254 research outputs found
A missiological evaluation of Christian responses to reincarnation
This dissertation is a missiological evaluation of the challenges presented to
Christian faith by reincarnation. Owing to the far-reaching theological
implications of reincarnation, I have made use of an analytical grid to structure
the research. It consists of seven sections, namely God, anthropology, ethics,
hamartiology, soteriology, theodicy and history. This grid has been used to
examine reincarnation as espoused in the Bhagavad-Gita (chapter 2) , as
propounded by the well-known Hindu Swamis Vivekananda and Prabhupada
(chapter 3) , and in the responses of four Christian theologians (Geddes
MacGregor, John Hick, Vishal Mangalwadi and Edmond Robillard) to
reincarnation (chapter 4) . There are many individuals within Western society
who are attracted to reincarnation. My concern is to evaluate whether the
Christian church can incorporate reincarnation in its religious worldview. In
chapter 5, I give an evaluation of this question from a Reformed theological
perspective.Hierdie verhandeling is 'n missiologiese beoordeling van die uitdagings wat die
leerstelling van reinkarnasie aan die Christelike geloof hied. As gevolg van die
verreikende implikasies van reinkarnasie, gebruik ek 'n analitiese raamwerk om
vorm te gee aan die· ondersoek. Hierdie raamwerk bestaan uit sewe
onderafdelings, naamlik die beskouings oor God, mens, etiek, sonde, verlossing,
teodisee en geskiedenis. Hierdie raamwerk word gebruik om die leerstelling van
n!inkarnasie te ondersoek soos wat dit aan die orde kom in die Bhagavad-Gita
(hoofstuk 2), in die geskrifte van die twee bekende Swamis Vivekananda en
Prabhupada (hoofstuk 3) , en in die reaksies van vier Christenteoloe (Geddes
MacGregor, John Hick, Vishal Mangalwadi en Edmond Robillard) op
reinkarnasie (hoofstuk 4). Daar is heelwat mense in die Westerse samelewing
wat aangetrokke is tot reinkarnasie. My vraagstelling is om te evalueer of die
Christelike kerk re'inkarnasie in sy godsdienstige wereldbeeld kan opneem. In
hoqfstuk 5, gee ek 'n beoordeling van hierdie vraag uit 'n Gereformeerde
teologiese gesigspunt.Christian,Spirituality, Church History and MissiologyM.Th. (Missiology
A personal research into the concept of power/knowledge abuse within the church
This research regarding power/knowledge abuse within the church was conducted within the postmodern social construction discourse and in the context of narrative therapy, feminist theology and practical theology. It presents a chronicle of five individuals who experienced abuse within their congregations. It reflects on the co-authoring journey of these five individuals personally and within the context of the narrative group.
As part of the narrative group they came to re-author their lives around what they had experienced regarding abuse within their churches. Together they challenged those dominant structures that are so often hidden just below `sacred' tradition.
In conclusion the five individuals experienced a renaissance within themselves and their personal theology of God and His dealings within the church. This renaissance has led them to seek out others who have experienced this form of abuse and to give them the hope that they discovered together.Philosophy, Practical and Systematic TheologyM. Th. (Practical Theology - with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy
Defining a relevant architecture in South Africa
Architecture in South Africa is at a crossroads. Afteryears of repression and isolation during which contemporary architecture lost its way, there is now a desperate need for architects to respond to the social a nd cultural challenges of a society riven by massive material contrasts. Within architecture schools, a student body more representative of society than hitherto is engaged in projects which reflect the very diverse needs of the community. Central to the effectiveness of such teaching programmes is the presence of teachers fully engaged in practice, creating a responsible architecture fora renewed nation
The need for appropriate critical care service provision at non-tertiary hospitals in South Africa
Fluid management in diabetic-acidosis — Ringer’s lactate versus normal saline : a randomized controlled trial
OBJECTIVE: To determine if Ringer’s lactate is superior
to 0.9% sodium chloride solution for resolution
of acidosis in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA).
DESIGN: Parallel double blind randomized controlled
trial.
