Organ and tissue donation and transplantation : a perspective of South African Baptists from Baptist Northern Association and its implication for preaching

South Africans are in dire need of organs and tissues for transplantation. The impact is felt by many, irrespective of colour, creed or religion. No known studies have been conducted amongst Baptists in South Africa to determine their point of view on the subject. My own personal experience as both a Baptist pastor and now as procurement operations manager of a bone tissue centre, has shown that most people are ignorant and uninformed about bone tissue donation and also, to a lesser degree about organ donation. This study seeks to ascertain what a representative group of Baptist delegates who attended the annual Northern Baptist Association Assembly in June 2005 think about organ and tissue donation. Their views were obtained by means of an empirical study. The results are interpreted to determine if they are in favour of or against organ and tissue donation. It is important to note their beliefs regarding the Scriptural position on donation and whether Christians could be encouraged from the Word to become organ and tissue donors or not. Donation of organs and tissue benefits not only the recipient or patient, but also affects the donor family, or next-of-kin. The study aims to determine if the respondents felt that organ and tissue donation holds pastoral benefits to the donor families and recipients. Baptists and other Christian denominations have a responsibility to preach God’s Word and to apply it to real-world situations. Death and donation of organs and tissue is a reality that our people face, often unprepared and less than properly informed. I trust that the findings of this study will be of assistance to pastors and teachers whose desire it is to inform and educate their congregations about the selfless gift of organ and tissue donation.Dissertation (MA (Research in Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Practical TheologyMAunrestricte

Conventional subsoil irrigation techniques do not lower carbon emissions from drained peat meadows

The focus of current water management in drained peatlands is to facilitate optimal drainage, which has led to soil subsidence and a strong increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Dutch land and water authorities proposed the application of subsoil irrigation (SSI) system on a large scale to potentially reduce GHG emissions, while maintaining high biomass production. Based on model results, the expectation was that SSI would reduce peat decomposition in summer by preventing groundwater tables (GWTs) from dropping below −60 cm. In 2017–2018, we evaluated the effects of SSI on GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) for four dairy farms on drained peat meadows in the Netherlands. Each farm had a treatment site with SSI installation and a control site drained only by ditches (ditch water level −60 / −90 cm, 100 m distance between ditches). The SSI system consisted of perforated pipes −70 cm from surface level with spacing of 5–6 m to improve drainage during winter–spring and irrigation in summer. GHG emissions were measured using closed chambers every 2–4 weeks for CO2, CH4 and N2O. Measured ecosystem respiration (Reco) only showed a small difference between SSI and control sites when the GWT of SSI sites were substantially higher than the control site (&gt; 20 cm difference). Over all years and locations, however, there was no significant difference found, despite the 6–18 cm higher GWT in summer and 1–20 cm lower GWT in wet conditions at SSI sites. Differences in mean annual GWT remained low (&lt; 5 cm). Direct comparison of measured N2O and CH4 fluxes between SSI and control sites did not show any significant differences. CO2 fluxes varied according to temperature and management events, while differences between control and SSI sites remained small. Therefore, there was no difference between the annual gap-filled net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of the SSI and control sites. The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) was on average 40 and 30 t CO2 ha−1 yr−1 in 2017 and 2018 on the SSI sites and 38 and 34 t CO2 ha−1 yr−1 in 2017 and 2018 on the control sites. This lack of SSI effect is probably because the GWT increase remains limited to deeper soil layers (60–120 cm depth), which contribute little to peat oxidation. We conclude that SSI modulates water table dynamics but fails to lower annual carbon emission. SSI seems unsuitable as a climate mitigation strategy. Future research should focus on potential effects of GWT manipulation in the uppermost organic layers (−30 cm and higher) on GHG emissions from drained peatlands.</p

Evidence for differential effects of reduced and oxidised nitrogen deposition on vegetation independent of nitrogen load

Nitrogen (N) deposition impacts natural and semi-natural ecosystems globally. The responses of vegetation to N deposition may, however, differ strongly between habitats and may be mediated by the form of N. Although much attention has been focused on the impact of total N deposition, the effects of reduced and oxidised N, independent of the total N deposition, have received less attention. In this paper, we present new analyses of national monitoring data in the UK to provide an extensive evaluation of whether there are differences in the effects of reduced and oxidised N deposition across eight habitat types (acid, calcareous and mesotrophic grasslands, upland and lowland heaths, bogs and mires, base-rich mires, woodlands). We analysed data from 6860 plots in the British Countryside Survey 2007 for effects of total N deposition and N form on species richness, Ellenberg N values and grass:forb ratio. Our results provide clear evidence that that N deposition affects species richness in all habitats except base-rich mires, after factoring out correlated explanatory variables (climate and sulphur deposition). In addition, the form of N in deposition appears important for the biodiversity of grasslands and woodlands but not mires and heaths. Ellenberg N increased more in relation to NHx deposition than NOy deposition in all but one habitat type. Relationships between species richness and N form were habitat-specific: acid and mesotrophic grasslands appear more sensitive to NHx deposition while calcareous grasslands and woodlands appeared more responsive to NOy deposition. These relationships are likely driven by the preferences of the component plant species for oxidised or reduced forms of N, rather than by soil acidification

Analysis of Released Circulating Tumor Cells During Surgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:are they what they appear to be?

