Die opbou van ’n missionale gemeente: ’n Verkenning van die invloed van Godsbegrip en liturgiese ervaring

The building up of a local missional congregation: The understanding of God and liturgy. The purpose of this article is to investigate the understanding of God by members of the Netherdutch Reformed Church (Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika [NHKA]), their liturgical experience and its influence on the development of a missional congregation. The world is currently in the midst of a wave of changes that have far-reaching implications for the church and, specifically, for the NHKA. In a changing world it is imperative that church members understand the value of the different metaphors of God as well as its value for the development of the missional congregation. From a practical-theological approach, this article aims to look at the influence of the liturgy of life on the development of a missional congregation

European common frog (Rana temporaria) recolonized Switzerland from multiple glacial refugia in northern Italy via trans- and circum-Alpine routes

The high mountain ranges of Western Europe had a profound effect on the biotic recolonization of Europe from glacial refugia. The Alps present a particularly interesting case because they form an absolute barrier to dispersal for most taxa, obstructing recolonization from multiple refugia in northern Italy. Here, we investigate the effect of the European Alps on the phylogeographic history of the European common frog Rana temporaria. Based on partial cytochrome b and COXI sequences from Switzerland, we find two mitochondrial lineages roughly north and south of the Alpine ridge, with contact zones between them in eastern and western Switzerland. The northern haplogroup falls within the previously identified Western European haplogroup, while the southern haplogroup is unique to Switzerland. We find that the lineages diverged ~110 kya, at approximately the onset of the last glacial glaciation; this indicates that they are from different glacial refugia. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the northern and southern haplogroups colonized Switzerland via trans- and circum-Alpine routes from at least two separate refugia in northern Italy. Our results illustrate how a complex recolonization history of the central European Alps can arise from the semi-permeable barrier created by high mountains

The Dhow's last redoubt? Vestiges of wooden boatbuilding traditions in Yemen

This is an accepted version of an article that went on to be published in the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies in 2010. The reference for the published version is: Agius, D.A., Cooper, J.P., Jansen van Rensburg, J.and Zazzaro, C., 2010 " The dhow's last redoubt? Vestiges of wooden boatbuilding traditions in Yemen". Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 40: 71—84. Please use the published version in any citations.The final version of the article is available from Archaeopress via the link in this record.Researchers from the MARES Project visited Yemen in February 2009 in order to investigate the building and use of traditional wooden boats (‘dhows’, in English parlance) in the country. The survey covered the coastline from Aden to Salif in the Red Sea, and visited centres of traditional dhow building and use, including Ghureira, Mocha and Khokha. The project aimed to assess the state of the industry, establish a vessel typology, understand construction processes, learn about the use of these vessels, and compile a lexicon of boatbuilding and nautical terms. This article offers the preliminary findings of the survey, pending more comprehensive publication in the future. The survey found that, in all locations visited, the building of new vessels had rapidly diminished in the preceding decade, and had now all but ceased. The only ongoing activity witnessed during the survey was repairs to existing wooden craft. In formerly large boat-building centres, wooden boat-builders, mostly elderly, have ceased work, while younger men were building fishing craft using fibreglass – the material used in the great majority of vessels in Yemen today. A preliminary typology of surviving vessel was established. The doubleended cargo-carrying za<īmahs and zārūqs were recorded only as 2 abandoned hulks. Double-ended <obrīs and transom-sterned ‘large hūrīs’, with their stern-quarter ‘fins’, continued to be used in small numbers for sein fishing and transporting livestock. Again, most examples were abandoned. Various forms of small log and plank hūrī ‘canoes’ were observed, few still in use, while the log-raft ramas survives on the Red Sea coast. The terms used for these vessel types form part of a linguistic survey of dhow activity in Yemen.This research was conducted as part of the MARES Project, a three-year programme investigating the maritime past and heritage of the Red Sea and Arabian-Persian Gulf. MARES is based at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter (http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/mares). The programme is funded by the Golden Web Foundation, an educational charity registered in the UK (www.goldenweb.org), to which our gratitude is due. 27 Thanks are also due to the Seven Pillars of Wisdom Trust, which provided additional financial support for the fieldwork. In addition, the MARES team would like to thank the following people for their assistance: Dr Abdulla M. Bawazir, President of Yemen’s General Organisation of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM); Dr Muhammad Taha al-Asbahi, General Director of Antiquities at GOAM; Dr Raja Batawil, head of GOAM in Aden; our GOAMappointed field companion, Salah al-Mansuri; Mr. Hasan Saleh Shihab; Emily Allardyce, Fuad Mazid al-Matairi and their colleagues at the British Yemeni Language Institute; our driver and guide Muhammad al-Matairi; Edward Prados, Director of Amideast; Chris Evens; the British Council; and the British Embassy. Last but not least, the team wishes to thank the many individual informants along Yemen’s coast who gave their assistance to its research

