The difference between the Nuremberg Trials and the TRC: a lesson to be learnt?

Paper presented at the Wits History Workshop: The TRC; Commissioning the Past, 11-14 June, 199

Race, history and the internet: the use of the internet in white supremacist propaganda in the late 1990s, with particular reference to South Africa

Abstract This dissertation aims to investigate the use of History by white supremacist groups in South Africa particularly, to rework their identity on the Internet. The dissertation argues that white supremacist groups use older traditions of history, particularly, in the South African case, the ‘sacred saga’, as explained by Dunbar Moodie to create a sense of historical continuity with the past and to forge an unbroken link to the present. The South African white supremacists have been influenced by the History written by Van Jaarsveld for example, as will be shown in the chapters analysing the three chosen South African white supremacist groups. The white supremacists in the international arena also use history, mixed with 1930s Nazi propaganda to promote their ideas

Oxidative Stress in Type II Diabetes Mellitus and the Role of the Endogenous Antioxidant Glutathione

24 page(s

Are Shocks to Barbados Long-Stay Visitor Arrivals Permanent or Temporary: A Short Empirical Note

The tourism industry is Barbados’ main source of foreign exchange and provides the basis for steady economic growth in the economy. Consequently, the permanence or transience of shocks can have a direct impact on the welfare of all Barbadian residents. Against this background, our study applied univariate and panel unit root tests to determine whether shocks to visitor arrivals to Barbados are permanent or temporary. Our empirical findings imply that exogenous shocks will have permanent effects on visitor arrivals to Barbados. Our recommendation is for tourism authorities to handle negative external shocks according to each particular market differently, since tourists, even with countries, are not a homogenous group

Are Shocks to Barbados Long-Stay Visitor Arrivals Permanent or Temporary: A Short Empirical Note

The tourism industry is Barbados’ main source of foreign exchange and provides the basis for steady economic growth in the economy. Consequently, the permanence or transience of shocks can have a direct impact on the welfare of all Barbadian residents. Against this background, our study applied univariate and panel unit root tests to determine whether shocks to visitor arrivals to Barbados are permanent or temporary. Our empirical findings imply that exogenous shocks will have permanent effects on visitor arrivals to Barbados. Our recommendation is for tourism authorities to handle negative external shocks according to each particular market differently, since tourists, even with countries, are not a homogenous group

Efficacy of rehabilitation after provision of ICRC lower limb prostheses in low-income and middle-income countries : a quantitative assessment from Myanmar

Background: Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have poorly resourced health services. Lack of access to assistive devices, such as prosthetics, may limit the functional outcomes of persons with amputation and affect quality of life (QoL). Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the functional level and QoL of prosthetic users in LMICs when prescribed a prosthesis made from International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) components. Study design: The study design included a quantitative descriptive methodology assessing functional outcomes and QoL after prosthetic provision. Methods: Participants were identified from the prosthetic service in Mandalay, Myanmar. Included participants were those with unilateral, traumatic, lower limb amputations, with ICRC devices delivered at least 6 months earlier. Participants attended the prosthetic service and were assessed using the Amputee Mobility Predictor with Prosthesis tool and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief and Disability modules. Results: Thirty-five participants completed the study; of them, 63% were persons with transtibial level amputation and 37% were with transfemoral level amputation. Approximately 83% achieved a score of more than 37 using the Amputee Mobility Predictor with Prosthesis. There is a strong positive correlation between QoL and physical health (r = 0.55; p < 0.001), social relationships (r = 0.66; p < 0.001), and inclusion (r = 0.53; p < 0.001). Participants had a better QoL and overall health when they had better psychological health. Conclusion: The patient-based results presented within this study could be considered as a contribution to the evidence base and importance of provision of prosthetic services in LMICs. It was observed that participants with an amputation were able to achieve a high level of physical function with the ICRC prostheses while also reporting a high QoL

Program standards and student competencies among global chiropractic accreditation agencies:a content analysis

BackgroundAccreditation of healthcare provider training programs ensures graduate competency and provides a means for programs to improve. Accreditation consistency assures the public that healthcare providers have similar basic training across world regions. Currently, it is unknown if chiropractic accrediting agencies have congruent standards globally. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate similarities and differences in student competencies and program standards among four chiropractic accreditation agencies worldwide.MethodsA quantitative content analysis was performed on accreditation standards from regional international accreditation agencies responsible for accrediting the majority of the world’s chiropractic degree programs. Agencies included the Council on Chiropractic Education (United States), the European Council on Chiropractic Education (Europe, United Kingdom, South Africa), the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia), and the Council on Chiropractic Education Canada (Canada). The contents of the accrediting standards were coded using a standardized coding list. A modified Delphi technique was used by 21 international experts from December 1, 2023, to April 18, 2024. After four rounds of consideration to achieve consensus, the contents were analyzed for frequency and congruence of coded items across the accrediting agencies’ standards. A two-way analysis of variance was conducted to identify if there were any differences among the accreditation agencies.ResultsNeither student competencies [F(3,8) = 0.007, p &gt; .05] nor program standards [F(3,4) = 0.002, p &gt; .05] differed significantly across the accrediting agencies. The statistical relationships between accreditation agencies and coding frequencies remained stable across all coded items, with no single code exhibiting differential performance depending on the accrediting body. The overall model showed R2 = 0.96 for student competencies and R2 = 0.87 for program standards; thus, the models’ predictions align with the observed data.ConclusionsThe study findings demonstrate congruence for student competencies and program standards among chiropractic accreditation agencies across multiple geographic regions. The patterns of content were stable and consistent across the four accrediting agencies, with no evidence of differential effects among the agencies. In addition, this study provides essential details and standardized codes for agencies’ documents, which may facilitate dialogue and comprehension among agencies, educators, regulators, governing officials, and other stakeholders in chiropractic education

