Isolation of the Toxic Principle of \u3cem\u3e Senecio latifolius \u3c/em\u3eby Means of the Sensory Receptors of Sheep

The aversive substance of Senecio latifolius was isolated by means of the sensory receptors of sheep averted to S. latifolius. Chemical fractions refused due to the presence of the aversive substance sensed by the sheep were fractionated until a purified substance had been isolated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the purified substance showed it to be sceleratine nitrogen oxide, the toxic principle of S. latifolius

Kom ons skryf 'n Psalm!

This article is a report on an exercise in Psalm writing performed by theological students in a course on the introduction, exegesis and theology of the Psalms. What was interesting and surprising was that, without a thorough knowledge of the literary genres used in the canonical Psalms, the students made use of genres like the individual lament, wisdom and psalms of trust. Little could be gained from the student-psalms of the setting in life (Sitz im Leben) of the psalms. Due to the personal nature of the psalms, the exact setting in life was even deliberately obscured. This should caution modern day researchers of the canonical Psalms to be mindful of the fact that the reconstruction of the setting in life of canonical psalms is indeed only a reconstruction of what we think might have been the setting in life.Acta Theologica Vol. 1 2007: pp. 104-12

Aversion Properties of Retrorsine, Retrorsine Nitrogen Oxide and Frosted Senecio latifolius

Two pilot trials, investigating the aversive properties of retrorsine and retrorsine nitrogen oxide and that of frosted Senecio latifolius, were executed. Retrorsine and retrorsine-NO (the toxic principles of Senecio retrorsus), unlke sceleratine-NO (the toxic principle of another hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing plant, namely S. latifolius), were not capable of establishing aversion when given to a sheep. Frosted S. latifolius given to a sheep also did not induce aversion. However, a sheep averted to S. latifolius (non-frosted) refused eating frosted S. latifolius

Sceleratin Nitrogen Oxide as Aversive Agent in Conditioning Livestock to Avoid \u3cem\u3eSenecio latifolius\u3c/em\u3e

Sceleratine nitrogen oxide, when administered together with a dichloromethane extract of Senecio latifolius, successfully conditioned cattle and sheep to avoid milled freeze dried S. latifolius mixed with maize meal. This treatment was effectively applied in conditioning steers to refuse eating S. latifolius grown in pots

Being and Becoming “Fully Human” in an Hiv-Positive World: Hiv/Aids and Feminist Christian Spirituality

Feminists have researched the link between gender and HIV/AIDS and shown that women are not always morally responsible for being HIV-positive. This article contributes to the debate by presenting a systematic discussion of women’s experience of HIV/AIDS and spirituality. It offers a model of full humanity that interprets the links between HIV/AIDS, poverty, and gender and uses feminist spirituality as a resource for transformed healing. The model was developed by weaving together the interpreted experiences of black, HIV-positive women participants with the teachings of feminist Christian spirituality. This research study shows that in responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is necessary to adopt an integrative, multifaceted and holistic approach that embodies the gender perspective so that the fully human spirituality of people and women in particular, is enhanced

New models for improving teaching and training in engineering and technology transfer in South Africa

South Africa is in great need of improving the effectiveness of engineering and technical tuition and also enhancing technology transfer from universities to industry, the commercial sector and communities. These practices can create new job opportunities and increase the level of living standard of populations at all levels. This article highlights some models that were recently implemented at the School of Engineering of the University of South Africa in Johannesburg in order address these challenges. These included new on-line teaching methodologies with an emphasis on group work and project-based outcomes, new methodologies of work-integrated learning, the creation of an undergraduate-postgraduate dualism, a focus on innovation and product development at graduate level, and the creation of community entrepreneurship winter school programs. Measures as implemented contributed to an increase in enrolment rates 10 per cent over four years from the online teaching programmes in the diploma programme, enhanced placement of work integrated students, and eventually increased the graduation rate at graduate level by about 15 per cent over four years. Several new small companies have been created from winter school programmes

Polarons in suspended carbon nanotubes

We prove theoretically the possibility of electric-field controlled polaron formation involving flexural (bending) modes in suspended carbon nanotubes. Upon increasing the field, the ground state of the system with a single extra electron undergoes a first order phase transition between an extended state and a localized polaron state. For a common experimental setup, the threshold electric field is only of order $\simeq 10^{-2}$ V/$\mu$m

Isolation of the Toxic Principle of \u3cem\u3eMoraea pallida\u3c/em\u3e by Means of the Sensory Receptors of Sheep

Chemical fractions of Moraea pallida were offered to a sheep in which aversion to the plant had previously been established. Fractions refused due to the presence of the aversive substance sensed by the sheep were further purified until a single substance had been isolated. The purified substance was characterized as epoxyscillirosidin, the toxic principle of M. pallida