Johannine metaphors/symbols linked to the paraclete-spirit and their theological implications

The Johannine author uses metaphors and symbols to enable the primary and secondary readers to come to a better understanding of the Paraclete-Spirit. The study of particular Johannine metaphors is valuable in understanding the message and theology of John. The use of the dove, water and wind metaphors in the Johannine Gospel definitely has functional and theological implications for the Pneumatology of John. The Johannine author uses imagery freely in expressing his Pneumatological message. He does not express his message regarding the Paraclete-Spirit merely in the form of a theological discourse, but by using the metaphors dove, water and wind. By exploring the relationship between the various Paraclete-Spirit metaphors, a larger and more coherent picture emerges, which opens the view to the interrelatedness of various theological themes. Such a metaphorical description of the Paraclete-Spirit in the Johannine Gospel has genuine potential and deserves to be explored.Acta Theologica Vol. 1 2007: pp. 83-10

Studi Prilaku Pasar Tanah Di Daerah Pemekaran Provinsi Sulawesi Utara

The result of this research shows that the buyer charactheristics and seller is effect on land price. From the supply side (seller) of the land and the demand side (buyer) of the land is create a behaviorin land market in autonomous region of North Sulawesi. The land price is significantly effect on land future price expactation. Topography of the land has effect on land price on both sides. Land distance or acces has effect on land price on both sides. Richness is the only one variable that effect on land price expactation on both sides. The crop has no significant effect on both sides. Education and earning has no effect significantly on land price expectation

An investigation into the dramatic increase in deaths from gastroenteritis during the summer of 2007/08 at National District Hospital, Bloemfontein, Free State

Introduction and background: Despite national guidelines and agreed upon admission and referral criteria for children in National District Hospital (NDH), Bloemfontein, the number of children admitted with gastroenteritis (GE) has increased dramatically since December 2007. From the previous year’s Child Healthcare Problem Identification Programme (Child PIP) data the increase in GE admissions was evident in NDH. During the preceding year, 123 children were admitted for GE and during the audit period 267. The number of deaths in NDH also increased from an average of 2.25 a month over the past 3 years to 10 a month during January and February 2008. Aim: The aims of the study were: to determine the causes of death of children in NDH; to determine the relationship between nutritional status, HIV disease, laboratory results, demographic data, time of admission, duration of admission and other diseases or conditions and GE child deaths in NDH;to determine whether doctors adhered to prescribed GE treatment protocols; to determine whether nursing personnel carried out doctors’ orders as prescribed; and to identify other factors that contributed to GE deaths. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was used. All child deaths, as well as all children admitted with GE to Ward 3 in NDH from May 2007 to April 2008 were included in the study. The first author collected the information on a cause of death form, a data form and an audit tool. As part of the quality-improvement project, 10 items were assessed to determine whether doctors adhered to treatment protocols, and 10 items were assessed to determine whether nurses adhered to nursing orders and basic nursing care. Any other factors that contributed to poor care were also noted. Results: 1. Cause of death: During this period, 49 children died, 33 (67%) due to GE, 6 (12%) due to tuberculosis (TB), 5 (10%) due to septicaemia, 4 (8%) due to pneumonia and 1 (2%) due to congenital abnormalities. Only 4.1% of the children who died were considered as normal weight for age according to their Road to Health Chart (RTHC). Regarding HIV status, 82.5% of the children who died tested HIV positive. In total, 19.4% of allGE admissions died during this one-year period. 2. GE deaths: Demographic data such as gender and age did not influence the outcome of GE. As expected, severe malnutrition, HIV-positive status and severe dehydration all contributed statistically significantly to high mortality in GE. Severe abnormalities occurred in the laboratory results of most of the children who died and indicated the severity of their disease(s). No specific organisms were cultured from stool specimens and the quality of drinking water in Bloemfontein was declared safe for human consumption. 3. Other factors that contributed to GE deaths: Medical and nursing care were of a high standard and treatment protocols were followed. Pre-admission factors such as transport, non-availability of 24-hour medical services, non-initiation of emergency treatment before referral, and caregivers not realising the severity of the disease need urgent attention to prevent further deaths. Conclusion: GE contributed to 67% of deaths in the paediatric ward of NDH. Underlying poor nutritional status and/or HIV disease were present in 96% of the GE deaths. In more than nine out of ten cases the doctors and nurses in the hospital rendered medical care in accordance with standard guidelines. Pre-admission factors need to be addressed in order to prevent more deaths

