Bybelse inspirasie in die poësie van ’n Hugenoot: A. D ’A ubigné

The origin of the “Tragiques” of Agrippa d'Auhigni is to be sought in the poet's personal involvement in the religious struggle of the late sixteenth century in France. He experiences as a sense of vocation the need to give poetic expression to the struggle as seen from the Huguenot point of view. The “Tragiques”, an epic in seven books, portrays not only the historical events, but is also polemical and satirical in nature, where the Catholic Church is represented as the enemy of the nation, the handmaiden of Satan. 7 his reformatory epic therefore has as historical basis the religious wars which hare to be interpreted analogically with the experiences of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. It is an application and interpretation of biblical events in terms of contemporary events. The central theme is the reformatory concept of "... go away, leave Babylon'’ (Luther), added to the promise of a promised land (the promise to A braham in Genesis 15). The Huguenot becomes the elect, the one who has to bring the message oj salvation, and he is the one who has been granted mercy as the bearer of the Scriptures as the only Way to Christ. In this message the author is like the biblical prophet who has to translate the word into action, and the poetry springs from his own experience in the midst of the struggle

Identification of genes coding for B cell antigens of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony (MmmSC) by using phage display

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a mycoplasmal disease caused by <it>Mycoplasma mycoides </it>subsp. <it>mycoides </it>SC (<it>Mmm</it>SC). Since the disease is a serious problem that can affect cattle production in parts of Africa, there is a need for an effective and economical vaccine. Identifying which of the causative agent's proteins trigger potentially protective immune responses is an important step towards developing a subunit vaccine. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine whether phage display combined with bioinformatics could be used to narrow the search for genes that code for potentially immunogenic proteins of <it>Mmm</it>SC. Since the production of IgG2 and IgA are associated with a Th₁cellular immune response which is implicated in protection against CBPP, antigens which elicit these immunoglobulin subclasses may be useful in developing a subunit vaccine.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A filamentous phage library displaying a repertoire of peptides expressed by fragments of the genome of <it>MmmSC </it>was constructed. It was subjected to selection using antibodies from naturally- and experimentally-infected cattle. Mycoplasmal genes were identified by matching the nucleotide sequences of DNA from immunoselected phage particles with the mycoplasmal genome. This allowed a catalogue of genes coding for the proteins that elicited an immune response to be compiled. Using this method together with computer algorithms designed to score parameters that influence surface accessibility and hence potential antigenicity, five genes (<it>abc, gapN, glpO, lppB </it>and <it>ptsG</it>) were chosen to be expressed in <it>Escherichia coli</it>. After appropriate site-directed mutagenesis, polypeptides representing portions of each of these proteins were tested for immunoreactivity. Of these five, polypeptides representing expression products of <it>abc </it>and <it>lppB </it>were recognised on immunoblots by sera obtained from cattle during a natural outbreak of the disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since phage display physically couples phenotype with genotype, it was used to compile a list of sequences that code for <it>Mmm</it>SC proteins bearing epitopes which were recognised by antibodies in the serum of infected animals. Together with the appropriate bioinformatic analyses, this approach provided several potentially useful vaccine or diagnostic leads. The phage display step empirically identified sequences by their interaction with antibodies which accordingly reduced the number of ORFs that had to be expressed for testing. This is a particular advantage when working with <it>Mmm</it>SC since the mycoplasmal codon for tryptophan needs to be mutated to prevent it from being translated as a stop in <it>E. coli</it>.</p

Alkali ratio control for lead-free piezoelectric thin films utilizing elemental diffusivities in RF plasma

High performance piezoelectric thin films are generally lead-based, and find applications in sensing, actuation and transduction in the realms of biology, nanometrology, acoustics and energy harvesting. Potassium sodium niobate (KNN) is considered to be the most promising lead-free alternative, but it is hindered by the inability to control and attain perfect stoichiometry materials in the thin film form while using practical large area deposition techniques. In this work, we identify the contribution of the elemental diffusivities in the radio frequency (RF) plasma in determining the alkali loss in the KNN thin films. We have also examined the effect of the substrate temperature during the RF magnetron sputtering deposition on the crystal structure of the substrate and KNN thin films, as well as the effect of the postannealing treatments. These results indicate the need for well-designed source materials and the potential to use the deposition partial pressure to alter the dopant concentrations

Nutritional status of renal transplant patients

Objective. To assess the effect of renal transplantation on the nutritional status of patients.Design. Prospective descriptive study.Setting. Renal Transplant Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape.Subjects. Fifty-eight renal transplant patients from Tygerberg Hospital were enrolled in the study. The sample was divided into two groups of 29 patients each: group 1, less than 28 months post-transplant; and group 2, more than 28 months post-transplant.Outcome measures. Nutritional status assessment comprised biochemical evaluation, a dietary history, anthropometric measurements and a clinical examination.Results. Serum vitamin B6 levels were below normal in 56% of patients from group 1 and 59% from group 2. Vitamin B6 intake, however, was insufficient in only 14% of patients from group 1and10% from group 2. Serum vitamin C levels were below normal in 7% of patients from group 1 and 24% from group 2, while vitamin C intake was insufficient in 21%and14% of patients from groups 1 and 2 respectively. Serum magnesium levels were below normal in 55% of patients from group 1, and in 28% from group 2. Serum albumin and cholesterol levels increased significantly during the post-transplant period in the total sample (P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in body mass index (P = 0.0001) during the post-transplant period.Conclusions. Several nutritional abnormalities were observed, which primarily reflect the side-effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The causes, consequences and treatment of the vitamin B6 and vitamin C deficiencies in renal transplant recipients need further investigation

