An Exploration of Worship Practices at an African American Church of Christ

The identity of the African American Churches of Christ is deeply rooted in the American struggle for racial equality. Without a formal governing body, the Churches of Christ have survived throughout the majority of the 20th century without making an official stance on racial relations. Many leaders in the religious movement have claimed racial immunity but have not addressed the evident division among ethnic lines. This study explored the extent of cultural influence that Caucasian Churches of Christ have on African American congregations. This study observed these influences and how they shape religious culture and tradition in Black churches. The current religious customs of the African American churches of Christ are examined through a sociological lens as a product of the Stone-Campbell movement and years of racial separation. Specifically, this study sought to explore the development of religious education in Black Churches of Christ and how that legacy shapes current practices and traditions. Also this study sought to distinguish religious tradition from scripture and to free Black Churches of Christ to more effectively engage the 21st century community. The practices of an African American Church of Christ are examined through qualitative interviews of its congregants. This analysis is needed because it exposes Eurocentric influences and allows Black Churches of Christ to better connect with other denominations in the African American church community

Chromosomal radiosensitivity and instability in triple negative and/or young breast cancer and Fanconi Anaemia patients in South Africa

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium in fulfilment of the requirements for the joint degree of Doctor of Philosophy / Doctor in Health Sciences Johannesburg, 2018.Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women in South Africa (SA). Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is clinically characterised by the lack of expression of estrogen, progesterone and HER2/NEU receptors. These breast cancers occur frequently in young African women and are associated with aggressive disease progression, poor prognosis and BRCA1 mutations. TN patients with operable tumours may undergo surgery under general anaesthetics. Treatment of TNBC poses a clinical challenge as these tumours are unresponsive to hormonal or HER2 targeted therapy. Defects in BRCA1 and other DNA repair genes contribute to chromosomal instability and radiosensitivity and cause irregularities in the cell cycle checkpoints in the S/G2 phase. Studies have shown the overlap of breast cancer susceptibility genes and Fanconi Anaemia (FA) genes. FA is an autosomal recessive disorder defined by cellular hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents such as mitomycin C (MMC) and defects in DNA repair genes. FA patients are known to be radiosensitive and have defects with DNA repair. These patients are at high risk to develop leukaemia and solid tumours that may require radiotherapy. Diagnosis of FA patients often includes detecting chromosomal aberrations induced by a cross-linking agent. Molecular tests are also conducted to identify mutations in FA genes. It has previously been shown that FA patients undergoing radiotherapy display increased clinical radiosensitivity. Evidence suggests that FA patients are chromosomally radiosensitive to ionising radiation (IR). Chromosomal radiosensitivity can be evaluated using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in different phases of the cell cycle. Micronuclei (MNi) serve as biomarkers for radiation-induced DNA damage repair and defects in DNA repair mechanisms can be reflected in chromosomal radiosensitivity. A number of factors could influence the MNi yield such as storage time and temperature, and cytotoxic agents such as anaesthetics. As radiotherapy is considered a principle treatment in the management of TNBC, it is important to investigate in vitro chromosomal radiosensitivity of South African TN breast cancer patients. Chromosomal instability and radiosensitivity of FA patients has previously not been investigated in SA. The overall aim of this study was to investigate chromosomal instability and radiosensitivity of lymphocytes in South African breast cancer patients, FA patients and parents compared to healthy individuals using the G0 and S/G2 CBMN assay. The effect of age, ethnicity and mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes was also investigated. Furthermore, storage time and effect of anaesthetics on MNi yield was investigated. Methods: For the G0 MN assay, heparinised blood in culture medium was irradiated at 0Gy (Baseline), 2 and 4 Gy followed by the immediate stimulation of lymphocytes using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Cytochalasin B was added 23 hours later to inhibit cell division. The S/G2 MN assay is a modified version of the G0 MN assay. In this assay, the cultures are first stimulated with PHA and irradiated 72 hours post stimulation. Eight hours post irradiation cells were fixed. The Mitomycin C (MMC) MN assay is similar to the G0 MN assay except the DNA damage is induced using MMC. Results: Chromosomal instability is significantly elevated in TNBC, young and older breast cancer patients. Radiation-induced MN values in the G0 MN assay are significantly enhanced in a total unselected group of breast cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. However, when subdividing the breast cancer patients in a TNBC group, the enhanced radiation-induced MNi are not observed. We cannot demonstrate a correlation between the age of the patients and chromosomal radiosensitivity but an effect of ethnicity is noted in our breast cancer population. In the S/G2 MN assay, TNBC patients continued to exhibit a decreased chromosomal radiosensitivity. We also demonstrated that increased storage time can influence MNi yields in patients and controls; anaesthetics influenced spontaneous MNi yields. The FA patients in our study demonstrate higher MNi when compared to parents and controls indicating chromosomal instability and chromosomal radiosensitivity in the G0 as well as in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. This is not seen in the FA heterozygotes. With the MMC assay, the detection of significantly higher MN is noted in as well the FA patients as well as the FA carriers. Conclusions: Chromosomal instability and radiosensitivity of breast cancer and FA patients are notably higher when compared to healthy individuals. The association of BRCA mutations in TN and young patients highlight the importance of radiosensitivity information in the understudied SA population. FA carriers can be at risk for breast cancer with mutations associated with breast cancer susceptibility genes. As a functional assay, the MMC MN assay will be useful in the identification of FA carriers who may be at risk of breast cancer. Data on radiosensitivity of patients with defects in DNA repair genes could provide important information for radiotherapy management of cancer.LG201

