A critical engagement with theological education in Africa

The higher education landscape has arguably become one of the most arduous to traverse. More so in the African context, where a host of variables continiously challenge educators to reflect critically on their philosophies and practices as they engage an ever-changing audience. In this book, a critical engagement with theological education in Africa is offered. As the book originates from South Africa, it is presented as a South African perspective, although contributors are situated accross the African continent and abroad. The common denominator is that all contributers are, in some way or another, invested in theological education in Africa. The main contribution of this collaborative work is to be sought in the insights it offers on four main areas of theological education: A historical and current orientation on theological edcuation in Africa, some paradigm shifts in theological education in Africa, ministerial formation needs versus theological education challenges, and a critical reflection on elective models and methods. The book presents the original and innovative research of scholars for fellow scholars involved in theological higher education as it is grounded in the respective fields of interest of each contributor. It contributes to a better understanding of the complex African theological higher education landscape that is also mindful of post-COVID-19 realities. Methodologically the work draws on a combination of methods, including literature studies, empirical work, and in some cases sectional offerings from doctoral studies, as indicated in the various chapters

A critical engagement with theological education in Africa

The higher education landscape has arguably become one of the most arduous to traverse. More so in the African context, where a host of variables continiously challenge educators to reflect critically on their philosophies and practices as they engage an ever-changing audience. In this book, a critical engagement with theological education in Africa is offered. As the book originates from South Africa, it is presented as a South African perspective, although contributors are situated accross the African continent and abroad. The common denominator is that all contributers are, in some way or another, invested in theological education in Africa. The main contribution of this collaborative work is to be sought in the insights it offers on four main areas of theological education: A historical and current orientation on theological edcuation in Africa, some paradigm shifts in theological education in Africa, ministerial formation needs versus theological education challenges, and a critical reflection on elective models and methods. The book presents the original and innovative research of scholars for fellow scholars involved in theological higher education as it is grounded in the respective fields of interest of each contributor. It contributes to a better understanding of the complex African theological higher education landscape that is also mindful of post-COVID-19 realities. Methodologically the work draws on a combination of methods, including literature studies, empirical work, and in some cases sectional offerings from doctoral studies, as indicated in the various chapters

Therapeutic education as an adjunct to exercise therapy in chronic pain patients

D.Phil.Chronic pain is a devastating problem and one of the leading causes of disability internationally with an estimated 25-30% of people in industrialised nations suffering from it. Various approaches are available for the treatment of chronic pain with exercise therapy is often the last resort, after all else has failed. The present study was motivated by the growing prevalence of chronic pain patients and the recent progress in pain science. This study made use of a quasi-experimental design where randomization was a function of participant convenience. It made use of a Pre-Test Post-Test battery consisting both of self-report questionnaires and of a physical assessment evaluating components of chronic pain patients’ experience prior to and following a combined therapeutic intervention programme of 12 sessions. Follow- up was at 12 months. The objectives were to integrate patient reconceptualization of pain by means of an active approach combining pain education and exercise therapy, and to determine the effect of a change in pain cognition on the outcome compared to a control group receiving exercise therapy only. A heterogeneous group of chronic pain patients were randomized into 2 groups who both received exercise therapy twice per week: the experimental group (80) received exercise therapy and a specific 3 hour pain education session with the active control group (74) only receiving exercise therapy. There were no differences in pain related or demographic characteristics between groups at baseline. Both groups had a significant reduction in pain perception after 12 exercise therapy sessions (P<0.05). After a follow up period of 12 months the experimental group sustained the same level of pain reduction (P<0.05). The control group maintained only some the acquired reduction in pain perception. In the experimental group an increased participation in physical activity was also found 12 months after the intervention. Exercise therapy significantly reduces the perception of pain in chronic pain patients after 12 therapy sessions, but the combination of pain education and exercise therapy better maintain these effects after a year. Key Words: chronic pain, exercise, pain education

Aphelenchoides spp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchida) and Panagrolaimus leperisini (Nematoda: Rhabditida) found associated with grass seeds in the Telperion Nature Reserve, South Africa

Girgan, Chantelle, Swart, Antoinette, Marais, Mariette, Fourie, Hendrika (2018): Aphelenchoides spp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchida) and Panagrolaimus leperisini (Nematoda: Rhabditida) found associated with grass seeds in the Telperion Nature Reserve, South Africa. Zootaxa 4370 (2): 137-155, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4370.2.

Morphological and molecular characterization of three Helicotylenchus species from Iran

Shokoohi, Ebrahim, Marais, Mariette, Fourie, Hendrika, Panahi, Hadi (2018): Morphological and molecular characterization of three Helicotylenchus species from Iran. Zootaxa 4388 (2): 207-220, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4388.2.

Morphological and morphometrical identification of Meloidogyne populations from various crop production areas in South Africa with emphasis on M. enterolobii

Rashidifard, Milad, Fourie, Hendrika, Daneel, Mieke Stefanie, Marais, Mariette (2019): Morphological and morphometrical identification of Meloidogyne populations from various crop production areas in South Africa with emphasis on M. enterolobii. Zootaxa 4658 (2): 251-274, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4658.2.

Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood 1949

&lt;i&gt;Meloidogyne hapla&lt;/i&gt; Chitwood, 1949 &lt;p&gt;Figures 3, 7&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Measurements:&lt;/b&gt; Tables 4, 7&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Female (n= 2 perineal-patterns).&lt;/b&gt; Only three specimens were recorded and anterior ends were not in optimum condition to determine morphometric characteristics. Perineal-pattern circular to oval, dorsal arch low to medium, apex broadly rounded, inner striae above tail terminus low and round. Lateral lines indistinct, punctuation observed at tail terminus. Wing (wing shaped form in the lateral part of the perineal pattern) present. Phasmids 1&ndash;2 &micro;m in diameter, interphasmidial distance 16&ndash;21 &micro;m. Vulval slit 13&ndash;28 &micro;m long and anus 11&ndash;24 &micro;m posterior to vulva.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Male.&lt;/b&gt; Males were not observed.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Second-stage juvenile (n= 10).&lt;/b&gt; Body 314&ndash;737 &micro;m long, vermiform, narrow, ventrally curve or straight. Head hemispherical, continuous, labial disc raised above median lips. Stylet 12&ndash;13 &micro;m long, straight. Stylet knobs sloping backward. Dorsal gland opening 2&ndash;3 &micro;m behind stylet knobs. Median bulb ovoid, enlarged with oval to fusiform valve. Excretory pore 67&ndash;70 &micro;m from anterior end, opposite isthmus. Tail narrow, 43&ndash;57 &micro;m long, conical elongated with roundish end and occasionally a clavate appendage observed at tail terminus.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Remarks.&lt;/b&gt; The current &lt;i&gt;M. hapla&lt;/i&gt; populations fit descriptions of other South African populations (Kleynhans, 1991), except for the occasional clavate appendage of the J2 tail terminus, noted for the first time in the present study.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Rashidifard, Milad, Fourie, Hendrika, Daneel, Mieke Stefanie &amp; Marais, Mariette, 2019, Morphological and morphometrical identification of Meloidogyne populations from various crop production areas in South Africa with emphasis on M. enterolobii, pp. 251-274 in Zootaxa 4658 (2)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 262-264, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4658.2.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3375820"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/3375820&lt;/a&gt

Meloidogyne javanica Chitwood 1949

&lt;i&gt;Meloidogyne javanica&lt;/i&gt; (Treub 1885) Chitwood, 1949 &lt;p&gt;Figures 3 to 5, 9&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Measurements:&lt;/b&gt; Tables 3 to 4, 8, 10&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Female (n=153 perineal-patterns; n=10 intact females).&lt;/b&gt; Body pear-shaped. Stylet 17&ndash;21 &micro;m long, basal knobs ovoid and sloping backward. Dorsal gland opening 3&ndash;4 &micro;m posterior to stylet knobs. Median bulb 66&ndash;87 &micro;m from anterior end, round, muscular with oval valve. Oesophagus lumen lining expanded immediately in front of oval median bulb lumen lining in some specimens. Neck 135&ndash;196 &micro;m long. Perineal-pattern rounded to oval, dorsal arch low, apex square to broadly rounded, inner striae above tail terminus low to high. Lateral lines distinct, marked by two lateral lines. Phasmids small 1&ndash;2 &micro;m in diameter, interphasmidial distance variable (20&ndash;41 &micro;m). Vulval slit 19&ndash;32 &micro;m long and 12&ndash;25 &micro;m anterior to anus.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Male (n= 5).&lt;/b&gt; Body vermiform, 1030&ndash;1455 &micro;m long with rounded anteriorly and tapered posteriorly. Cuticle annulated. Head region round, continues and not off set. Stylet 21&ndash;23 &micro;m long, straight, cone with pointed tip, shaft cylindrical. Knobs robust and transversely ovoid. Dorsal gland opening 3&ndash;5 &micro;m posterior to stylet knobs. Median bulb elongated. Excretory pore 112&ndash;179 &micro;m from the anterior end. Tail 12&ndash;15 &micro;m long and tapered, not annulated. Spicule 25&ndash;30 &micro;m long, ventrally curved, gubernaculum short (7&ndash;8 &micro;m). Phasmids pore-like opposite to cloaca.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Second stage juvenile (n= 81)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Body shape vermiform, narrow, mostly curved ventrally and 338&ndash;445 &micro;m long. Head round and continues. Stylet 12&ndash;16 &micro;m long. Dorsal gland opening 2&ndash;4 &micro;m posterior to stylet knobs. Median bulb ovoid, enlarged with oval valve. Excretory pore 69&ndash;91 &micro;m from anterior end. Tail narrow, 36&ndash;69 &micro;m long, conical elongated and tapered with roundish tip.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Remarks.&lt;/b&gt; The characteristics of this species compared well with the other South African &lt;i&gt;M. javanica&lt;/i&gt; populations described by Kleynhans (1991) but differed in female stylet length, (17&ndash;21 &micro;m &lt;i&gt;vs&lt;/i&gt; 16&ndash;18 &micro;m) and male body length (1030&ndash;1455 &micro;m &lt;i&gt;vs&lt;/i&gt; 1035&ndash;1668 &micro;m).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Rashidifard, Milad, Fourie, Hendrika, Daneel, Mieke Stefanie &amp; Marais, Mariette, 2019, Morphological and morphometrical identification of Meloidogyne populations from various crop production areas in South Africa with emphasis on M. enterolobii, pp. 251-274 in Zootaxa 4658 (2)&lt;/i&gt; on page 268, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4658.2.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3375820"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/3375820&lt;/a&gt

Description of two new species, Aphanolaimus strilliae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphanolaimidae) and Makatinus africanus n. sp. (Nematoda: Aporcelaimidae), and SEM observations on three known species from freshwater sources in the Telperion Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga, South Africa)

Girgan, Chantelle, Marais, Mariette, Fourie, Hendrika, Tiedt, Lourens, Swart, Antoinette (2019): Description of two new species, Aphanolaimus strilliae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphanolaimidae) and Makatinus africanus n. sp. (Nematoda: Aporcelaimidae), and SEM observations on three known species from freshwater sources in the Telperion Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga, South Africa). Zootaxa 4651 (2): 201-234, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4651.2.