Articles Related to Testing

COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat, where the rate of infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) increases exponentially, and the spread of the virus from person to person is very fast. Fitting models for COVID-19 counts receive a great attention, and modelling the dispersion of COVID-19 counts helps measuring the spread of the disease in a population and evaluating the intervention

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Introduction: Tanzania aims for 95% of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) to know their serostatus by 2023. Methods: An uncontrolled before-after study design was conducted between March 2018 (pre-intervention phase) and July 2018 (post-intervention phase). A total of 183 participants (males=89; females=94) were recruited for this study. Data were collected at baseline and at the one-month and three-month follow-ups using a pre-and post-test semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive data are presented using measures of central tendency and their respective measures of dispersion. No comparative statistical analysis was performed.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

The use and the production of sanitizers have increased in the post-pandemic situation to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Usability assessment of sanitizer containers is essentially required to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfactory use of the sanitizer containers. This study aimed to evaluate the system usability scale (SUS) as a marker of perceived usability of non-human computer interfaces, such as - sanitizer containers. The perceived usability of three types of sanitizer containers was evaluated using SUS. The authors have measured the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity to evaluate SUS as a marker of usability of sanitizer containers. The result showed that SUS lacks convergent validity though it has a higher reliability coefficient. Thus, this is not the best measure of usability for non-human computer interfaces like-sanitizer containers. The SUS was applied on the flip cap, finger-pressure pump, and spray-type sanitizer containers. The finger-pressure pump container has exhibited a higher SUS score than others. The results of this study have given an idea about the usability of three different kinds of sanitizer containers. This research provides an overview of the application of SUS on non-Human computer interfaces like sanitizer containers. This study provides limitations like lack of convergent validity and ideas to overcome common method bias.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Sampling methods and procedures impact outcomes in many different areas whether they are in compensations in product injury cases, jury selection, population estimation in census, forecasting national gross products, etc. Economic penalty and emotional injustice from faulty sampling methods ranges from life or death to irreparable economic and emotional damages

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Morocco applied the Goals testing model, projecting alternative testing scale-up scenarios, varying coverage targets for 13 adult populations. The model was calibrated using program service delivery, spending and surveillance data (2015-2019), integrated bio-behavioural surveys, and national HIV estimates. It projects annual diagnoses by target group from undiagnosed prevalence and testing coverage, allowing for HIV-infected people self-selecting for testing, retesting and transitions between groups. Scenarios were evaluated for knowledge status improvement and cost, focusing on 2023-2025.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

The concept of an effective cognitive boosting nootropic supplement is gaining traction with consumers, neuroscientists and regulators alike and it is therefore unsurprising that scientifically validated Nootropics are highly prized. New research demonstrates edible crops could be useful sources to mine for new nootropics; plant extracts enriched with an array of cognitive enhancing metabolites. There is merit in investigating these plant species. Metadata has identifies consuming specific fruit and vegetables positively affects cognitive function; therefore these same edible crop plants present as opportunities for developing nootropic formulations. This hypothesis is supported by positive data obtained through clinical testing [e.g. extracts of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), herbs from the Genus Salvia, cocoa (Theobroma), tea (Camellia sinensisor) and coffee (Coffea Arabica). This review will discuss clinically tested cognitive enhancers derived from edible crop species and discuss their use alongside other classes of nootropics.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is readily available online as an unapproved weight loss supplement. Severe systemic toxicity and death have been reported following DNP use.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Accepting one’s HIV sero-status is a critical first step in preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. HIV counseling and testing provides an entry point to PMTCT services for pregnant women.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

The occurrence of pulmonary hypertension [PHT] in patients with chronic obstructive pulmoner disease [COPD] usually indicates progression of the disease and poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of oxygen and bronchodilator treatment on systolic pulmonary artery pressure induced by exertion test in patients with COPD.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Russia’s HIV epidemic has received considerable academic and mainstream press attention in recent weeks, following Moscow’s fifth annual Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference in March, and its Federal AIDS Center’s announcement in January that the number of HIV cases in the country had broken the one million mark.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

In the United States (U.S.), the costs for health care and lost productivity due to diagnosed diabetes has increased from $174 billion in 2007 to $245 billion in 2012, making it one of the fastest growing public health burdens. Nearly 26 million adults have diabetes, and another 79 million have prediabetes, a condition that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Clearly to reduce the costs and improve health, preventing diabetes must be a priority.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

This is a cross-sectional multicenter study to determine the prevalence of HIV sero- discordancy and the associated factors. A total of 166 respondents had questionnaire-based interview. All the respondents were PLHIV and most(87%) have been in heterosexual relationship for at least one year.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

A total of 150 patients categorized into 100 cases (urolithiasis-positive) with urinary stone disease, aged from 5 to 18 years, and met the characteristics of idiopathic urolithiasis in children as well as 50 controls (urolithiasis-negative) that had relatively similar demographic criteria except for idiopathic urolithiasis.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

To develop and test nutrition messages for Asian Indian mothers addressing eight feeding behaviors likely to influence children’s dietary intake and weight.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of meningitis. Although rates of bacterial meningitis have decreased after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction, pneumococcal meningitis has not been eliminated. In this case series, we describe the presentation, serotypes, and outcomes of 11 children with pneumococcal meningitis at a tertiary children’s hospital after the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced, from 2011-2013. The median age of children with meningitis was 7 years. The majority of the isolates (82%) were susceptible to penicillin. Most isolates (73%) were serotyped and there was no evidence of disease caused by serotypes contained in PCV7

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text