Geskrifte van ’n vermiste digter (Henk Rall)

No Abstract

Versindaba 2008 (Marlise Joubert, samest.)

No Abstract

Synergistic activity of polarised osteoblasts inside condensations cause their differentiation

Condensation of pre-osteogenic, or pre-chondrogenic, cells is the first of a series of processes that initiate skeletal development. We present a validated, novel, three-dimensional agent-based model of in vitro intramembranous osteogenic condensation. The model, informed by system heterogeneity and relying on an interaction-reliant strategy, is shown to be sensitive to 'rules' capturing condensation growth and can be employed to track activity of individual cells to observe their macroscopic impact. It, therefore, makes available previously inaccessible data, offering new insights and providing a new context for exploring the emergence, as well as normal and abnormal development, of osteogenic structures. Of the several stages of condensation we investigate osteoblast 'burial' within the osteoid they deposit. The mechanisms underlying entrapment - required for osteoblasts to differentiate into osteocytes - remain a matter of conjecture with several hypotheses claiming to capture this important transition. Computational examination of this transition indicates that osteoblasts neither turn off nor slow down their matrix secreting genes - a widely held view; nor do they secrete matrix randomly. The model further reveals that osteoblasts display polarised behaviour to deposit osteoid. This is both an important addition to our understanding of condensation and an important validation of the model's utility

Rob Antonissen in die Afrikaanse literatuursisteem

The Flemish-born literary scholar Rob Antonissen came to know Afrikaans literature by means of a book collection at Steenbrugge. This eventually led to his emigration to South Africa in 1950, where he grew into probably the most influential scholar in Afrikaans literary history. His work excelled in its “constructive” systemic role; the downside of this was the strong canon shaping influence thus emanating from his literary views. It was not only due to the quality and substance of his literary research and of his critical views that Antonissen was able to establish himself as an important role player in Afrikaans literature: As Jan Greshoff and H.A. Mulder before him, he was invested with the authority of esteem in the Dutch literary world. Through his contributions to scholarly journals, and through his work as literary historiographer and anthologist, he also had his hands on important shaping tools of the Afrikaans literary canonhttp://www.savn.org.za/images/stories/documents/191.pdfhttp://www.savn.org.za/images/stories/documents/191.pd