of skin tests with gold standard oral rechallenge test to detect adverse cutaneous drug reactions. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective interventional hospital-based study of patients with adverse cutaneous drug reactions attending the outpatient department of dermatology and venereology at a tertiary care center over a 12-month period. Skin prick tests, intradermal tests, and oral rechallenge tests were performed in these patients and their sensitivities were compared. The data of quantitative nature is presented in mean and standard deviation, and categorical variables are presented in number and percentage. The sensitivity of skin tests is compared with the gold standard oral rechallenge test. Results: A total of 49 patients with adverse cutaneous drug reactions were evaluated. Clinical spectrum of adverse cutaneous drug reactions ranged from mild to severe, with fixed drug eruption being the commonest (55.1%) followed by maculopapular exanthem (32.7%). The highest incidence was with fluoroquinolones (43.8%) followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Fluoroquinolones were the major cause of fixed drug eruption followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The sensitivity of skin prick test and intradermal tests were 49% and 73%, respectively and the difference was highly significant (P < 0.001). The difference in sensitivity in skin prick test versus oral rechallenge test and intradermal test versus oral rechallenge test was also highly significant (P < 0.001). Limitations: Small sample size was a major limitation. Histopathological examinations and human leukocyte antigen associations could not be done. Conclusion: Predominant causative drugs were fluoroquinolones followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Sensitivities of skin prick test and intradermal test were quite good and these skin tests should be performed before oral rechallenge test in cases of adverse cutaneous drug reactions.

Additional file 16: Table S3. Expression levels of lncRNA Gm28653 measured by using three different primers 53–1, 53–2 and 53–3. Expression level lncRNA 2310043M15Rik measured by using three different primers Rik-1, Rik-2 and Rik-3.

Additional file 4: Table S2. The mean phastcons score, region of conversation and Structure Ensemble Conservation Index (SECI) Score of identified lncRNA.

Additional file 3: Figure S2. Conservation pattern of lncRNAin mouse and human genome. Nucleotide BLAST was performed for sequence alignment of the lncRNAs. X-axis: Human Genome, Y-axis: Mouse Genome.

Additional file 5: Figure S3. Structurally conserved region of lncRNA.

Air pollution due to dust emission is continuously increasing day by day in mining and allied industrial areas. Mining operations contribute a substantial amount of dust emission at the crushing, screening, and bulk material handling in loading areas. The ambient suspended dust particles create a severe nuisance to workers and local dwellers. For effective controlling of positive dust emission, an innovative automated dry fog dust suppression system (DFDSS) has been developed using hybrid nozzles, sensors, actuators, controllers, screw compressors, air receivers, pumps, motors, and water arrangement with filtration facility. The DFDSS was installed in a crushing and screening plant of an iron ore mine in India. Performance study indicted fugitive dust emission concentration values ranged from 354 to 7040 μg m−3, which was reduced to 91–300 μg m−3 after installation of DFDSS. The reduced values were within the permissible limit of 1200 μg m−3 at a distance of 25 ± 2 m in the predominant downwind direction. The installed DFDSS added a meager addition of moisture content of 0.032% in the handling iron ore material, which was below the acceptable limit of 0.1%. The DFDSS precisely regulated fugitive dust emission from various mining activities without affecting the minerals processing performance. Thus, the DFDSS can be implemented effectively in different mining and allied industries where there is a dust emission problem.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to design and evaluate a novel multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for simultaneous detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in genitourinary specimens obtained from symptomatic patients clinically suspected of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), targeting two different genes each for these pathogens. Materials and Methods: A total of 116 genitourinary specimens were collected from men (n = 12) and women (n = 104). Direct microscopy, culture isolation, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for N. gonorrhoeae were performed. Multiplex nested PCR was performed on clinical samples using novel designed primers targeting porA pseudogene and opa gene of N. gonorrhoeae and momp gene and cryptic plasmid of C. trachomatis simultaneously. DNA sequence analysis of nested PCR amplicons for each of four gene targets was carried out for the validation of in-house designed primers and PCR protocol. Results: A total of 51.72% (60/116) patients were detected to have either of the two STIs. About 35.35% (41/116) of patients were positive for C. trachomatis and 33.62% (39/116) for N. gonorrhoeae by employing multiplex nested PCR. Coinfection with N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis was detected in 17.24% (20/116) patients. 31.5% endocervical swabs (n = 54), 64.4% speculum-assisted high vaginal swabs (n = 45), and 80% self-collected vaginal swabs (n = 5) were detected positive for either of two STIs. Conclusions: The multiplex nested PCR protocol designed and employed in the present study may be used in the diagnosis and management of both symptomatic as well as asymptomatic cases of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis, particularly among high-risk groups.

Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Proliferation of lung and breast cancer cells after RAGE inhibition. Quantitative representation of cell proliferation via MTT assay comparing OD at 570 nm in untreated cells and control shRNA treated (a) A549, (b) MDA-MB-231 and (c) MCF-7 cells without any stimulation and with LPA treatment after 24 h. For all experiments, data are means ± SD., n.s., not significant.Fig. S2. LPA-RAGE axis mediates lung and mammary tumor microenvironment. (a) Wound healing assay showing the migration of MDAMB-231 and MCF-7 cells stimulated with LPA in untreated, control shRNA and RAGE shRNA treated cells. (b) Representative images and quantification of percentage area DAB in sections of immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin and Vimentin in tumor sections of nude mice injected with control shRNA and RAGE shRNA treated A549, MDA MB 231 and MCF-7 cells with and without LPA stimulation. n = 5 for each group. For all experiments, data are means ± SD., n = 3–7. ***P ≤ 0.001.