Control of rheumatoid arthritis with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in a tertiary hospital in central South Africa

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly prevalent disease with a significant impact on morbidity and life expectancy. There is a paucity of literature relating to the current state of disease control in South Africa, and none on Free State Province.Objectives. To evaluate control of RA with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the rheumatology outpatient department of Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, and to determine the relative impact of various factors contributing to the prevention of disease control.Methods. A cross-sectional study was undertaken over a period of 8 months from December 2016 to August 2017 in the rheumatology outpatient department of Universitas Academic Hospital. Data were collected by means of information sheets and questionnaires completed by attending doctors. The information pertained to disease activity, possible factors contributing to poor control, and relevant demographic data.Results. Information was collected from 169 patients, and data analysis was performed on 161. The results revealed that RA was controlled in 34 patients (21.1%). Of the 127 patients with uncontrolled disease, 61 (48.0%) reported dispensing issues relating to poor drug availability. Seventy-two (56.7%) of the patients with uncontrolled disease were deemed to be on insufficient treatment for their disease state, of whom 33 (45.8%) also reported concomitant dispensing issues. Other factors such as transport/access problems, administrative issues, adverse events and poor compliance/insight contributed to the inadequate control of RA to a minor extent. In terms of monthly dispensing, 159 patients (98.8%) reported receiving all their DMARDs during the first month. The vast majority of these drugs were dispensed from Universitas Hospital. This figure decreased to 119 patients (73.9%) who received all their DMARDs during the second month, mostly from district units. Only 55.3% (n=89) of the patients reported receiving all of their DMARDs from their down-referral units.Conclusions. Control of RA at this institution is suboptimal compared with national and international standards. The main contributors to poor control appear to be problems relating to dispensing of medication and inadequate escalation of therapy by doctors. Most of the concern with the dispensing of medication lies with the poor availability of DMARDs in peripheral unit pharmacies. These factors are remediable and should be attended to

Genetic basis of rifampicin resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus suggests clonal expansion in hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 2001, several studies have reported high rifampicin resistance rates (45 - 100%) among methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) isolates from South Africa. The authors previously characterised 100 MRSA isolates from hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa; forty-five percent of these isolates were rifampicin-resistant. The majority (44/45) corresponded to ST612-MRSA-IV, which is prevalent in South Africa, but has not been reported frequently elsewhere. The remaining rifampicin-resistant isolate corresponded to ST5-MRSA-I. The aim of this study was to investigate further the prevalence and genetic basis of rifampicin-resistance in MRSA isolates from hospitals in Cape Town.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Between July 2007 and June 2011, the prevalence of rifampicin-resistant MRSA in hospitals in Cape Town ranged from 39.7% to 46.4%. Based on the results of the aforementioned study, nine ST612-MRSA-IV isolates, the rifampicin-resistant ST5-MRSA-I isolate, and two rifampicin-susceptible MRSA isolates were investigated. Four previously described ST612-MRSA-IV isolates, including two each from South Africa and Australia, were also included.</p> <p>The ST5-MRSA-I isolate carried a single mutational change, H₄₈₁Y, commonly associated with high-level rifampicin resistance. All ST612-MRSA-IV isolates carried an uncommon double amino acid substitution in RpoB, H₄₈₁N, I₅₂₇M, whilst one of the Australian ST612-MRSA-IV isolates carried an additional mutation within <it>rpoB</it>, representing a novel <it>rpoB </it>genotype: H₄₈₁N, I₅₂₇M, K₅₇₉R. All ST612-MRSA-IV isolates also shared a unique silent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within <it>rpoB</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>That local ST612-MRSA-IV isolates described here share an uncommon <it>rpoB </it>genotype and a unique silent SNP suggests this clone may have undergone clonal expansion in hospitals in Cape Town. Further, the data suggest that these isolates may be related to rifampicin-resistant ST612-MRSA-IV previously described in South Africa and Australia.</p

