Beskrywing en verklaaring in die Natuurwetenskap

Die waarneming van die n a tu u r en die beoefening van die natuurwetenskap het met die eerste mens begin

Wiskunde in Suid-Afrika*

By ’n geleentheid soos hierdie is die versoeking nogal sterk om retrospektief te w erk te gaan en 'n poging aan te wend om die verlede soos dit in eie persoon belewe is, die revue te laat passeer. Dit is miskien nie m eer as natuurlik nie dat ’n mens dan m eer geneig voel om op die afgelegde weg terug te kyk as om jou aan koersaanwysing vir die toekoms te waag. Vir die m eeste van u, geagte oudstudente, is w at verby is nie van soveel belang as wat die hede aanbied of die toekoms in sy skoot het nie. My taak nader sy einde, u werk lê hopelik nog vir die grootste gedeelte voor u. Wei is dit ’n troosryke gedagte w at u my sal vergun om te koester, dat die band wat daar tussen u en my gelê is, ook in vakkundige opsig nie finaal deurgesny is toe die dae van regstreekse, persoonlike kontak verby was nie. Die onderwyser is nou m aar eenmaal so onbe- skeie om in die loopbaan en prestasies van sy leerling tot 'n mate ’n verlengstuk van sy eie werk te sien

,,Rubbi-Lesings oor Wiskunde."

Onlangs is in Stellenbosch gepubliseer ’n reeks van nege lesings, aan die Universiteit aldaar gedurende 1947 gehou

Diachronic Approaches to Modality in World Englishes: Introduction to the Special Issue

postprin

When are anti-fat attitudes understood as prejudice versus truth? An experimental study of social influence effects

Background/Objectives If people who hold anti-fat attitudes believe these attitudes to be true, then anti-prejudice appeals are likely to be unsuccessful, if only because the targets will not see their attitudes as in need of change. The current study examined processes that may lead people to see their anti-fat attitudes as 'truth' or as 'prejudice'. Subjects/Methods Participants (N = 482) read anti-fat statements and were then presented with an interpretation of these statements as 'truth' or 'prejudice'. The source of this interpretation was either an (i) in-group or out-group member and (ii) expert or non-expert. Participants' judgements of the statements were expected to vary such that in-group others and experts would exert more influence than would out-group others and non-experts. Results Participants aligned their own interpretations of an anti-fat statement with those of an expert, but not with those of a non-expert, F(1,466) = 8.97, p <0.05, eta(2)(p) = 0.02. The group membership variable had no effect on judgements of 'truth' or 'prejudice' of the anti-fat statement. Conclusion The expressions that people believe constitute anti-fat prejudice versus truth about people described as overweight are influenced by exposure to expert opinion (in this case, by medical doctors). Implications for the success of weight-based anti-prejudice appeals and for healthcare provision are discussed

Nebulized antithrombin limits bacterial outgrowth and lung injury in Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia in rats

Introduction Disturbed alveolar fibrin turnover is a cardinal feature of severe pneumonia. Clinical studies suggest that natural inhibitors of coagulation exert lung-protective effects via anticoagulant and possibly also anti-inflammatory pathways. Intravenous infusion of the natural anticoagulants increases the risk of bleeding. Local administration may allow for higher treatment dosages and increased local efficacy while at the same time reducing the risk of bleeding. We evaluated the effect of nebulized anticoagulants on pulmonary coagulopathy and inflammation in a rat model of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods In this randomized controlled in vivo laboratory study rats were challenged intratracheally with S. pneumoniae, inducing pneumonia, and randomized to treatment with normal saline (placebo), recombinant human activated protein C (rh-APC), plasma-derived antithrombin (AT), heparin or danaparoid, by means of nebulization. Results S. pneumoniae infection increased pulmonary levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes and fibrin degradation products. All nebulized anticoagulants significantly limited pulmonary coagulopathy. None of the agents except danaparoid resulted in changes in systemic coagulopathy. Treatment with plasma-derived AT reduced outgrowth of S. pneumoniae and histopathologic damage in lungs. In vitro experiments confirmed outgrowth was reduced in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from rats treated with plasma-derived AT compared with placebo. Neutralizing of cationic components in BALF diminished the inhibitory effects on bacterial outgrowth of BALF, suggesting a role for cationic antimicrobial proteins. Conclusions Nebulization of anticoagulants attenuates pulmonary coagulopathy during S. pneumoniae pneumonia in rats while only danaparoid affects systemic coagulation. Nebulized plasma-derived AT reduces bacterial outgrowth and exerts significant lung-protective effect