Purpose: Tumor cells from patients with lung cancer are expelled from the primary tumor into the blood, but difficult to detect in the peripheral circulation. We studied the release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) during surgery to test the hypothesis that CTC counts are influenced by hemodynamic changes (caused by surgical approach) and manipulation. Experimental Design: Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open surgery for (suspected) primary lung cancer were included. Blood samples were taken before surgery (T0) from the radial artery (RA), from both the RA and pulmonary vein (PV) when the PV was located (T1) and when either the pulmonary artery (T2 open) or the PV (T2VATS) was dissected. The CTCs were enumerated using the CellSearch system. Single-cell whole-genome sequencing was performed on isolated CTCs for aneuploidy. Results: CTCs were detected in 58 of 138 samples (42%) of 31 patients. CTCs were more often detected in the PV (70%) compared with the RA (22%, P <0.01) and in higher counts ( P <0.01). After surgery, the RA but not the PV showed less often CTCs (P = 0.02). Type of surgery did not influence CTC release. Only six of 496 isolated CTCs showed aneuploidy, despite matched primary tumor tissue being aneuploid. Euploid so-called CTCs had a different morphology than aneuploid. Conclusions: CTCs defined by CellSearch were identified more often and in higher numbers in the PV compared with the RA, suggesting central clearance. The majority of cells in the PV were normal epithelial cells and outnumbered CTCs. Release of CTCs was not influenced by surgical approach

Relevance and Effectiveness of Molecular Tumor Board Recommendations for Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With Rare or Complex Mutational Profiles

PURPOSEMolecular tumor boards (MTBs) provide physicians with a treatment recommendation for complex tumor-specific genomic alterations. National and international consensus to reach a recommendation is lacking. In this article, we analyze the effectiveness of an MTB decision-making methodology for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with rare or complex mutational profiles as implemented in the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).METHODSThe UMCG-MTB comprises (pulmonary) oncologists, pathologists, clinical scientists in molecular pathology, and structural biologists. Recommendations are based on reported actionability of variants and molecular interpretation of pathways affected by the variant and supported by molecular modeling. A retrospective analysis of 110 NSCLC cases (representing 106 patients) with suggested treatment of complex genomic alterations and corresponding treatment outcomes for targeted therapy was performed.RESULTSThe MTB recommended targeted therapy for 59 of 110 NSCLC cases with complex molecular profiles: 24 within a clinical trial, 15 in accordance with guidelines (on label) and 20 off label. All but 16 recommendations involved patients with an EGFR or ALK mutation. Treatment outcome was analyzed for patients with available follow-up (10 on label and 16 off label). Adherence to the MTB recommendation (21 of 26; 81%) resulted in an objective response rate of 67% (14 of 21), with a median progression-free survival of 6.3 months (interquartile range, 3.2-10.6 months) and an overall survival of 10.4 months (interquartile range, 6.3-14.6 months).CONCLUSIONTargeted therapy recommendations resulting from the UMCG-MTB workflow for complex molecular profiles were highly adhered to and resulted in a positive clinical response in the majority of patients with metastatic NSCLC

An approach to the use of indices-based analysis subject to money laundering and terrorist financing national risk assessment

The core aim of this study is to propose an approach to quantitate estimation of indices-based information subject to necessities of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) of money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks. Mathematical formalization analysis for Ukraine based on 11 indices and indicators for years 2011-2015 subject to core areas of the overall situation in a country considered within its National Risk Assessment was carried out. Authors’ contribution covers scientific novelty that is a first-time analysis of a general situation in a jurisdiction in light of the National Risk Assessment’s requirements based on joint consideration of various indices and setting priority to areas of the overall country’s situation in the framework of conducted calculations. It was concluded that proposed approach is a valuable instrument for assessing priority of areas of the overall situation in the country for the National Risk Assessment’s purposes through a formalized mechanism ensuring high objectiveness. Practical significance of this study is a possibility to reach higher efficiency in allocation of available resources for the participants of the National Risk Assessment, to reduce some costs considering flexibility of the approach allowing consideration of significant volumes of information, its updating and comparison. This research could become a starting point for further research. Considering complexity of existing indices, there is a necessity to study a mechanism of their correlation and mutual influence, analyze elasticity and joint behavior, and discover the areas of preferable influence on large range of purposes not only limited to the MRA of ML/TF risks

The diversity of South African spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) : documenting a national survey