The Role of Dehumanization in Shaping Attitudes about Undocumented Immigrants

In the context of undocumented immigration, dehumanization and humanization have potential to provide insight to the long sought-after question of what impacts public attitudes toward undocumented immigrants. The current study assessed whether dehumanizing and humanizing images and rhetoric impact political tolerance, prejudice, perceived threat, and immigration policy preferences. I hypothesized that dehumanization would predict less political tolerance for undocumented immigrants, support for more restrictive immigration policy, and a more negative view of undocumented immigrants overall, while humanization would do the opposite. It is important to investigate the role of both humanizing and dehumanizing rhetoric on attitudes about immigration policy to get a more holistic view of the effects of rhetoric and images. Moreover, investigating humanizing rhetoric and images provides somewhat of an introduction to potential moderating mechanisms on the effects of dehumanization. An online survey experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses. OLS regression models and a logit model found that those exposed to the dehumanization condition had significantly less political tolerance and more prejudice than those in both the control group and the humanization group. These findings provide interesting insights as to the nature of dehumanization and humanization in a political context

Chromosomal radiosensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus positive/negative cervical cancer patients in South Africa

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer amongst South African women and is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in this region. Several international studies on radiation-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes of cervical cancer patients have remained inconclusive. Despite the high incidence of cervical cancer in South Africa, and the extensive use of radiotherapy to treat it, the chromosomal radiosensitivity of South African cervical cancer patients has not been studied to date. Since a high number of these patients are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, the effect of HIV infection on chromosomal radiosensitivity was also investigated. Blood samples from 35 cervical cancer patients (20 HIV-negative and 15 HIV-positive) and 20 healthy controls were exposed to X-rays at doses of 6 MV of 2 and 4 Gy in vitro. Chromosomal radiosensitivity was assessed using the micronucleus (MN) assay. MN scores were obtained using the Metafer 4 platform, an automated microscopic system. Three scoring methods of the MNScore module of Metafer were applied and compared. Cervical cancer patients had higher MN values than healthy controls, with HIV-positive patients having the highest MN values. Differences between groups were significant when using a scoring method that corrects for false positive and false negative MN. The present study suggested increased chromosomal radiosensitivity in HIV-positive South African cervical cancer patients

Archeologisch onderzoek Ambachtstraat Nieuwerkerken. Archeologische prospectie met ingreep in de bodem door middel van proefsleuven ten behoeve van het toekomstig containerpark aan de Ambachtstraat te Nieuwekerken (Limburg).

