Efficient diagnosis of diabetes mellitus using an improved ensemble method.

Diabetes is a growing health concern in developing countries, causing considerable mortality rates. While machine learning (ML) approaches have been widely used to improve early detection and treatment, several studies have shown low classification accuracies due to overfitting, underfitting, and data noise. This research employs parallel and sequential ensemble ML approaches paired with feature selection techniques to boost classification accuracy.

Comparative study on the inactivation and immunogenicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis vaccines prepared using different inactivants.

The present study aimed to investigate the optimal inactivants and inactivation conditions for preparing inactivated vaccines of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. Mycoplasma inactivation was performed using formaldehyde, thimerosal, β-propiolactone (BPL), and binary ethylenimine (BEI) and compared. The results showed that M.

In vitro antischistosomal activity of Artemisia species.

Praziquantel is currently the only effective treatment for schistosomiasis, but several limitations underscore the need for new therapeutic agents. Recent promising in vitro results with Artemisia species and the success of A. annua and its active compound artemisinin in treating parasitic infections warrant the need for further studies.

An inventory analysis of waste tyre generation and management in South Africa.

Global waste generation, particularly waste tyres, is a significant issue, with South Africa contributing significantly to this problem. In 2021, 1.5 billion waste tyres were generated, with an expected 4.

Behind closed doors: Homeboundness and psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine how homeboundness is associated with psychosocial outcomes in terms of life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from the nationally representative sample German Ageing Survey (wave 1 to wave 4; n = 18,491 observations). This study included community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years and over in Germany.

Evaluating the accuracy of multiple rapid diagnostic tests for HIV detection in serum samples analysed during point-of-care proficiency testing assessments.

Background: HIV rapid diagnostic tests are crucial for timely diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings. The World Health Organization recommends sensitivity ≥99 % and specificity ≥98 %. This study assessed RDT performance across South Africa's provinces using a proficiency testing program.

Trabecular bone deficits predominate in the appendicular skeleton of midlife women living with HIV: findings from a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe.

HIV-related mortality has fallen due to scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), so more women living with HIV (WLH) now live to reach menopause. Menopausal estrogen loss causes bone loss, as do HIV and certain ART regimens. However, quantitative bone data from WLH are few in Africa.

doubletrouble: an R/Bioconductor package for the identification, classification, and analysis of gene and genome duplications.

Summary: Gene and genome duplications are major evolutionary forces that shape the diversity and complexity of life. However, different duplication modes have distinct impacts on gene function, expression, and regulation. Existing tools for identifying and classifying duplicated genes are either outdated or not user-friendly.

Limited reactivity of pyroxene and plagioclase in batch experiments with supercritical CO in the presence of NaCl and NaHCO in the context of CO sequestration via carbonation.

One-step high-pressure and high-temperature direct aqueous mineral carbonation of tailings derived from mining of Platinum Group Metals in South Africa requires a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of the most dominant mineral phases, i.e. pyroxene and plagioclase (66 wt.

Quantifying natural amyloid plaque accumulation in the continuum of Alzheimer's disease using ADNI.

Brain amyloid beta neuritic plaque accumulation is associated with an increased risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) [Pfeil, J., et al. in Neurobiol Aging 106: 119-129, 2021].

Distribution of informal caregiving for older adults living with or at risk of cognitive decline within and beyond family in rural South Africa.

Objectives: Aging populations will increasingly need care, much of this provided informally particularly in rural areas and in low and middle-income countries. In rural South Africa, formal support is severely limited, and adult children are frequently unavailable due to morbidity, early mortality, employment and migration. We describe how care is shared within and between households.

Human Metapneumovirus: an emerging respiratory pathogen and the urgent need for improved Diagnostics, surveillance, and vaccine development.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a re-emerging respiratory pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. First identified in 2001, HMPV has since been recognised as a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) worldwide. Its transmission occurs through droplets, direct contact, and surface contamination, with crowded spaces and healthcare facilities serving as key environmental amplifiers.

'It is scary to pause treatment': perspectives on HIV cure-related research and analytical treatment interruptions from women diagnosed during acute HIV in Durban, South Africa.

Background: HIV remains a major challenge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, particularly for young women who face disproportionate risks and barriers to prevention and treatment. Most HIV cure trials, however, occur in high-income countries.

Objective: To examine the perspectives of young women diagnosed with acute HIV in a longitudinal study, focusing on their perceptions on ATI-inclusive HIV cure trials and the barriers and facilitators to participation.