First Measurements with NeXtRAD, a Polarimetric X/L Band Radar Network

NeXtRAD is a fully polarimetric, X/L Band radar network. It is a development of the older NetRAD system and builds on the experience gained with extensive deployments of NetRAD for sea clutter and target measurements. In this paper we will report on the first measurements with NeXtRAD, looking primarily at sea clutter and some targets, as well as early attempts at calibration using corner reflectors, and an assessment of the polarimetric response of the system. We also highlight innovations allowing for efficient data manipulation post measurement campaigns, as well as the plans for the coming years with this system

Habitat use and group size of African wild ungulates in a Namibian game ranch

Aim of this research was to gather information on group size and habitat use by the different ungulate species and spatial overlap among species. Data were collected in the dry season in a fenced area (5021 hectares) during 44 game drives along five different routes; for each sighting, we recorded species, day, time, location (on a map divided into square grid units of 500 m sides), number of animals and habitat type. Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) was the more solitary species, followed by steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) and warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), while hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), eland (Taurotragus oryx) and mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) usually formed large groups. This is in agreement with the normal social behaviour of these species. Nevertheless, the high percentage of solitary oryx (Oryx gazella), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) and impala (Aepyceros melampus) is unusual. The frequent presence of isolated individuals in gregarious species may indicate a dispersion of the animals in the territory due to reduced food availability. Some of the species showed their typical habitat use; however, some species also used less suitable habitats. A low degree of spatial overlap was observed between most of the species. In spite of this, in some cases a considerable overlap occurred. For example, kudu and springbok, which had a wide spatial distribution, showed a high degree of spatial overlap with other species (e.g., all of the grid units used by zebra were used in common with kudu, and 88% of the grid units used by blesbok was in common with springbok). Data indicate that animals are overabundant in this fenced area and they are suffering from the dry season

Socio-economic and social capital assessment of Avian Park residents, Worcester

At the beginning of every academic year, the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology (hereafter Department), Stellenbosch University, takes Honours students on a research fieldtrip. The rationale is based on the need to provide Honours students with an in-service learning opportunity that entails fieldwork in an environment where their research efforts could make a contribution to community development. There is thus a dual objective: firstly, in-service learning through applied research using different research methodologies and secondly, the generation of new knowledge that could benefit community initiatives of various stakeholders. There is an additional third objective, namely to train community members in fieldwork skills in order for them to partake in similar studies. For 2011 Worcester and more specifically Avian Park (ward 13) was chosen as the research site. This site was selected partly because Stellenbosch University already has a community health project running in this area and there was both an interest and need for collaboration from the side of the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School in Worcester. Other University stakeholders included (in alphabetical order): Family Medicine, Human Nutrition, Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech, Language and Hearing therapy, Rehabilitation and Social Work. These stakeholders desired information about the community and some wanted to use the community volunteers trained by the Department for future research projects/interventions in the community

Smoking and drinking habits of women in subsequent pregnancies after specific advice about the dangers of these exposures during pregnancy

Background. Although women are informed about the dangers of drinking and smoking during pregnancy when they book for antenatal care, it is uncertain whether this advice is accepted, or whether attempts are made to apply it in subsequent pregnancies.Objectives. To assess how pregnant women respond to the advice to refrain from smoking and drinking during pregnancy in subsequent pregnancies.Methods. Research staff were trained to obtain accurate prospective information on smoking and drinking during pregnancy in a prospective study, using well-standardised methods. Care was taken to inform participants about the dangers of smoking and drinking during pregnancy. They were also given pamphlets on these dangers in their own language and a list of telephone numbers where they could find help to quit should they need it. This information was repeated at subsequent study visits (ranging from 1 to 3, depending on the gestational age at which they enrolled). Gestational age was determined by early ultrasound. Z-scores of birthweight for gestational age were determined according to the INTERGROWTH-21st study. Pregnancy outcomes of women who enrolled twice (n=888) or three times (n=77) in the Safe Passage Study were compared with those of women in the first enrolment (n=889).Results. The proportion of drinkers did not change significantly (p=0.058) from the first to the second and third enrolments (63.8%, 59.0% and 54.6%, respectively). A similar trend was found for smokers (73.3%, 72.2% and 68.4%, respectively). Cannabis use was reported by 15.1%, 9.7% and 12.0% (p&lt;0.005) of women, respectively, and use of methamphetamine by 10.1%, 6.6% and 12.7% (p&lt;0.005). There was an increase in the rate of preterm births from 15.5% to 17.5% and 24.7%, respectively, but the increase was not significant. Although mean birthweight was lower in the third enrolment compared with the second, the difference was not significant. The z-score of birthweight for gestational age was significantly lower in the second enrolment compared with the first.Conclusions. Detailed information on the adverse effects of smoking and drinking during pregnancy was not effective in the population studied. Other methods to reduce or stop these toxic exposures should therefore be investigated. A short inter-pregnancy interval, as demonstrated by three enrolments in 7.5 years, is associated with preterm labour and fetal growth restriction, and is probably indicative of the role played by confounders such as poor socioeconomic conditions and drug exposure during pregnancy