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Opname van Arachnida (SANSA) is in 1997 deur die Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) geïnisieer met die primêre doelwit om die Arachnidafauna van Suid-Afrika op nasionale vlak te dokumenteer. Tydens die tweede fase van die projek, genaamd SANSA II, het die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Biodiversiteitsinstituut (SANBI) deur hul program vir bedreigde spesies van 2006 tot 2010, in vennootskap met die LNR by die projek aangesluit. Gedurende die vier jaar lange projek is daar gepoog om alle beskikbare spinnekopdata in een databasis te konsolideer. Hierdie data is gebruik om die ruimtelike dekking van spesies te bepaal en vas te stel waar gapings in die data bestaan om sodoende prioriteitsareas te identifiseer vir meer gefokuste opnames. Uitgebreide versameltogte deur SANSA-veldwerkbestuurders is gedurende die vier jaar onderneem. Inligting oor spesies is aangevul deur byvangste van ander navorsingsprojekte, studenteprojekte, en deur openbare deelname. Al die pogings het waardevolle inligting voorsien oor die teenwoordigheid en verspreiding van spinnekoppe. Die inligting is gebruik om die Eerste atlas van spinnekopspesies van Suid-Afrika saam te stel, insluitende kaarte om die verspreiding van elke spesie aan te dui, sowel as inligting oor die vlakke van endemisme vir elke spesie. Tans is daar 71 spinnekopfamilies, 471 genera en 2028 spesies in Suid-Afrika bekend. Die derde fase van SANSA is in 2011 van stapel gestuur en verskeie aksies soos die saamstel van ’n rooidatalys van spesies, ‘n reeks handboeke vir al die biome, die publikasie van die atlas, en die beskrywing van nuwe spesies is onderweg.The South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) was initiated in 1997 by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), with the main aim of documenting the Arachnid fauna of South Africa at a national level. Through their Endangered Species Programme, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) came on board for the project’s second phase, called SANSA II, from 2006 to 2010, in partnership with the ARC. During this four-year project an attempt was made to consolidate all available data on South African spiders into one database. This data was used to determine the spatial coverage of the already available data, and to determine where ‘gaps’ in the data lie to identify priority areas for focused field work. Due to extensive collecting done by SANSA field work managers, specimen bycatches from other research projects, student projects, and through public participation in collecting specimens, more than 40 degree square grids were sampled in previously poorly sampled areas. This effort has provided valuable material that has improved our knowledge of the distribution of species, and provided specimens for future taxonomic studies. All this data was used to compile the First Atlas of the Spider Species of South Africa, including georeferenced locality data, distribution maps and information on the level of endemicity of each species. Following SANSA II, 71 spider families, 471 genera and 2028 species are presently known in South Africa. The third phase of SANSA started in 2011 and several actions, such as Red Listing of species, a handbook series for all the biomes, publication of the atlas, and description of new species are underway.Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online.A.D.S. (Landbounavorsingsraad) was die projekleier van SANSA en kurator van die Nasionale Versameling van Arachnida; A.v.d.B. (Landbounavorsingsraad) het gehelp met die saamstel van hierdie artikel en is betrokke by verskeie opnames in agro-ekosisteme; R.L. (Landbounavorsingsraad) is verantwoodelik vir opnames in die Noord-Kaap; C.H. (Universiteit van die Vrystaat) is die hulpprojekleier van SANSA en was verantwoordelik vir koördinering van versamelritte; S.F. (Universiteit van Venda) was verantwoordelik vir opnames in die savannabioom; L.L. (Nasionale Museum) het data verskaf vanaf die Nasionale Museum en was betrokke by opnames in die graslandbioom.Finansiële steun en beskikbaarstelling van infrastruktuur deur die Landbounavorsingsraad word met dank erken. Befondsing is verkry vanaf die Suid-Afrikaanse Biodiversiteitsinstituut se program vir bedreigde spesies, asook van die NRF deur hul Thuthuka-program.http://www.satnt.ac.zaam2013ab201

Stars of extragalactic origin in the solar neighborhood

We computed the spatial velocities and the galactic orbital elements using Hipparcos data for 77 nearest main-sequence F-G-stars with published the iron, magnesium, and europium abundances determined from high dispersion spectra and with the ages estimated from theoretical isochrones. A comparison with the orbital elements of the globular clusters that are known was accreted by our Galaxy in the past reveals stars of extragalactic origin. We show that the relative elemental abundance ratios of r- and \alpha- elements in all the accreted stars differ sharply from those in the stars that are genetically associated with the Galaxy. According to current theoretical models, europium is produced mainly in low mass Type II supernovae (SNe II), while magnesium is synthesized in larger amounts in high mass SN II progenitors. Since all the old accreted stars of our sample exhibit a significant Eu overabundance relative to Mg, we conclude that the maximum masses of the SNII progenitors outside the Galaxy were much lower than those inside it are. On the other hand, only a small number of young accreted stars exhibit low negative ratios $[Eu/Mg] < 0$. The delay of primordial star formation burst and the explosions of high mass SNe II in a relatively small part of extragalactic space can explain this situation. We provide evidence that the interstellar medium was weakly mixed at the early evolutionary stages of the Galaxy formed from a single proto-galactic cloud and that the maximum mass of the SN II progenitors increased in it with time simultaneously with the increase in mean metallicity.Comment: Accepted for 2004, Astronomy Letters, Vol. 30, No. 3, P.148-158 15 pages, 3 figure