Alumni perceptions of registered psychological counsellor training at a South African university

In this article the strengths, caveats and suggestions for improvement of a BEd Hons programme in Educational Psychology presented at a traditional South African university from the viewpoint of 10 alumni students who were part of the 2016 cohort, are explored. The programme under investigation has been running since 2003 and is aimed at training mid-level psychological counsellors who have to pass the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s (HPCSA) board examination for Psychology to formally qualify as registered counsellors. The HPCSA instituted the category of registered counsellor early in the 2000s to provide a route to basic psychological support for the majority of citizens without access to registered psychologists. In order to achieve the aim of this research, qualitative individual telephone interviews were conducted in 2017 to gather data from the counsellor alumni of the 2016 cohort. In total, 10 of a possible 26 participants voluntarily participated in the study. The perceptions of the participants were analysed, and findings suggest that the BEd Hons programme has the following strengths: weekly supervision by experienced lecturers enabled knowledge obtained through theoretical coursework to be applied during the practicum; various professional skills were also gained during the practicum, enabling students to feel competent in the workplace. A very strong focus on clients from disadvantaged communities was also seen as a particular strength. Some caveats were inadequate information about the psychological and job-related implications of the programme. Suggestions indicated that the organisation of the theoretical and practicum components could be reconsidered so as to optimise the programme in future. Furthermore, it was found that transformation in this type of higher education programme is needed on a theoretical and practical level by ensuring broadened access to the programme and listening to the voices of the students regarding the curriculum

Profile of Research Methodology and Statistics Training of Undergraduate Medical Students at South African Universities

Background: Medical practitioners need to have knowledge of statistics and research principles, especially with the increasing emphasis onevidence-based medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of research methodology and statistics training of undergraduatemedical students at South African universities in terms of which topics are taught, by whom teaching is done, when these topics are taught and howthey are taught.Method: Respondents for this descriptive study were persons responsible for the teaching of statistics and research methodology at the eightmedical schools in South Africa. They were identified by the head of each school who also gave permission for the school to participate. Therespondents completed a questionnaire and checklist after giving informed consent. No response was obtained from one university. Responses werecompared to international guidelines.Results: At five universities the material is taught in the first year, at one in the second year and one in the third or fourth year, depending on whenit is selected as an elective. The material is reinforced in other modules in the medical programme at three universities. The persons responsible forteaching are mainly statisticians (six universities). Class sizes vary from 40 to 320 students with four universities having 200 or more students perclass. At two universities the current course has been in place since 2003, at two since 2000, and at two since the 1970/80s. The following topicsare taught at the majority of universities: study designs in medical research, exploring and presenting data, summarising data, probability, sampling, statistical inference, analysis of cross tabulation and critical reading. At four universities there are practical classes, three of these mainly for computer work. At three universities tutors are used, at two of these the tutors are postgraduate students in statistics whereas at one university registrars, doctors and researchers are used as tutors. Students at three of the universities complete a research project, at two of these the students complete the full research process from planning up to reporting, whereas the project at the other university focuses mainly on the analysis of data.Conclusion: Recommendations have been made regarding topics which should be covered and teaching methods which should be used at alluniversities. Doctors should be involved in the training to ensure clinically appropriate material and examples

Comparative advantage of potato production in seven regions of South Africa

The focus of this research was to investigate the comparative advantage of the potato industry in seven potato production regions in South Africa. Potatoes are the most important vegetable crop produced in South Africa. In 2008 it contributed more than 40% to the total production of vegetables in South Africa and it accounted for more than 20% of the value of all fresh produce sold on all the major national fresh produce markets. This study uses the Resource Cost Ratio (RCR) methodology that provides an explicit indication of the efficiency with which production alternatives uses domestic resources to generate or save foreign exchange. The Nominal Protection Ratio (NPR) and Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) were also calculated. The results show that current policies that affects the input market for potato production in South Africa is constraining the potato industry. This was confirmed by the results obtained from the NPR and EPC analysis, and the size of the policy distortions was shown through the calculation of market and economic profitability. If current policies prevail potato production in the Eastern Free State will not have a comparative advantage, but in the absence of such policies all production regions have a comparative advantage.Crop Production/Industries,

