Evaluation of Various Alternative Economical and High Throughput SARS-CoV-2 Testing Methods within Resource-Limited Settings.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak posed a challenge for diagnostic laboratories worldwide, with low-middle income countries (LMICs) being the most affected. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the challenge with this method is that it is expensive, which has resulted in under-testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection in many LMICs.

Synthesis of novel carbon-supported iron oxide sorbents for adsorption of dye from aqueous solutions: equilibrium and flow-through studies.

Textile effluents contain dyes that negatively affect water bodies and inhibit photosynthesis by reducing sunlight penetration. This study investigated the adsorption capacity of an iron oxide sorbent immobilised on naturally derived carbon foam for the removal of organic methylene blue dye from water. In this study, the carbon precursor and iron oxide precursor were mixed and carbonised in a single vessel.

Socio-economic status as predictors of malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A retrospective study.

Background: Understanding the socioeconomic status that influences malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is vital in creating policies and strategies to combat malaria transmission, improve socioeconomic conditions and strengthen the malaria elimination campaign.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between socioeconomic status and malaria incidence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: Socioeconomic information (gender, age, no formal education, no electricity, no toilet facilities, unemployment) and malaria data for 2011 were obtained from Statistics South Africa and the malaria control program of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa respectively.

Immunological Interactions between Intestinal Helminth Infections and Tuberculosis.

Helminth infections are among the neglected tropical diseases affecting billions of people globally, predominantly in developing countries. Helminths' effects are augmented by coincident tuberculosis disease, which infects a third of the world's population. The role of helminth infections on the pathogenesis and pathology of active tuberculosis (T.

A Review: Highlighting the Links between Epigenetics, COVID-19 Infection, and Vitamin D.

The highly transmittable and infectious COVID-19 remains a major threat worldwide, with the elderly and comorbid individuals being the most vulnerable. While vaccines are currently available, therapeutic drugs will help ease the viral outbreak and prevent serious health outcomes. Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression through changes in chromatin structure and have been linked to viral pathophysiology.

G-Optrode Bio-Interfaces for Non-Invasive Optical Cell Stimulation: Design and Evaluation.

Biocompatibility and potential efficacy in biological applications rely on the bio-interactions of graphene nanoparticles with biological tissues. Analyzing and modulating cellular and device-level activity requires non-invasive electrical stimulation of cells. To address these needs, G-optrodes, bio-interfaces based on graphene, have been developed.

Determinants of the Empiric Use of Antibiotics by General Practitioners in South Africa: Observational, Analytic, Cross-Sectional Study.

The overuse of antibiotics is the main driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, there has been limited surveillance data on AMR and antibiotic prescribing at a primary healthcare level in South Africa. An observational, analytic, cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess key factors associated with empiric antibiotic prescribing among private sector general practitioners (GPs) in the eThekwini district in South Africa, particularly for patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs).

Insight into Nano-chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery from Carbonate Reservoirs Using Environmentally Friendly Nanomaterials.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes is very effective in reducing the interfacial tension (IFT) and surface tension (ST) and altering the wettability of reservoir rocks. The main purpose of this study was to use the newly synthesized nanocomposites (KCl/SiO/Xanthan NCs) in EOR applications. Several analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were applied to confirm the validity of the synthesized NCs.

Corrigendum to "Availability of ENT Surgical Procedures and Medication in Low-Income Nation Hospitals: Cause for Concern in Zambia".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/1980123.].

Mathematical Modeling of Drain Current Estimation in a CSDG MOSFET, Based on LaO Oxide Layer with Fabrication-A Nanomaterial Approach.

In this work, three-dimensional modeling of the surface potential along the cylindrical surrounding double-gate (CSDG) MOSFET is proposed. The derived surface potential is used to predict the values of electron mobility along the length of the device, thereby deriving the drain current equation at the end of the device. The expressions are used for modeling the symmetric doped and undoped channel CSDG MOSFET device.

Global Cross-Border Malaria Control Collaborative Initiatives: A Scoping Review.

Malaria remains a global disease of public health concern. Malaria control collaborative initiatives are widely being adopted to reduce malaria burden by various countries. This review sought to describe current and past cross-border malaria control initiatives focusing on key activities, outcomes and challenges.

Preconception care practices among primary health care nurses working in public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Preconception care (PCC) is necessary to identify and deal with all the risk factors before conception. Some aspects of PCC, like folic acid supplementation, would be relevant to people desiring a pregnancy. Alternatively, PCC could provide contraceptive support to those with no pregnancy intention.

Development of a Nanobiodegradable Drilling Fluid Using Plant and Pomegranate Peel Powders with Metal Oxide Nanoparticles.

One of the inevitable problems encountered during the petroleum well drilling process is "lost circulation" in which part of the drilling fluid is lost into the formation. A combination of nanoparticles with their unique properties and cost-effective biodegradable materials can play an effective role in treating fluid loss. In this study, our aim was to formulate drilling fluids modified with nanoparticles, pomegranate peel powder, and plant powder.

Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric-patients' experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: The South African public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme is considered one of the largest and most successful ART programmes worldwide. Hence, a study exploring the patients' experiences of the public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the second decade of the programme is relevant as no study has been published on patients' experiences at these sites.