Transnational social capital: the socio‐spatialities of civil society

Civil society remains a contested concept, but one that is widely embedded in global development processes. Transnationalism within civil society scholarship is often described dichotomously, either through hierarchical dependency relations or as a more amorphous networked global civil society. These two contrasting spatial imaginaries produce very particular ideas about how transnational relations contribute to civil society. Drawing on empirical material from research with civil society organizations in Barbados and Grenada, in this article I contend that civil society groups use forms of transnational social capital in their work. This does not, however, resonate with the horizontal relations associated with grassroots globalization or vertical chains of dependence. These social relations are imbued with power and agency and are entangled in situated historical, geographical and personal contexts. I conclude that the diverse transnational social relations that are part of civil society activity offer hope and possibilities for continued civil society action in these unexpected spatial arrangements

Two randomized crossover multicenter studies investigating gastrointestinal symptoms after bread consumption in individuals with noncoeliac wheat sensitivity: do wheat species and fermentation type matter?

Background: Many individuals reduce their bread intake due to the belief that wheat is the cause of their gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Different grains and processing methods may impact tolerability. Objective: We investigated the effects of six different types of bread on GI symptoms in individuals with self-reported non-coeliac wheat sensitivity (NCWS). Methods: Two parallel randomised double-blind crossover multicentre studies were conducted. NCWS individuals, in whom coeliac disease and wheat allergy were ruled out, received five slices of (study A, n=20) yeast fermented (YF) or (study B, n=20) sourdough fermented (SF) bread made of bread wheat, spelt or emmer on three separate intervention days. Each test day was preceded by a run-in period of 3 days and separated by a wash-out period of at least 7 days. GI symptoms were evaluated by change in symptom score (test day minus average of the 3-day run-in period) on a 0-100mm visual analogue scale (delta VAS). Responders were defined as an increase in delta VAS of at least 15mm for overall GI symptoms, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, bloating and/or flatulence. Results: The overall change in GI symptoms did not differ between breads of different grains (YF p=0.267; SF p=0.144). The number of responders was also comparable for both YF (6 to wheat, 5 to spelt, and 7 to emmer, p=0.761) and SF breads (9 to wheat, 7 to spelt, and 8 to emmer, p=0.761). Conclusion: The majority of NCWS individuals experienced GI symptoms for at least one of the breads, but on a group level, no differences were found between different grain types for either YF or SF breads. Clinical Trial Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0408447

Рідке мило на основі соапстоків після нейтралізації олій та жирів в нейтралізуючому розчині, що містить етанол

Development and application of statistical models for medical scientific researc

Clientelism as civil society? Unpacking the relationship between clientelism and democracy at the local level in South Africa

This article, building on analyses from the global south, attempts to reframe democratic expectations by considering where previously maligned practices such as clientelism may hold moments of democracy. It does so by comparing the theory of civil society with that of clientelism, and its African counterpart neo-patrimonialism. It argues that clientelism as civil society may fulfil democratic tasks such as holding the (local) state accountable, strengthening civil and political liberties and providing channels of access for previously marginalised groups. Clientelism is not necessarily a reflection of imposed power relations but, at times, can demonstrate a conscious political strategy, to generate development, on the part of its protagonists.IS