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Status degradation in first John: social scientific and literary perspectives

A socio-rhetorical approach to analyzing portions of the text of First John brings out new answers to questions about the text, related to genre, structure and interpretation that have puzzled biblical commentators over the years. This article looks at the text from two perspectives. From a socio-rhetorical perspective it looks at the text through the lens of a social-scientific model termed by Bruce Malina and Jerome Neyrey as “Status Degradation Ritual” (adapted from sociologist Harold Garfinkel), which enriches the understanding of the purposes, genre and structure of First John. From a literary perspective this article looks at the way language is used to facilitate the Status Degradation Ritual and finds the intentional use of chiasm, a common oral-literary device in ancient Hebrew and Greco-Roman literature. Insights from the chiastic parallelisms of the structure of the proposed Status Degradation Ritual offer new explanations for exegetical issues such as the seeming contradiction between 1 John 1:8, 10 and 3:6, 9 regarding the sin and sinlessness of the believer.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog

An Instrument to Assess Neonatal Chest Image Quality

Published ArticleDepending on their condition, most neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit require multiple diagnostic imaging examinations. Therefore, radiographers who perform these diagnostic imaging examinations should use optimal imaging techniques, to limit radiation dose and to ensure optimal image quality. The study wished to determine if radiographers were producing consistent optimal chest images and limiting radiation doses for neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit. A descriptive quantitative study was done by utilising a checklist compiled from literature to evaluate 450 neonatal chest images. Evaluation of the images indicates that radiographers seem unable to adhere to radiation control regulations. The authors propose including the checklist as part of a radiation safety improvement process, as it proved to be an assessment tool for identifying areas in image quality that require improvement

Developing training and assessment of radiation safety regulations

Published ArticleThe absence of standardised training and assessment for radiation safety requirements at tertiary training institutions offering the radiography qualification in South-Africa, necessitated investigation. The methods included a literature review to contextualise and develop the outcomes for the training and assessment; a Delphi survey to establish a set of criteria suitable for a basic or advanced component of the training and assessment; and a questionnaire for radiography students to determine the knowledge of the radiation worker before and after training. The findings of this study can be a guide in the process to determine content and assessment criteria for other learning areas

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance.

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

DNA amplified fingerprinting, a useful tool for determination of genetic origin and diversity analysis in Citrus

We used three short repetitive nucleotide sequences [(GTG)5, (TAC)5, and (GACA)4] either as radiolabeled probes for hybridization with restricted Citrus DNA or as single primers in polymerase chain reaction amplification experiments with total genomic DNA. We tested the ability of the sequences to discriminate between seedlings of zygotic or nuclear origin in the progeny of a Volkamer lemon #Citrus volkameriana# Ten. & Pasq.) tree. The genetic variability within two species [#Citrus sinensis# (L.) Osbeck (sweet oranges) and #Citrus reticulata# Blanco and relatives (mandarins)] was evaluated. DNA amplified figerprinting with single primers was the more successful technique for discriminating between nucellular and zygotic seedlings. Although we were not able to distinguish among 10 cultivars of #C. sinensis#, all 10 #C. reticulata# cultivars tested were distinguishable. However, it still is difficult to identify the putative parents of a hybrid plant when the two parental genomes are closely related. (Résumé d'auteur

Comparing proportional compositions of geospatial technology-related programs at three universities

Today, graduates seek employment in a global marketplace, regardless of the country in which they studied. Comparing academic programs helps students, academics and employers to make informed decisions about study options, program offerings and the employment of recent graduates. In this study, we juxtapose geospatial technologyrelated programs at three universities located in Europe, Africa and America. Initially, the authors contributed information about these programs through a questionnaire comprising several open-ended questions about the origins and development of the respective programs. Subsequently, the proportional thematic compositions of programs at the three universities were compared. As expected, this study was not without challenges. From the outset, we struggled with agreeing on terminology and semantics. Results of the study indicate that there is not a one-size-fits-all strategy for establishing, shaping and sustaining such programs. Program composition is guided by many factors, including staff expertise, university politics, legislation, attractiveness to students,  technological developments, demands in the job market and requirements set by a professional body. Some of these factors are strongly influenced by the local (university) environment (e.g. staff expertise), others are of national relevance (e.g. legislation and a national professional body), while some apply globally (e.g. technological developments). The study illustrated how a comparison of proportional program composition can reveal significant differences and similarities that are not obvious when only content is compared. The compositional differences naturally result in graduates with different knowledge and skills that allow different career paths and meet different needs of the job market

Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic X-ray equipment in South Africa

Published ArticleGlobally, the aim of requirements regarding the use and ownership of diagnostic medical X-ray equipment is to limit radiation by abiding by the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle. The ignorance of radiographers with regard to radiation safety requirements, however, is currently a cause of concern. The enhancement of the 4-year radiography curriculum leading to a Bachelor’s qualification provides an opportunity to explore the training and assessment to meet, among others, the ALARA principle, which addresses national and international concerns and criteria. Healthcare workers outside the scope of radiography, who are also considered radiation workers, may be even more ignorant and are therefore also implicated. The process of investigation included a contextualisation of the available regulation documents, the Delphi technique to determine the content of the training, and a questionnaire to test students’ knowledge before and after training. Objectives. To determine the content of the radiation safety requirements training and assessment to implement standardised teaching, learning activities and assessment to prepare radiographers as radiation workers well trained for practice. Methods. The content of the radiation safety requirements training was determined with the Delphi technique. Results. Consensus regarding the content of the radiography students’ training was reached and implemented. Furthermore, it guided the development of teaching and learning activities complemented by aligned assessment. Conclusion. Standardised education and assessment for radiation safety requirements have the potential to ensure that radiation safety regulations are implemented optimally in diagnostic imaging

Use of mixed-type data clustering algorithm for characterizing temporal and spatial distribution of biosecurity border detections of terrestrial non-indigenous species

Appropriate inspection protocols and mitigation strategies are a critical component of effective biosecurity measures, enabling implementation of sound management decisions. Statistical models to analyze biosecurity surveillance data are integral to this decision-making process. Our research focuses on analyzing border interception biosecurity data collected from a Class A Nature Reserve, Barrow Island, in Western Australia and the associated covariates describing both spatial and temporal interception patterns. A clustering analysis approach was adopted using a generalization of the popular k-means algorithm appropriate for mixed-type data. The analysis approach compared the efficiency of clustering using only the numerical data, then subsequently including covariates to the clustering. Based on numerical data only, three clusters gave an acceptable fit and provided information about the underlying data characteristics. Incorporation of covariates into the model suggested four distinct clusters dominated by physical location and type of detection. Clustering increases interpretability of complex models and is useful in data mining to highlight patterns to describe underlying processes in biosecurity and other research areas. Availability of more relevant data would greatly improve the model. Based on outcomes from our research we recommend broader use of cluster models in biosecurity data, with testing of these models on more datasets to validate the model choice and identify important explanatory variables