Spirituele vorming om ’n missionale karakter in gemeentes in die praktyk te bewerkstellig

Spiritual formation to bring about a missional character in congregations in practice. This study applied literature review to focus on missional ecclesiology and, more specifically, on the important role and impact of spirituality in supporting a missional church. Although the research originated in reformed churches in South Africa, the reflection on the relation between the concept of missional church and a Christian spirituality, and the practical examples that illustrate such a missional spirituality, transcend the context and is applicable to most contexts. The conclusion of the research affirmed a Trinitarian approach to spirituality and the indispensable place of a missional spirituality for Christian congregations. A life in the Trinity forms and informs everyday life. It encourages disciples of Christ to participate in God’s mission. There is no difference between Christian spirituality and missional spirituality. One of the key findings was the important role of habits: believers should change their habits in their everyday life in order to change their thoughts, and not the other way around. Practical examples of habits are as follows: systematic reading of God’s Word; to see what God sees; kenosis shown through hospitality; faith discernment with other believers; associating the everyday normalities as spiritual; finding rest in God; and eating together. Intradisciplinary and/or Interdisciplinary implications: This article was written from the perspective of mission studies. The contextual challenge was to emphasise the importance of habits in Christian spirituality, and the reciprocal relationship between spirituality and being a missional church. This article has challenged the culture of church-organised mission projects

Experimental gallop rhythm in sheep with Gousiekte : correlation of changes in amplitude with haemodynamic parameters

To investigate the correlation of haemodynamic parameters with the intensity of the gallop sound (S₃), use was made of right heart catheterization with a Swan-Ganz catheter to measure the pulmonary and right atrial pressures. The cardiac output was determined with the thermodilution method. A radiocardiogram was obtained after a bolus injection of technetium pertechnetate. The cardiopulmonary flow-index was obtained from the simultaneous recordings of the radiocardiogram and an electrocardiogram. With the haemodynamic parameters, heart sounds were recorded simultaneously and externally with a microphone. Eight Merino sheep were dosed with dried Pachystigma pygmaeum (Schltr) Robyns plant material through rumen fistulas until the clinical symptoms of heart failure such as gallop sounds, systolic murmurs and haemodynamic symptoms as well as increases in end diastolic pressure and decreases in stroke volume, appeared. After the appearance of the symptoms the sheep were treated symptomatically to delay the development of the cardiomyopathy. The changes in haemodynamic parameters before and after treatment were used and correlated with the intensity of the gallop sounds on a 6 point criterium scale. The results in brief show that, for gallop sound intensities between 0 and 6 on the criterium scale, most of the haemodynamic parameters correlate with the intensity of the gallop sounds, except the cardiac output, cardiopulmonary blood volume and the systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. The haemodynamic parameters correlate better with the intensities of the gallop rhythm between 0 and 3. It is evident from this study that the model of heart failure in sheep is useful to study heart sounds and may also be valuable in the study of the genesis of the gallop sound.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.lmchunu2014mn201

Driving a motor vehicle and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: ILAE Report by the Task Force on Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

Objectives This International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Report: (a) summarizes the literature about “driving and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)”; (b) presents the views of international experts; and (c) proposes an approach to assessing the ability of persons with PNES (PwPNES) to drive. Methods Phase 1: Systematic literature review. Phase 2: Collection of international expert opinion using SurveyMonkey®. Experts included the members of the ILAE PNES Task Force and individuals with relevant publications since 2000. Phase 3: Joint analysis of the findings and refinement of conclusions by all participants using email. As an ILAE Report, the resulting text was reviewed by the Psychiatry Commission, the ILAE Task Force on Driving Guidelines, and Executive Committee. Results Eight studies identified by the systematic review process failed to provide a firm evidence base for PNES‐related driving regulations, but suggest that most health professionals think restrictions are appropriate. Twenty‐six experts responded to the survey. Most held the view that decisions about driving privileges should consider individual patient and PNES characteristics and take account of whether permits are sought for private or commercial driving. Most felt that those with active PNES should not be allowed to drive unless certain criteria were met and that PNES should be thought of as “active” if the last psychogenic seizure had occurred within 6 months. Significance Recommendations on whether PwPNES can drive should be made at the individual patient level. Until future research has determined the risk of accidents in PwPNES a proposed algorithm may guide decisions about driving advice

The aggregate economic benefits of the national cultivar trials for maize in South Africa with specific reference to the Highveld region

The South African maize sector has been revolutionised from a system of production with low use of modern technologies to a leading maize producer in the African continent. That transformation is in part attributable to South Africa’s investment in the national maize cultivar trials, which have facilitated the adoption and use of maize cultivars that are highly adapted to commercial farmer localities, causing considerable gains in yields. The economic value of the public investment in the trials remains unknown. This study uses experimental yields spanning 1977 - 2012 to attribute the influence of the national maize cultivar trials to maize yield improvement on farmer localities in the Highveld region of South Africa. Using attribution methods, the study estimates that 24.3 kg per hectare of extra maize yields accrued to commercial maize producers because of the national maize trials. The economic value of these investments was found to be R1.4billion (in 2012 currency values). The study estimates that South Africa received R37 of benefit for every rand invested by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in the trials.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ragr202016-09-30hb201

Genotoxic effect induced by hydrogen peroxide in human hepatoma cells using comet assay

Background: Hydrogen peroxide is a common reactive oxygen intermediate generated by variousforms of oxidative stress. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the DNA damage capacity ofH2O2 in HepG2 cells. Methods: Cells were treated with H2O2 at concentrations of 25 μM or 50 μM for5 min, 30 min, 40 min, 1 h or 24 h in parallel. The extent of DNA damage was assessed by the cometassay. Results: Compared to the control, DNA damage by 25 μM and 50 μM H2O2 increasedsignificantly with increasing incubation time up to 1 h, but it was not increased at 24 h. Conclusions:Our Findings confirm that H2O2 is a typical DNA damage inducing agent and thus is a good modelsystem to study the effects of oxidative stress. DNA damage in HepG2 cells increased significantlywith H2O2 concentration and time of incubation but later decreased likely due to DNA repairmechanisms and antioxidant enzyme

Twelve-lead electrocardiography in tuberculous pericarditis

Objectives. This study is part of an ongoing initiative started in 1995 to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of adjuvant corticosteroids in the management of tuberculosis (TB) pericarditis. In this retrospective, descriptive study we describe the changes found on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with TB pericarditis, with and without cardiac tamponade. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of ECG parameters for cardiac tamponade. Methods. All patients referred to our department with echocardiographically confirmed large pericardial effusions underwent a thorough clinical assessment followed by pericardiocentesis and drainage using an indwelling pigtail catheter. The amount of drained effusion was measured, and fluid was sent for diagnostic assessment. Patients were grouped into those with or without cardiac tamponade. The following ECG parameters were assessed: rate, rhythm, microvoltage, electrical alternans, PR segment and ST segment abnormalities. Results. Of the 157 patients assessed, 88 were diagnosed with TB pericarditis. All had abnormal ECGs and 83% had changes of chronic pericarditis. Microvoltage in the extremity and/or precordial leads Correlated with the presence of large effusions (> 750 ml). None of the studied parameters correlated with the presence of cardiac tamponade. Conclusions. Twelve-lead ECG is of supportive but not diagnostic value in cardiac tamponade. The presence of microvoltage suggests the presence of a large effusion. The absence of microvoltage makes the presence of cardiac tamponade unlikely.Articl