Objectives: To explore patients' experiences of care in the public ART programme at four ARV clinics within the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal.

Device Modelling and Optimization of Nanomaterial-Based Planar Heterojunction Solar Cell (by Varying the Device Dimensions and Material Parameters).

The objective of this work is to model a multi-disciplinary (multi-physics) organic photovoltaic (OPV) using mathematical modeling and analyzing the behavior of a standard planar heterojunction (PHJ) or bi-layer thin-film photovoltaic device, supporting the optimization of an efficient device for future production and assisting in evaluating and choosing the materials required for the efficient device. In order to increase photodiode performance, the device structure and geometrical properties have also been optimized and evaluated. In this work, the effects of varying the device size and transport parameters on the performance parameters of a PHJ OPV structure comprised of Indium Tin Oxide as the anode (ITO), semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) as the donor, fullerene C as the acceptor, and Aluminium (Al) as the cathode have been analyzed.

Testing and Analysis of MOSFET-Based Absorber Integrated Antenna for 5G/WiMAX/WLAN Applications.

A 3D electromagnetic circuit design and analysis of a MOSFET-based absorber active integrated antenna has been performed. It integrates a transmitting dual-band double material substrate (DMS) cylindrical surrounding patch antenna (CSPA) with a MOSFET-based absorber of reflected radio frequency power. It is a solution to the problem of performance degradation in the power amplifier (PA) resulting from antenna and PA impedance mismatch.

Device Modeling of Organic Photovoltaic Cells with Traditional and Inverted Cells Using s-SWCNT:C as Active Layer.

This research work presents a thorough analysis of Traditional Organic Solar Cell (TOSC) and novel designed Inverted OSC (IOSC) using Bulk Hetero-Junction (BHJ) structure. Herein, 2D photovoltaic device models were used to observe the results of the semiconducting Single Wall Carbon Nanotube (s-SWCNT):C-based organic photovoltaic. This work has improved the BHJ photodiodes by varying the active layer thickness.

A qualitative study on patient-centered care and perceptions of nurses regarding primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

Background: Patient-centered care (PCC) approach has continued to gain recognition globally as the key to providing quality healthcare. However, this concept is not fully integrated into the management of primary health care (PHC) in existing nursing practice due to numerous challenges. Among these challenges is the perception of nursing on PCC in the Primary Health Care system.

Synergistic Efficiency of Zinc Oxide/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites and a New Derived Saponin in Liquid/Liquid/Solid Interface-Included Systems: Application in Nanotechnology-Assisted Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Oil production faces challenges such as limited oil production from carbonate reservoirs, high oil production costs, and environmental issues. Chemical flooding as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method (CEOR) can increase oil production by the use of chemical additives such as surfactants into the reservoirs. Surfactants can increase oil recovery by interfacial tension (IFT) reduction and alteration of the rock wettability from oil-wet to water-wet.

The Potential of to Ameliorate the Adverse Effects of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most prevalent diseases globally. It is estimated that 37.7 million people are infected with HIV globally, and 8.

Antitubercular, Cytotoxicity, and Computational Target Validation of Dihydroquinazolinone Derivatives.

A series of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1)-one derivatives (-) was screened for in vitro whole-cell antitubercular activity against the tubercular strain H37Rv and multidrug-resistant (MDR) (MTB) strains. Compounds and with di-substituted aryl moiety (halogens) attached to the 2-position of the scaffold showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg/mL against the MTB strain H37Rv. Compound with an imidazole ring at the 2-position of the dihydroquinazolin-4(1)-one also showed significant inhibitory action against both the susceptible strain H37Rv and MDR strains with MIC values of 4 and 16 µg/mL, respectively.

Kinetic Study on 's Lipid Extraction Using Supercritical CO and -Hexane for Biodiesel Production.

Biodiesel as a renewable fuel has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Microalgae biomass is becoming an attractive raw material for producing biodiesel using supercritical CO (SC-CO) as a safe and environmentally friendly technique with high efficiency for lipid extraction. In this study, the lipid of was extracted under different conditions of SC-CO to assess the kinetics of supercritical fluid extraction.

Evaluation of a digital programme for final year nursing students during COVID-19.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a digital programme aimed to address COVID-19 related anxiety of final year undergraduate nursing students on returning to the clinical practice during the pandemic in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, concern about the physical and psychological safety of nursing students resulted in the planning of a psychological first aid program to facilitate nursing students return to clinical practice.

Design: A survey was conducted in September 2020 following the August 2020 return of final year nursing students to clinical facilities.

Effects of MgO, γ-AlO, and TiO Nanoparticles at Low Concentrations on Interfacial Tension (IFT), Rock Wettability, and Oil Recovery by Spontaneous Imbibition in the Process of Smart Nanofluid Injection into Carbonate Reservoirs.

Recently, some nanoparticles have been used to upgrade injected water into oil reservoirs to enhance oil recovery. These nanoadditives can be used in a variety of injectable waters, including smart/engineered water with special salinities. In this study, the performance of smart water containing different concentrations of magnesium sulfate (MgSO) and calcium chloride (CaCl) and 500 ppm of titanium dioxide (TiO), γ-alumina (γ-AlO), and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles in interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle reduction and oil production under imbibition of the chemical fluids was investigated.