Dit rapport werd ingediend bij het agentschap samen met een aantal afzonderlijke digitale bijlagen. Een aantal van deze bijlagen zijn niet inbegrepen in dit pdf document en zijn niet online beschikbaar. Sommige bijlagen (grondplannen, fotos, spoorbeschrijvingen, enz.) kunnen van belang zijn voor een betere lezing en interpretatie van dit rapport. Indien u deze bijlagen wenst te raadplegen kan u daarvoor contact opnemen met: [email protected]

Characterising response and resistance mechanisms to Faslodex in breast cancer

In ER+ breast cancer initial responses to antihormones are variable, complete responses are rare and resistance is eventually acquired by many patients. It is important to model these events to discover predictive markers of antihormone outcome and so targeted strategies can be developed to maximise antihormone effectiveness. To date, most studies have employed the MCF-7 cell line which fails to represent the variability of ER+ disease. Focusing on Faslodex, the thesis objective was to use 4 cell lines in vitro encompassing ER+/HER2- (MCF-7/T47D) and ER+/HER2+ (BT474/MDA-MB-361) disease to (i) characterise the magnitude of initial antihormone response, (ii) monitor the onset of resistance by prolonged treatment and (iii) detail gene expression changes during Faslodex treatment. All models were initially growth-inhibited by Faslodex, with superior responses in HER2- lines. Microarray analysis revealed gene cohorts affected by Faslodex treatment differed between HER2+ and HER2- models. While MCF-7, BT474 and MDA-MB-361 cells acquired Faslodex resistance, this failed to develop in the T47D line, providing a model of complete-response. A filtering process identified genes involved in the varying Faslodex responses and clinical relevance was determined using the NEWEST Faslodex clinical trial dataset. Of interest was the Faslodex-induction of CXCR4, as a potential mediator of acquired resistance, while suppression of the RET signalling pathway related to improved initial response in the ER+/HER2- setting. Importantly up-regulation of DCN by Faslodex was associated with improved Faslodex response in T47D cells and also with proliferation (Ki67) fall in the NEWEST clinical trial. shRNA knockdown of DCN reduced the sensitivity of T47D cells to Faslodex and enabled development of resistance. This thesis has successfully identified novel elements of Faslodex response and resistance and further work is now required to clarify the importance of these mediators and to determine if DCN could prove a useful clinical biomarker of Faslodex response

Formulación óptima de pan, mediante sustitución parcial de harina de trigo por harina de cáscara de mango (Mangifera indica), para aumentar la fibra dietaria en su composición

El trabajo de investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la formulación adecuada para la elaboración de pan artesanal mediante sustitución parcial de la harina de trigo por harina de cáscara de mango (Manguifera indica var. Kent) con el fin de incrementar la cantidad de fibra dietaria en la composición del producto final. Con este fin se procedió inicialmente a determinar el proceso de obtención de harina de cáscara de mango destinada a la sustitución parcial de harina de trigo en la formulación. Seguidamente se establecieron los tratamientos teniendo como variable independiente el contenido de harina de cáscara de mango en sustitución de la harina de trigo (0 - 15 %) y como variables dependientes las características físicas, sensoriales y químicas proximales del pan. Durante la caracterización de los tratamientos se procedió a evaluar el efecto de dicha sustitución sobre las variables dependientes, definir la formulación adecuada de la sustitución parcial de harina de trigo por harina de cáscara de mango y evaluar su efecto en la vida útil del pan obtenido. La formulación más adecuada se interpreta como la proporción de harina de cáscara de mango en sustitución de harina de trigo usada en la elaboración de pan artesanal con buena calidad panadera (volumen, suavidad, estabilidad y contenido nutricional) y características de funcionalidad nutricional procedente del aporte de la harina de cáscara de mango con el fin de que sea aceptable por el consumidor. En función a estas condiciones para las variables respuestas, la formulación más adecuada tuvo: 90 % de trigo y 10 % de harina de cáscara de mango, manteniendo constante el porcentaje del resto de insumos. El producto final sustituido presentó en su composición 8% de fibra dietaria, lo cual es posible de ser considerado un aporte importante de la sustitución de harina de trigo con harina de cáscara de mango, atribuyéndole características de un alimento funcional. La sustitución de harina de trigo por harina de cáscara de mango evidenció físicamente una disminución del volumen y un aumento de la dureza del pan final; así mismo, la evaluación sensorial evidenció la aceptación del panel de degustadores en función del sabor, color, olor y apariencia general del pan, mostrando diferencias no significativas comparado con el pan elaborado con harina de trigo (testigo). Finalmente, la incorporación de harina de cáscara de mango en la formulación de un alimento contribuye no solamente con generar un alimento funcional con características tecnológicas, sensoriales y nutricionales aceptables sino también, como una alternativa de gestión de residuos agroindustriales y política de economía circular en la cadena de valor de la producción de mango a nivel nacional e internacional