This paper reports the comprehensive analysis on the effect of Mg doping on structural, optical and electrical characteristics of MgxZn1−xO/p-Si heterojunction diodes. In this work, undoped and Mg-doped ZnO thin films were directly synthesized on p-Si (silicon) substrate using sol–gel spin coating method. The structural and optical properties of as-fabricated thin films are analyzed by means of XRD, AFM, SEM, ellipsometer and Photoluminescence spectroscopy. The as-grown films are having polycrystalline nature with preferred growth orientation along (002) direction. Although, no peaks due to Mg doping is exhibited in 5% Mg-doped ZnO thin films, however, due to phase segregation, the additional peaks of MgO phase at (200) and (220) direction has started visible for higher Mg-doped ZnO films. The Grain size of the films is diminished from 42.51 to 28.35 nm for Mg-doping increment from 0 to 15%, where as bandgap of the films is increased from 3.27 to 3.83 eV for same doping variation. Electrical parameters of MgxZn1−xO/p-Si heterojunction diodes are studied after forming large area ohmic contacts of Al/Ti and Al on top of ZnO thin film and bottom of Si layer respectively. The significant electrical parameters of the diodes are calculated from current–voltage characteristics measured by semiconductor parameter analyzer and capacitance–voltage characteristics measured by LCR meter. With very high rectification ratio of 41741 and low reverse saturation current of 1.52 nA, Mg0.1Zn0.9O/Si heterojunction diode has potential to be used in future nanoelectronic devices with wider bandgap.

Fusarium species are known to cause disseminated cutaneous lesions in immunocompromised patients. Some cases of fusariosis are reported in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. There are two reports in such patients with systemic comorbidities like lymphoma, neutropenia and infective port-a-catheter. Another reported patient had systemic fusariosis, without skin involvement. Diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous fusariosis is difficult and resistance to antifungals is a problem. Our patient was at an advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection stage with disseminated cutaneous fusariosis, without any systemic involvement, who responded completely to oral itraconazole.

Genetic diversity of 24 tropical and subtropical elite maize lines was assessed at molecular level employ-ing 42 Simple Sequence Repeats. A total of 107 alleles with an average of 2.55 alleles per locus were detected. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values of 42 SSR loci ranged from 0.08 (UMC1428) to 0.68 (UMC2189 and UMC2332) with the overall calculated PIC mean value of 0.44, whereas the Discrimination Rate (DR) value for SSR markers ranged from 0.09 (UMC2089) to 0.42 (UMC1311) with the average DR value of 0.26. Pair-wise genet-ic similarity (GS) values, calculated by Jaccard’s coefficients, ranged between 0.25 and 0.78 with a mean genetic similarity of 0.63, indicating the existence of adequate amount of genetic divergence among the genotypes selected for the study. The cluster dendrogram separated all the inbred lines into six main clusters with sub clusters based on genetic similarity. Factorial analysis also confirmed a nearly similar pattern for grouping these inbred lines as pre-sented by cluster dendrogram. In this study, SSR markers were found to be powerful tool for detection of genetic diversity in maize inbred lines. These findings could provide information for effective utilization of these materials for development of maize hybrids as well as for genetic improvement of inbred lines.

In this article, temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics of n -ZnO/p-Si nanoparticle thin film heterojunction diode grown by RF sputtering technique are analyzed in the temperature range of 300–433 k to investigate the performance of the device in high temperature environment. The microstructural, morphological, optical and temptrature dependent electrical properties of as-grown nanoparticle thin film were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emmision scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), variable angle ellipsometer and semiconductor device analyzer. XRD spectra of as-grown ZnO films are exhibited that highly c-axis oriented ZnO nanostructures are grown on p - Si〈100〉 substrate whereas AFM and FESEM images confirm the homogeneous deposition of ZnO nanoparticles on surface of Si substratewith minimum roughness.The optical propertiesof as-grown ZnO nanoparticles have been measured in the spectral range of 300–800 nm using variable angle ellipsometer.To measure electrical parameters of the device prototype in the temperature range of room temperature (300 K) to 433 K, large area ohmic contacts were fabricated on both side of the ZnO/Si heterostructure. From the current-voltage charcteristics of ZnO/Si heterojunction device, it is observed that the device exhibits rectifing nature at room temperature. However, with increase in temperature, reverse saturation current and barrier height are found to increase, whereas ideality factor is started decreasing. This phenomenon confirms that barrier inhomogeneities are present at the interface of ZnO/Si heterojunction, as a result of lattice constant and thermal coefficient mismatch between Si and ZnO. Therefore, a modified value of Richardson constant [33.06 Acm −2 K −2 ] has been extracted from the temperature-dependent electrical characteristics after assuming the Gaussian distribution of special barrier height inhomogeneities across the Si/ZnO interface which is close to its theoretical value [32 Acm −2 K −2 ]. This result indicates that regardless of presence of barrier height inmogeneities, ZnO/Si heterojunction diode still hasability to perform well in high temperature environment.