METHODS: Patients presenting with DKA at Kalafong
and Steve Biko Academic hospitals were recruited
for inclusion in this study if they were >18 years of
age, had a venous pH >6.9 and 47.2, a blood glucose
of >13 mmol/l and had urine ketones of 52+.
All patients had to be alert enough to give informed
consent and should have received <1 l of resuscitation
fluid prior to enrolment.
RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were randomly allocated,
29 were allocated to receive 0.9% sodium
chloride solution and 28 to receive Ringer’s lactate
(of which 27 were included in the analysis in each
group). An adjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis
was done to compare the time to normalization
of pH between the 0.9% sodium chloride solution
and Ringer’s lactate groups. The hazard ratio
(Ringer’s compared with 0.9% sodium chloride
solution) for time to venous pH normalization
(pH = 7.32) was 1.863 (95% CI 0.937–3.705,
P = 0.076). The median time to reach a pH of 7.32
for the 0.9% sodium chloride solution group was
683 min (95% CI 378–988) (IQR: 435–1095 min)
and for Ringer’s lactate solution 540 min (95% CI
184–896, P = 0.251). The unadjusted time to lower
blood glucose to 14 mmol/l was significantly longer
in the Ringer’s lactate solution group (410 min,
IQR: 240–540) than the 0.9% sodium chloride solution
group (300 min, IQR: 235–420, P = 0.044). No
difference could be demonstrated between the
Ringer’s lactate and 0.9% sodium chloride solution
groups in the time to resolution of DKA (based on
the ADA criteria) (unadjusted: P = 0.934, adjusted:
P = 0.758)
CONCLUSION: This study failed to indicate benefit
from using Ringer’s lactate solution compared to
0.9% sodium chloride solution regarding time to
normalization of pH in patients with DKA. The
time to reach a blood glucose level of 14 mmol/l
took significantly longer with the Ringer’s lactate
solution.University of Pretoria, Research Development
Programmehttp://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org
Diabetic nephropathy in a tertiary care clinic in South Africa : a cross-sectional study
OBJECTIVE : The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of micro- or macroalbuminuria in type 1 and type 2
diabetic patients, and to examine the relationship with the diabetes control parameters such as haemoglobin (Hb)A1c,
blood pressure (BP) and lipids.
DESIGN : This was an analytical cross-sectional study.
SETTING AND SUBJECTS : The study consisted of 754 patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, attending a diabetes clinic
at the Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.
OUTCOME MEASURES : Micro- or macroalbuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were the outcome
measures.
RESULTS : An HbA1c > 7% was recorded in 88.9% of the patients, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥ 1.8 mmol/l in 81%.
Overall, the prevalence of micro- or macroalbuminuria was 33.6%. Logistic regression revealed that HbA1c, the duration
of diabetes, systolic BP, male sex and triglycerides were predictive of microalbuminuria.
CONCLUSION : The prevalence of micro- or macroalbuminuria in this study fell within the ranges of what has previously been
reported in Africa. HbA1c and the duration of diabetes were the strongest predictors of microalbuminuria in all of the
patients, and age was the strongest predictor of a low eGFR. Diabetes was poorly controlled, making the progression to
end-stage renal failure a real concern in these patients.http://www.jemdsa.co.zaindex.php/JEMDSAhb201
Diabetes care and complications in primary care in the Tshwane district of South Africa
AIMS : To describe the diabetic population receiving primary care from the Tshwane district public
health services and to assess the quality of care of members of this population, their level of disease
control and the extent of their complications.
METHODS : A cluster-randomised trial was conducted in 12 primary care clinics in Tshwane district. A
total of 599 diabetic patients attending these clinics for review were consecutively interviewed and
clinically examined. Data on the care received was also obtained from their clinical records for the
previous 12 months. Patients randomised to the active arm of the study were screened for
complications.