A Survey of Wild Indigenous Orchid Populations in Western Australia Reveals Spillover of Exotic Viruses.

is a terrestrial orchid endemic to southwestern Australia. The virus status of has not been studied. Eighty-three samples from 16 populations were collected, and sequencing was used to identify RNA viruses from them.

The Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Liver Function Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Co-Existence with and Without Pre-Eclampsia.

Pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV) are at an increased risk of developing obstetrics complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains the standard treatment for PWLWHIV and non-pregnant women. However, its use has been associated with adverse liver conditions, particularly hepatotoxicity, often marked by elevated liver enzymes (LEEs) as demonstrated by an increased aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in PWLWHIV on ART.

Bioactive Molecules, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Toxicology, and Pharmacology of Sond (Fabaceae): Systematic Review.

Plants have long been used to treat serious illnesses in both humans and animals. A significant underappreciated medicinal tree, Sond is utilized by many different ethnic groups to cure a wide range of illnesses. A variety of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar, were used to search the literature on , using key words such as uses, survey, pharmacology, antigonococcal, toxicity, phytochemistry and others.

Optimizing In Vitro Propagation of Schönland Using Leaf, Root, and Inflorescence.

, a species native to South Africa, is characterized by its limited growth and scarcity, contributing to high production costs. Countries like China and Turkey are known for exporting globally. Tissue culture offers an efficient method for mass-producing unique and beautiful species such as This study tested Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media supplemented with various concentrations of IBA (0.

Extraction and Processing of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Widely Used South African Medicinal Plants for the Preparation of Effective Traditional Herbal Medicine Products: A Narrative Review.

Medicinal plants are sources of crude traditional herbal medicines that are utilized to reduce the risk of, treat, or manage diseases in most indigenous communities. This is due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is estimated that about 80% of the population in developing countries rely on herbal traditional medicines for healthcare.

Climate Change-Induced Decline in Succulent in Namibia's Arid Regions.

The global rise in temperatures due to climate change has made it difficult even for specialised desert-adapted plant species to survive on sandy desert soils. Two of Namibia's iconic desert-adapted plant species, and the quiver tree , have recently been shown to be under threat because of climate change. In the current study, three ecologically important Namibian milk bushes were evaluated for their climate change response.

The Effect of the 14:10-Hour Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) Regimen on Selected Markers of Glucose Homeostasis in Diet-Induced Prediabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Background: Prediabetes is a condition that often precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Literature evidence indicates that prediabetes is reversible, making it an important therapeutic target for preventing the progression to T2DM. Several studies have investigated intermittent fasting as a possible method to manage or treat prediabetes.

Risk Factors of Standalone and Coexisting Forms of Undernutrition Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study Using Data from 26 Country-Based Demographic and Health Surveys.

Introduction: Undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a leading public health challenge. It accounts for one-third of the under-five mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study applied the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) to assess the prevalence of various standalone and coexisting forms of undernutrition and identify associated risk factors.

Cell Morphology, Material Property and Ni(II) Adsorption of Microcellular Injection-Molded Polystyrene Reinforced with Graphene Nanoparticles.

Graphene's incorporation into polymers has enabled the development of advanced polymer/graphene nanocomposites with superior properties. This study focuses on the use of a microcellular foamed polystyrene (PS)/graphene (GP) nanocomposite (3 wt%) for nickel (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions. Adsorption behavior was evaluated through FTIR, TEM, SEM, TGA, and XRD analyses.

Survey and Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Pathogens of Wheat in the Western Cape Region of South Africa.

head blight (FHB) is a major disease affecting wheat production worldwide, caused by multiple species. In this study, seven strains were isolated from wheat fields across the Western Cape region of South Africa and identified through phylogenetic analysis. The strains were classified into three species complexes: the species complex (FGSC), species complex (FIESC), and species complex (FTSC).

HIV Drug Resistance Profile in Clients Experiencing Treatment Failure After the Transition to a Dolutegravir-Based First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment Regimen in Mozambique.

Real-world data on HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) after transitioning to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/dolutegravir (TLD) are limited. We assessed HIVDR rates and patterns in clients with virological failure (VF) after switching from an NNRTI-based regimen to TLD. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gaza, Mozambique (August 2021-February 2022), including adults on first-line ART for ≥12 months who transitioned to TLD and had unsuppressed viral load (VL) ≥ 1000 copies/mL six months post-transition.

Identification of Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of strains. This study aimed to characterize isolated from animal anthrax outbreaks between 2019 and 2024, from different localities in Ethiopia.