Prediking se pastorale betekenis vir kerklidmate : ʼn kultureel-linguisties, prakties-teologiese benadering (Afrikaans)

AFRIKAANS: Die pastorale betekenis van prediking vir die kerklidmaat is al indirek in studies behandel. Hierdie studie fokus direk op die betekenis van prediking in die pastoraat . Die prakties-teologiese model, waarvolgens die navorsing gedoen is, is die kultureel-linguistiese teologiese model, wat die rol van die groep se tradisie as interpreterende, semiotiese sisteem in die lewe van die lidmaat beklemtoon. Die navorsing is op ’n narratiewe manier gedoen, saam met medenavorsers. As praktiese teoloog het ek die navorsing met die aannames van die sosiaal-konstruksionisme gedoen. Narratiewe speel veral 'n groot rol in die identiteitsvorming van die lidmaat en van die geloofsgemeenskap. Pastoraat, soos beskou binne die raamwerk van die kultureel-linguistiese model, vind op ’n narratief-hermeneutiese wyse in die prediking plaas. Prediking begelei die lidmaat tot die interpretasie van gebeure in sy of haar lewe, in die lig van die narratiewe identiteit van die geloofsgemeenskap. Die identiteit van die geloofsgemeenskap ondergaan sy vorming deur die Bybel as die basisnarratief, deur die geloofstradisie en deur die konteks waarin die gemeenskap verkeer. Dit is ’n dinamiese proses wat voortdurend herinterpreteer word, daarom word die lidmaat voortdurend uitgenooi, veral deur prediking, tot herinterpretasie van sy of haar eie narratiewe identiteit. Die Bybel as basisnarratief funksioneer op intratekstuele manier in die narratiewe identiteit van die gemeente en die lidmaat deurdat dit as realistiese narratief interpreteer word, en dit daag tot narratief-hermeneutiese interpretasie. Die navorsing se keuse vir pastorale prediking is: ’n intratekstuele, narratiewe, pastorale prediking model. ENGLISH: The role of the sermon in the pastoral care of the member of a congregation has previously been researched indirectly. The present research focuses directly on the role of the sermon in pastoral care. The practical theological model for this research is the cultural-linguistic theological model, which emphasizes the group's tradition as an interpretive semiotic system in the life of the congregation member. The research was carried out in a narrative way, together with co-researchers. As a practical theologian, I did the research using the assumptions of social constructionism. The role of narrative is particularly important in the shaping of identities, both of the individual and the congregation. Pastoral care, as viewed within the framework of the cultural-linguistic model, is achieved in the sermon in a narrative-hermeneutical way. The sermon helps the congregation members to interpret events in their lives in the light of the narrative identity of the group. The identity of the group is shaped by the Bible as underlying narrative, by the tradition of the faith community and by the context. It is a dynamic process that is ever changing; therefore the member is continually invited through the sermon to a re-interpretation of his or her own narrative identity. The Bible, as the fundamental narrative, functions in an intratextual manner in the narrative identity of the community and the individual, through its interpretation as a realistic narrative, and it represents a challenge to attempt new narrative hermeneutical interpretations. The research proposal for pastoral preaching is: an intratextual-narrative-pastoral sermon.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Practical Theologyunrestricte

Attitudes and perceptions regarding metabolomics research on HIV and AIDS: Towards a dynamic model relating basic beliefs, technology and behaviour

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic are hitting hard in Africa, not the least in South Africa. In addition to preventative measures, better ways of treatment and delaying the onset of symptoms are still urgently required. Recent developments in biomedicine in South Africa, notably genomics and metabolomics, could well contribute to more effective treatments and diets. However, these technologies are rooted in modern Western culture and may embody concepts and values that are foreign to people with a different culture and worldview in semi-urban communities in South Africa. How can those technologies be introduced into such communities in an ethically acceptable and effective way? To begin answering this question, we conducted qualitative research amongst representatives of such a community near Potchefstroom, South Africa. The results indicate that the worldview, belief system and cultural customs of these people significantly influence the interpretation of HIV and AIDS and their treatment. The results led us to expand an earlier theoretical version of a qualitative model relating cultural factors and worldview to individual behaviour into an empirically informed, dynamic model that envisages possible influences of the introduction of new technologies on the belief and behavioural system of the community

Metabolomics variable selection and classification in the presence of observations below the detection limit using an extension of ERp

A compressed folder (XERp Software.zip) containing the Matlab scripts to perform XERp as well as an example application. (ZIP 11 kb

The Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profile of HIV-infected individuals : a multivariate cytokinomics approach