RESULTS : The mean age was 58 years and 80.5% had a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25kg/m2. Sixty-eight
percent of patients were female. Acceptable glycaemic control and LDL-cholesterol were found for
only 27% and 33% of patients respectively (HbA1c<7%; LDL <2.5 mmol/l). Despite more than 79%
of patients reporting to be hypertensive, 68% of patients had a systolic blood pressure above 130
mmHg and 64% had a diastolic blood pressure above 80 mmHg. Evaluating patient records of the
preceding year, screening for eye complications was only reported in 8.2%, feet complications in
6.5%, kidney complications in 21.4% and cardiovascular complications in 7.8%. The screening
prevalences found were 29% for retinopathy, 22% for maculopathy, 5% for neuropathy
(neurothesiometer), 7% for nephropathy (eGFR stage3-5), 17% for possible infarction (Rose
questionnaire) and 36% for severe erectile dysfunction (SHIM questionnaire).
CONCLUSION : Diabetes care and screening for complications at primary care level in the Tshwane
district were found to be sub-optimal. Measures should be taken to address this.Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA), the African Population & Health Research Centre (APHRC) and the University of Pretoria.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/pcd2016-04-30hb201
Six-year observations of aerosol optical properties at a southern African grassland savannah site
Atmospheric aerosols have a significant effect on earth's radiative budget, particularly on regional scales. This paper presents a similar to 6 year, in situ, ground level aerosol scattering and absorption dataset, measured at a background site strategically positioned to enable differentiation of the effect of anthropogenic, population density and open biomass burning activities on a regional scale. Relatively well-defined seasonal and diurnal patterns were observed for all the aerosol optical properties, i.e. scattering coefficient (sigma(SP)), absorption coefficient (sigma(AP)), single scattering albedo (omega(0)) and Angstrom exponent of scattering (sigma(SP)). These patterns were explained by considering southern African specific sources and metrological conditions. Using a receptor modelling method (auto-generated source maps) it was found that air masses that had higher sigma(SP), sigma(AP) and omega(0), and lower alpha(SP), if compared with the relatively clean background, passed over source regions with significant industrial or other anthropogenic activities, higher population density, re-circulation of polluted air masses and higher open biomass burning frequency. To quantify differences, four source regions were defined, i.e. Karoo, Kalahari, anti-cyclonic recirculation pattern and the industrial hub of South Africa. Air masses that had passed over the Karoo source region represented the cleanest regional background conditions, while air masses that had passed either over the industrial hub and/or the anti-cyclonic recirculation pattern represented the most significant anthropogenically impacted, as indicated by the aerosol optical properties. The omega(0) medians of air masses that had passed over the Karoo (0.80-0.86) were 9, 12 and 7% lower than in air masses that had passed over source regions with the highest omega(0) median, in the warmest/wettest, coldest, and driest, peak open biomass burning periods, respectively.Peer reviewe
Statistical analysis of factors driving surface ozone variability over continental South Africa
Statistical relationships between surface ozone (O-3) concentration, precursor species and meteorological conditions in continental South Africa were examined from data obtained from measurement stations in north-eastern South Africa. Three multivariate statistical methods were applied in the investigation, i.e. multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component analysis (PCA) and -regression (PCR), and generalised additive model (GAM) analysis. The daily maximum 8-h moving average O-3 concentrations were considered in these statistical models (dependent variable). MLR models indicated that meteorology and precursor species concentrations are able to explain similar to 50% of the variability in daily maximum O-3 levels. MLR analysis revealed that atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO), temperature and relative humidity were the strongest factors affecting the daily O-3 variability. In summer, daily O-3 variances were mostly associated with relative humidity, while winter O-3 levels were mostly linked to temperature and CO. PCA indicated that CO, temperature and relative humidity were not strongly collinear. GAM also identified CO, temperature and relative humidity as the strongest factors affecting the daily variation of O-3. Partial residual plots found that temperature, radiation and nitrogen oxides most likely have a non-linear relationship with O-3,while the relationship with relative humidity and CO is probably linear. An inter-comparison between O-3 levels modelled with the three statistical models compared to measured O-3 concentrations showed that the GAM model offered a slight improvement over the MLR model. These findings emphasise the critical role of regional-scale O-3 precursors coupled with meteorological conditions in daily variances of O-3 levels in continental South Africa.Peer reviewe
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