Die sesweke-ondersoek ná koronêre vatchirurgie: bevindinge by Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic Hospitaal

The six-week examination after coronary bypass surgery: findings at a Medi-Clinic Hospital in Bloemfontein. Background: Surgery provides symtomatic relief and improves the prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease. The general practitioner manages the postoperative patient. The aim of the study was to establish which symptoms and signs are present at the time of the six-week follow-up after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: A descriptive database search with a retrospective direction of enquiry was undertaken to establish the symptoms and signs experienced by patients six weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The patients were operated on by one surgeon in one hospital. The prevalence of readmissions, chest pain, angina, blood pressure, NYHA class, lung auscultation, wounds and medications were noted. Results: Records were available for 181 patients. However, only 158 patients were seen in the surgeon\'s rooms six weeks after surgery. Patients were also consulted before and after the six weeks, but usually in hospital. One patient died before her appointment and two patients did not return for follow-up. Fifteen (8.5%; 95% CI 4.9% to 13.7%) patients were readmitted to a hospital for a variety of reasons, Severe chest pain was present in 3.4% (95% CI 1.3% to 7.2%) patients. One patient had a myocardial infarction with patent grafts at cardiac catheterisation. Another two patients were investigated for possible angina, but it could not be proved. A total of 82.2% (95% CI 76.5% to 87.9%) of the patients were in NYHA I, whereas 3.5% (95% CI 1.3% to 7.4%) were class III, of whom two thirds were in class III before the operation. Hypertension was noticed in 70.1% of the patients (95% CI 62.9% to 77.2%). During auscultation of the lungs, abnormalities were picked up in 4.9% of the patients, while the sternum was not properly healed in 3.4% (95% VI 1.3% tot 7.2%). All the patients were on aspirin, but only 57% took an ACE inhibitor, 37% took a statin and 29% a beta-blocker.Conclusions:This study provides a picture of what to expect six weeks after a CABG.South African Family Practice Vol. 47(3) 2005: 61-6

Simulated changes in extreme rainfall over southern Africa

A general circulation model simulation is used to investigate possible changes in rainfall over southern Africa resulting from a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Simulated increases in rainfall intensity are found to be a spatially coherent and an apparently less regionally dependent signal of climatic change than changes in annual means or number of rain‐days. Accordingly, increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme daily rainfall events are simulated throughout most of the subcontinent. Simulated increases in the intensity of the lowest frequency floods are shown to be particularly severe, suggesting that greenhouse‐related climatic change may be most detectable through an increase in extreme flood events rather than changes in long‐term means. Similar results are evident when changes in the frequency and intensity of prolonged rainfall events, measured over a period of five consecutive days, are analysed. All results are qualitatively similar to those for the Australian region, except that the model's sensitivity to sharp changes in topography over southern Africa is highlighted

Constipation in elderly patients attending a polyclinic

Objective. Tb determine the prevalence of and risk factors for constipation in the elderly. Differences between the white and black elderly populations in this regard were examined.Design. Cross-section hospital-based study.Setting. The family medicine cliriics at National and Pelonomi hospitals in greater Bloemfontein.Participants. 179 white and 188 black patients, born before 1930, visiting the clinics during December and January 1994/95 and seen by one doctor. Mizin outcome measures. Constipation.Results. In both the black and white population groups 29% of the participants were constipated according to the definition used in this study. Depression was a risk factor for constipation in both population groups. Age over 80 years was a risk factor in the black participants. The fibre and fluid contents of participants' diets were not found to be associated with constipation. Pain during defaecation was positively associated with constipation. Forty-three per cent of the white and 76.6% of the black participants used laxatives. Of the white and black laxative users 14.3% and 21.5%, respectively, used more than one laxative at a time.Conclusion. The prevalence of constipation was high in both groups. Laxative use and abuse are very common in the black elderly population