Conservation of African Leafy Vegetables in South Africa

The nutritional and cultural importance of African Leafy Vegetables has become very important in South Africa in the past few years. Recent research has also confirmed these issues, leading to the incorporation of African Vegetables into the core business of the ARC. ARC-Roodeplaat wants to improve the distribution and conservation status of African Leafy Vegetables. Geographical collection data on Amarant, Cleome gynandra, Corchorus olitorius and Vigna inguiculata was obtained from the National Botanical Institute and the data was analyzed with DIVA and Flora map. Ecogeographical distribution maps were drawn to predict the possible distribution of the species. Germplasm of African Leafy Vegetables was collected during routine visits and the conservation status was discussed with participants in the study areas of Arthurstone in Bushbuckridge, Watershed near Ladysmith and Mars/Glenroy near Polokwane. Germplasm of various species were also collected in collaboration with the Plant Genetic Resource Centre (NPGRC) of the Department of Agriculture in Arthurstone and Watershed.The NPGRC included leafy vegetables in their mandate since this trip. Seed flow diagrams were used to discuss the Watershed community’s seed exchange systems. It was clear when discussing African leafy vegetables in communities that their conservation and utilization are declining. Also looking at the trendlines of African Vegetables availability and utilization it is clear that the use and availability of African Leafy vegetables are declining due to various reasons. Two major reasons are the negative image of the African Leafy Vegetables and the increased use of “exotic” vegetables like spinach and carrots. The active promotion, use and conservation of African Leafy Vegetables are important if we want to increase the production potential and potential contribution towards food security in South Africa. This will ensure that the status of these crops is enhanced, specifically their contributing towards sustainable nutrition as well as sustainable production. Results from promotion activities in the project (reported in another paper) indicated that the negative image of African Leafy Vegetables could be reversed and also had an affect on the roll-out of the project to other areas of research such as plant protection, nutritional analysis and food safety, crop science and indigenous knowledge systems.Key Words: Ecogeographical, Conservation, Leafy vegetable  

Re-Creating Awareness of Traditional Leafy Vegetables in Communities

ABSTRACT Research and extension in South Africa has been labelling traditional leafy vegetables as weeds since the 1960s when they started encouraging households to produce food seen in the shops. This negative perception has led to an unwillingness to use and conserve these &apos;poverty foods&apos;, as many community members have labelled them. The status of these crops needed to be improved to help people realise the importance of these crops in their daily diet. Awareness activities in six communities made use of production training sessions in seven schools and eight community gardens, discussion groups, garden competitions, cooking competitions, recipe collection, awareness days, local resource collection activities, participatory selection and a radio talk. Discussions about use and conservation status of these crops during the data collection phase stimulated discussions on various aspects of these crops and caused an increased awareness about the poor conservation status within the communities, leading to the appointment of keepers of specific seed. The local resource collection efforts and gene bank actions caused community members to appreciate their natural resources more and emphasised the vulnerability of the crops, and their important role in keeping the biodiversity available for them and for future generations. In an effort to create awareness of the traditional plants at all levels within the community, schools (where possible) and community gardens were targeted during the training and awareness campaigns. The awareness campaigns culminated in a school garden and community garden competition, as well as a cooking competition. Participatory selection was used to expose the community members to new crops and to variations in the crops that they know. Community evaluation of these crops created a better understanding for researchers and community members, leading to improved cooperation. A noticeable increase in demand for seed and training on production methods was the result of the awareness activities within the communities

The assessment and management of lateral ankle ligament injuries

The assessment and management, as well as the clinical examination, special investigations and treatment of sports-related lateral ankle ligament injuries, are summarised for the general practitioner. Practical advice is discussed, when identifying and diagnosing chronic ankle injuries, and subsequent referral for specialist involvement.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0am201

Increased Excretion of C4-Carnitine Species after a Therapeutic Acetylsalicylic Acid Dose: Evidence for an Inhibitory Effect on Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism

Acetylsalicylic acid and/or its metabolites are implicated to have various effects on metabolism and, especially, on mitochondrial function. These effects include both inhibitory and stimulatory effects. We investigated the effect of both combined and separate oral acetylsalicylic acid and acetaminophen administration at therapeutic doses on the urinary metabolite profile of human subjects. In this paper, we provided in vivo evidence, in human subjects, of a statistically significant increase in isobutyrylcarnitine after the administration of a therapeutic dose of acetylsalicylic acid. We, therefore, propose an inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the short-chain fatty acid metabolism, possibly at the level of isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase

Rapid evolution of novel biotic interactions in the UK Brown Argus butterfly uses genomic variation from across its geographical range

Understanding the rate and extent to which populations can adapt to novel environments at their ecological margins is fundamental to predicting the persistence of biological communities during ongoing and rapid global change. Recent range expansion in response to climate change in the UK butterfly Aricia agestis is associated with the evolution of novel interactions with a larval food plant, and the loss of its ability to use an ancestral host species. Using ddRAD analysis of 61,210 variable SNPs from 261 females from throughout the UK range of this species, we identify genomic regions at multiple chromosomes that are associated with evolutionary responses, and their association with demographic history and ecological variation. Gene flow appears widespread throughout the range, despite the apparently fragmented nature of the habitats used by this species. Patterns of haplotype variation between selected and neutral genomic regions suggest that evolution associated with climate adaptation is polygenic, resulting from the independent spread of alleles throughout the established range of this species, rather than the colonization of pre-adapted genotypes from coastal populations. These data suggest that rapid responses to climate change do not depend on the availability of pre-adapted genotypes. Instead, the evolution of novel forms of biotic interaction in A. agestis has occurred during range expansion, through the assembly of novel genotypes from alleles from multiple localities