AttributeRank: An Algorithm for Attribute Ranking in Clinical Variable Selection.

Background: Risk difference is a valuable measure of association in epidemiology and healthcare which has the potential to be used in medical and clinical variable selection.

Objective: In this study, an attribute ranking algorithm, called AttributeRank, was developed to facilitate variable selection from clinical data sets.

Methods: The algorithm computes the risk difference between a predictor and the response variable to determine the level of importance of a predictor.

Southern Africa's Great Escarpment as an amphitheater of climate-driven diversification and a buffer against future climate change in bats.

Hosting 1460 plant and 126 vertebrate endemic species, the Great Escarpment (hereafter, Escarpment) forms a semi-circular "amphitheater" of mountains girdling southern Africa from arid west to temperate east. Since arid and temperate biota are usually studied separately, earlier studies overlooked the biogeographical importance of the Escarpment as a whole. Bats disperse more widely than other mammalian taxa, with related species and intraspecific lineages occupying both arid and temperate highlands of the Escarpment, providing an excellent model to address this knowledge gap.

Chemical, thermal and morphological properties of polybutylene succinate-waste pineapple leaf fibres composites.

The use of natural fibres for polymer composite applications has been widely researched due to the biodegradable and lightweight nature of natural fibres. To achieve good adhesion and compatibility between the matrix and the fibre filler, prior modification of the fibre surface via the use of various methods has been found to be effective. The natural fibres have been modified using chemical, physical, radiation, grafting and biological methods.

A Review on Graphene (GN) and Graphene Oxide (GO) Based Biodegradable Polymer Composites and Their Usage as Selective Adsorbents for Heavy Metals in Water.

Water pollution due to heavy metal ions has become a persistent and increasing problem globally. To combat this, carbonaceous materials have been explored as possible adsorbents of these metal ions from solution. The problem with using these materials on their own is that their lifespan and, therefore, usability is reduced.

Effects of varying Sm concentration on the structure, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the BaAlO /CaAlO/CaAlO/CaAlO:x% Sm (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.9) mixed phases using citrate sol-gel method.

BaAlO/CaAlO/CaAlO/CaAlO:x% Sm (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.9) (hereafter called BCCC:x% Sm) nanophosphors were successfully prepared by citrate sol-gel method. The structure, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the prepared nanophosphors were investigated.

Photoluminescence processes in -phase BaCa SiO:D /Tb phosphors for solid-state lighting.

The -phase BaCa SiO:D /Tb phosphors co-doped with D ( = 0.03) and Tb ( = 0.01-0.

Trivalent rare-earth-codoped silicate phosphor materials (BaCaSiO:Dy/Eu) for solid-state lighting.

Trivalent dysprosium/europium-codoped silicate phosphors (BaCaSiO:Dy/Eu) were prepared as a function of Euconcentration (= 0.03 and= 0.01-0.

Non-invasive sampling of bats reflects their potential as ecological indicators of elemental exposure in a diamond mining area, northern Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Bats have been proposed as reliable bioindicators for monitoring bioaccumulation of elements and chemicals in natural and transformed ecosystems. Non-invasive methods are becoming more popular as research moves away from destructive methodologies. We present the first concentrations of 23 elements in Mops condylurus and Tadarida aegyptiaca (Molossidae) fur and blood from an opencast diamond mine and reference area using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Effect of annealing temperature on structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by simple sol-gel technique and annealed for 2 h in air. The impact of annealing temperature on the physical, morphological, photocatalytic, and optical properties was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements proved that a gradual phase change from anatase to rutile occurred with increased annealing temperature.

Habitat components and population density drive plant litter consumption by Eudrilus eugeniae (Oligochaeta) under tropical conditions.

The ingestion of organic and mineral materials by earthworms is a prominent functional role that has profound consequences for the decomposition and stabilization of soil organic matter. To investigate the litter consumption of the African nightcrawler earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae under different tropical conditions, we used DNA barcoding to identify specimens of E. eugeniae collected from sites across the Adamawa region in Cameroon, and studied the influence of habitat suitability (soil properties), soil moisture, litter type, and population density on litter consumption.

High genetic diversity of spider species in a mosaic montane grassland landscape.

Gene flow and genetic variation were examined within and among populations of five of the most common spider species in shrublands of the mountainous Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP), South Africa. These species included three active hunters, Dendryphantes purcelli Peckham & Peckham, 1903 (Salticidae), Pherecydes tuberculatus O.P.

Probabilistic health risk assessment of heavy metals at wastewater discharge points within the Vaal River Basin, South Africa.

Recently in South Africa, wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have come under scrutiny because of increased reports of their ineffectiveness to treat wastewater adequately. This study focused on assessing potential health risks for humans exposed to concentrations of heavy metals in river systems that receive effluents from wastewater treatment plants in the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality. Untreated influents and treated effluents from two plants, one in the town of Phuthaditjhaba, the other in the town of Harrismith, were analysed for heavy metals.

Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Morphology of Double Crystalline PCL/PBS Blends Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNTs Masterbatch.

In this work, the 70/30 and 30/70 w/w polycaprolactone (PCL)/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blends and their corresponding PCL/PBS/(polycarbonate (PC)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) masterbatch) nanocomposites were prepared in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 1.0 and 4.

Morphology, Nucleation, and Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(Butylene Succinate) Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNT Masterbatch.

In this study, nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with a polycarbonate (PC)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) masterbatch, in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 0.5, 1.

Influence of polysiloxane as nanofiller on the surface, optical and thermal properties of guar gum grafted polyaniline matrix.

Mesoporous silica containing nanocomposites of in situ polymerised aniline grafted on guar gum (GG), were synthesised by sol-gel technique. Characterization of samples with respect to SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, BET, UV-vis, and PL illustrated the optically active materials with diverse morphologies. Microscopic analysis rendered transitional changes from smooth GG to coated PANI grafts and dense clusters of polysiloxane nanocomposites.

Effect of Eu Ion Concentration on Phase Transition, Site Symmetry and Quantum Efficiency of ZrO² Nanocrystal Rods.

This work report the influence of Eu3+ ion concentration on the photophysical properties of zirconia nanocrystal rods including its intrinsic quantum efficiency (IQE). A simple chemical route was employed in the synthesis procedure. X-ray diffraction results show mixed phases of monoclinic and tetragonal structures.

Morphology, Nucleation, and Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNTs Masterbatch.

In this study, nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a (polycarbonate (PC)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) masterbatch in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 0.5, 1.

Electrospun alginate nanofibres impregnated with silver nanoparticles: Preparation, morphology and antibacterial properties.

Silver nanoparticles are amongst the most valuable nanoparticles with interesting properties, such as a non-toxic nature and high antibacterial efficiency, making them applicable for tissue scaffold, protective clothing and wound dressing. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized using chitosan as reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-vis, and the TEM showed that different shapes were obtained depending on the heating duration.

Zea mays, Stigma maydis prevents and extenuates acetaminophen-perturbed oxidative onslaughts in rat hepatocytes.

Context: Zea mays L. (Poaceae) Stigma maydis is an underutilized product of corn cultivation finding therapeutic applications in oxidative stress-related disorders.

Objectives: This study investigated its aqueous extract against acetaminophen (APAP)-perturbed oxidative insults in rat hepatocytes.

Review on flammability of biofibres and biocomposites.

The subject on flammability properties of natural fibre-reinforced biopolymer composites has not been broadly researched. This is not only evidenced by the minimal use of biopolymer composites and/or blends in different engineering areas where fire risk and hazard to both human and structures is of critical concern, but also the limited amount of published scientific work on the subject. Therefore, it is necessary to expand knowledge on the flammability properties of biopolymers and add value in widening the range of their application.

Geographic distribution of Theileria sp. (buffalo) and Theileria sp. (bougasvlei) in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in southern Africa: implications for speciation.

Strict control measures apply to movement of buffalo in South Africa including testing for Theileria parva, the causative agent of Corridor disease in cattle. The official test is a real-time hybridization PCR assay that amplifies the 18S rRNA V4 hyper-variable region of T. parva, T.

The Hybrid II assay: a sensitive and specific real-time hybridization assay for the diagnosis of Theileria parva infection in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and cattle.

Corridor disease is an acute, fatal disease of cattle caused by buffalo-adapted Theileria parva. This is a nationally controlled disease in South Africa and strict control measures apply for the movement of buffalo, which includes mandatory testing for the presence of T. parva and other controlled diseases.

Mixed Theileria infections in free-ranging buffalo herds: implications for diagnosing Theileria parva infections in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer).

Buffalo-adapted Theileria parva causes Corridor disease in cattle. Strict control measures therefore apply to the movement of buffalo in South Africa and include mandatory testing of buffalo for the presence of T. parva.

Oxidized wax as compatibilizer in linear low-density polyethylene-clay nanocomposites: x-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Oxidized paraffin wax was used as a compatibilizer in composites of linear low-density polyethylene and layered nano silicate clays. X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to investigate the crystalline morphology of five types of clays, oxidized wax, and their composites with LLDPE. The composites exhibited different X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical behaviour in the presence of different clays.

Structure and mechanical properties of polycarbonate modified clay nanocomposites.

Polycarbonate (PC)/modified clay nanocomposites were prepared, in the absence and presence of different amounts of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), by direct melt blending. Their structures, as well as mechanical, morphological and thermal properties, were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The XRD results of the PC/clay nanocomposites showed that they had intercalated structures, although some exfoliation was visible at low clay contents, that the gallery heights of the PC/clay nanocomposites were almost the same, and that some of the clay layers collapsed as a result of modifier decomposition at the high processing temperature.