HIV infection causes the dysregulation of cytokine production. A cytokinomics approach employing cytometric bead array (CBA) technology, flow cytometry and multivariate analysis was applied to the investigation of HIV-induced T helper cell type 1 (Th1), Th2 and Th17 cytokine changes in the serum of treatment naive individuals. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression identified interleukin (IL)-6 to be discriminatory for HIV infection with 74.6 and 71.2 % of the cases correctly classified. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations to be significantly (p= 0.001 and p=0.025) different between the groups. A scatter plot of the log IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations for the groups largely overlapped, with improved differentiation where patients were advancing to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). IL-17A levels were higher than other cytokines but did not significantly distinguish the groups suggesting that the HIV- and HIV+ individuals had similar immune profiles. This possibility was supported by other clinical indicators. Taken together, the measured cytokines (IL-6, 10 and 17) have potential prognostic value.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation, Technology Innovation Agency, Medical Research Council and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria.http://www.journals.elsevier.com/cytokinehb201

Qualitative serum organic acid profiles of HIV-infected individuals not on antiretroviral treatment

The first application of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) metabolomics to the analysis of organic acid profiles in sera of asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals (n = 18) compared to uninfected controls (n = 21), is reported here. Several organic acids are well-established diagnostic biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction, making the analysis of the organic acid metabolome well suited to monitoring the progressive disruption of mitochondrial structure and function during HIV infection. Using a multifaceted analytical-bioinformatics procedure, at least 10 of these metabolites could be linked to (1) disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, (2) changes in lipid metabolism and (3) oxidative stress, all of which are aberrations caused by HIV infection. Because of the role of the mitochondria in apoptosis, higher levels of this type of cell death in infected (compared to uninfected) individuals was used to support GC–MS data. This study demonstrates that mass spectrometry metabolomics detects biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction which could potentially be developed into indicators of HIV infection, perhaps also to monitor disease progression and the response to antiretroviral treatment.The National Research Foundationhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/1573-3882/nf201

Biotransformation profiles from a cohort of chronic fatigue women in response to a hepatic detoxification challenge

Chronic fatigue, in its various manifestations, frequently co-occur with pain, sleep disturbances and depression and is a non-communicable condition which is rapidly becoming endemic worldwide. However, it is handicapped by a lack of objective definitions and diagnostic measures. This has prompted the World Health Organization to develop an international instrument whose intended purpose is to improve quality of life (QOL), with energy and fatigue as one domain of focus. To complement this objective, the interface between detoxification, the exposome, and xenobiotic-sensing by nuclear receptors that mediate induction of biotransformation-linked genes, is stimulating renewed attention to a rational development of strategies to identify the metabolic profiles in complex multifactorial conditions like fatigue. Here we present results from a seven-year study of a cohort of 576 female patients suffering from low to high levels of chronic fatigue, in which phase I and phase II biotransformation was assessed. The biotransformation profiles used were based on hepatic detoxification challenge tests through oral caffeine, acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid ingestion coupled with oxidative stress analyses. The interventions indicated normal phase I but increased phase II glucuronidation and glycination conjugation. Complementarity was indicated between a fatigue scale, medical symptoms and associated energy-related parameters by application of Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis. The presented study provides a cluster of data from which we propose that multidisciplinary inputs from the combination of a fatigue scale, medical symptoms and biotransformation profiles provide the rationale for the development of a comprehensive laboratory instrument for improved diagnostics and personalized interventions in patients with chronic fatigue with a view to improving their QOL.Research funding for the analytical and computational aspects of the project was provided by the Technological Innovation Agency (TIA) of the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa.http://www.plosone.orgam2019Consumer Scienc

Metabolomics of urinary organic acids in respiratory chain deficiencies in children

Metabolomic analysis of the urinary organic acids from 39 selected children with defined respiratory chain deficiencies (RCDs) was performed using untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, revealing the presence of 255 endogenous and 46 exogenous substances. Variable reduction identified 92 variables from the endogenous substances, which could be analysed by univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Using these methods, no characteristic organic acid biomarker profile could be defined of practical value for diagnostic purposes for complex I (CI), complex III (CIII) and multiple complex (CM) deficiencies. The statistical procedures used did, however, disclose 24 metabolites that were practical highly (d > 0.75) and statistically (p < 0.05) significant for the combined and clinically closely related group of RCDs. Several of these metabolites occur in single enzyme inherited metabolic diseases, but most were not previously reported to be linked to the metabolic perturbations that are due to RCDs. Ultimately, we constructed a global metabolic profile of carbohydrate, amino acid and fatty acid catabolism, illuminating the diverse and complex biochemical consequences of these disorders. This metabolomics investigation disclosed a metabolite profile that has the potential to define an extended and characteristic biosignature for RCDs and the development of a non-invasive screening procedure for these disorders.This study formed part of BioPAD Project BPP007.The South African Department of Science and Technology and North-West University.http://link.springer.com/journal/11306hb2017Paediatrics and Child Healt

Die rol van die verlossingskonsep in die missionere motivering van gemeentes binne 'n snel veranderende situasie : met spesifieke verwysing na die klein plattelandse gemeente

Thesis (M. Th.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1999.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record