The Vertical Ground Reaction Force and Temporal-Spatial Parameters of Transfemoral Amputees Wearing Three Prosthetic Knee Joints Available in Thailand: a Pilot Study

Objective: To examine the temporal-spatial characteristics of transfemoral amputees using three prosthetic knees available in Thailand. In addition, the estimated vertical Ground Reaction Force (vGRF) was explored, in particular the graphical differences in the M-shape of the vGRF pattern amongst each of the knees and the sound limb. Methods: Three transfemoral amputees were fitted with three different prosthetic knee joints (Chulalongkorn University (CU) Polycentric Knee Joint, Prosthesis Foundation Knee, Otto Bock 3R20) and performed walking trials while the vGRF and temporal-spatial parameters were collected for all participants. Results: Similarities existed amongst GRF metrics across all prosthetic knees. Stance and swing time in the CU Polycentric Knee Joint was similar to that of the sound limb. Walking speeds were highest in the Otto Bock 3R20 and lowest in the Prosthesis Foundation Knee. Conclusion: This preliminary pilot testing revealed similarities amongst all three prosthetic knees. Future research with more participants and additional analysis could further elucidate characteristics of these prosthetic knees

Chronic Cyclodextrin Treatment of Murine Niemann-Pick C Disease Ameliorates Neuronal Cholesterol and Glycosphingolipid Storage and Disease Progression

BACKGROUND:Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused most commonly by a defect in the NPC1 protein and characterized by widespread intracellular accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs). While current treatment therapies are limited, a few drugs tested in Npc1(-/-) mice have shown partial benefit. During a combination treatment trial using two such compounds, N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) and allopregnanolone, we noted increased lifespan for Npc1(-/-) mice receiving only 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CD), the vehicle for allopregnanolone. This finding suggested that administration of CD alone, but with greater frequency, might provide additional benefit. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Administration of CD to Npc1(-/-) mice beginning at either P7 or P21 and continuing every other day delayed clinical onset, reduced intraneuronal cholesterol and GSL storage as well as free sphingosine accumulation, reduced markers of neurodegeneration, and led to longer survival than any previous treatment regime. We reasoned that other lysosomal diseases characterized by cholesterol and GSL accumulation, including NPC disease due to NPC2 deficiency, GM1 gangliosidosis and mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IIIA, might likewise benefit from CD treatment. Treated Npc2(-/-) mice showed benefits similar to NPC1 disease, however, mice with GM1 gangliosidosis or MPS IIIA failed to show reduction in storage. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Treatment with CD delayed clinical disease onset, reduced intraneuronal storage and secondary markers of neurodegeneration, and significantly increased lifespan of both Npc1(-/-) and Npc2(-/-) mice. In contrast, CD failed to ameliorate cholesterol or glycosphingolipid storage in GM1 gangliosidosis and MPS IIIA disease. Understanding the mechanism(s) by which CD leads to reduced neuronal storage may provide important new opportunities for treatment of NPC and related neurodegenerative diseases characterized by cholesterol dyshomeostasis

X-linked Angelman-like syndrome caused by Slc9a6 knockout in mice exhibits evidence of endosomal–lysosomal dysfunction

Mutations in solute carrier family 9 isoform 6 on chromosome Xq26.3 encoding sodium–hydrogen exchanger 6, a protein mainly expressed in early and recycling endosomes are known to cause a complex and slowly progressive degenerative human neurological disease. Three resulting phenotypes have so far been reported: an X-linked Angelman syndrome-like condition, Christianson syndrome and corticobasal degeneration with tau deposition, with each characterized by severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, autistic behaviour and ataxia. Hypothesizing that a sodium–hydrogen exchanger 6 deficiency would most likely disrupt the endosomal–lysosomal system of neurons, we examined Slc9a6 knockout mice with tissue staining and related techniques commonly used to study lysosomal storage disorders. As a result, we found that sodium–hydrogen exchanger 6 depletion leads to abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside and unesterified cholesterol within late endosomes and lysosomes of neurons in selective brain regions, most notably the basolateral nuclei of the amygdala, the CA3 and CA4 regions and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and some areas of cerebral cortex. In these select neuronal populations, histochemical staining for β-hexosaminidase activity, a lysosomal enzyme involved in the degradation of GM2 ganglioside, was undetectable. Neuroaxonal dystrophy similar to that observed in lysosomal disease was observed in the cerebellum and was accompanied by a marked and progressive loss of Purkinje cells, particularly in those lacking the expression of Zebrin II. On behavioural testing, Slc9a6 knockout mice displayed a discrete clinical phenotype attributable to motor hyperactivity and cerebellar dysfunction. Importantly, these findings show that sodium–hydrogen exchanger 6 loss of function in the Slc9a6-targeted mouse model leads to compromise of endosomal–lysosomal function similar to lysosomal disease and to conspicuous neuronal abnormalities in specific brain regions, which in concert could provide a unified explanation for the cellular and clinical phenotypes in humans with SLC9A6 mutations