Oor die koninkryk van God

As Johannes die Doper spreek van die koninkryk van God wat naby gekom het (Matt. 3 : 12) en Jesus dat die koninkryk inderdaad gekom het (Matt. 12 : 28; Luk. 11 : 20; 17 : 21), spreek hulle oor ’n saak wat eers ver was en nou naby is, en wat eers nie was nie of elders was en nou gekom het

A forced-gradient tracer test on the Hansrivier Dyke : Beaufort West, South Africa

A field-scale pumping test and uranin tracer test was carried out at Hansrivier Farm in Beaufort West to determine the hydraulic properties of the Hansrivier Dyke/Karoo sedimentary rock aquifer. Analysis of borehole images and pumping test results reveal that the fractured-rock aquifer is highly transmissive due to the influence of the Hansrivier Dyke; however its influence is concentrated on extremely limited conductive zones. Results of the tracer test show that chemical transport can take place via multiple flow paths with differing hydraulic properties, such as fracture aperture, connectivity and permeability. Furthermore, diffusion of a tracer into fractures and rock matrix has a universal retardatory travel time due to the various flow paths. In order to interpret the tracer test data, the Single Fissure Dispersion Model (SFDM) was used for inverse modelling of the breakthrough curves. The resulting effective diffusion coefficients are comparable with laboratory-derived values, and are therefore considered to be representative of the investigated part of the aquifer.Water Research Commission and the Institute for Groundwater Studies.http://www.wrc.org.z

Case Studies: Unusual phaeochromocytomas in African families: the importance of genetic testing

No AbstractKeywords: phaeochromocytomas; genetic testing; Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome; familial cancer; genetic counsellin

Determining the effect of three- dimensional printing orientation on the bending strength of sand moulds and cores when using a voxeljet additive manufacturing machine

Abstract: Advances made in Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing led to the 3D printing of sand moulds and cores used in the foundry industry. Ideally, the mechanical properties of the 3D printed moulds and cores should be uniform throughout the 3D printed part. This will ensure that the casting produced from the 3D printed mould has uniform properties throughout the mould. The following study investigated the effect of the printing location and part orientation in the AM machine used to produce the 3D Printed mould on the bending strength property of sand parts. Several printing orientations and angles were considered in the investigation. Descriptive statistics was used to assess and interpret the results

Relationship between tumour PTEN/Akt/COX-2 expression, inflammatory response and survival in patients with colorectal cancer

In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), local and systemic inflammatory responses have been extensively reported to associate with cancer survival. However, the specific signalling pathways responsible for inflammatory responses are not clear. The PTEN/Akt pathway is a plausible candidate as it may play a role in mediating inflammation via COX-2, and has been associated with cancer progression. This study therefore examined the relationship between tumour PTEN/Akt/COX-2 expression, inflammatory responses and survival in CRC patients using a tissue microarray. In 201 CRC patients, activation of tumour-specific PTEN/Akt significantly associated with poorer CSS (12.0yrs v 7.3yrs, P=0.032), poorer differentiation (P=0.032), venous invasion (P=0.008) and peritoneal involvement (P=0.004). Patients were stratified for peri-nuclear expression of COX-2 to examine associations with inflammatory responses. In patients with absent peri-nuclear COX-2 expression, activation of tumour-specific PTEN/Akt significantly associated with poorer CSS (11.9yrs v 5.4yrs, P=0.001), poorer differentiation (P=0.018), venous invasion (P=0.003) and peritoneal involvement (P=0.001). However, no associations were seen with either the local or systemic inflammatory responses. In CRC patients, tumour-specific PTEN/Akt pathway activation was significantly associated with poorer CSS, particularly when peri-nuclear COX-2 expression was absent. However, activation of the PTEN/Akt pathway appears not to be responsible for the regulation of inflammatory responses

The effects of teen clubs on retention in HIV care among adolescents in Windhoek, Namibia

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are notably underserved by the national HIV programmes globally because of their unique needs. Of particular concern is limited access to and availability of adolescent-friendly antiretroviral therapy (ART) services, which contribute to poor retention in care in many sub-Saharan African countries. A Teen Club intervention was introduced in 2010 in Windhoek, Namibia, to improve retention in care among ALHIV through psychosocial support in a peer-group environment. Objectives: To compare the effects of the Teen Club intervention against standard care on retention in HIV care amongst adolescents at a Paediatric ART clinic. Method: A retrospective cohort analysis of adolescents aged 10-19 years receiving ART between July 2015 and June 2017 was conducted. Routine patient data were extracted from an electronic database and patient registers. A sample of 385 participants was analysed: 78 in the Teen Club and 307 in standard care. Retention was measured by assessing attendance to prescribed clinic visits up to 24 months. Comparisons were assessed with the Chi-square test, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to analyse differences in retention rates. Results: The overall retention rate at 24 months among all adolescents was 90.1%, with no statistically significant difference between those in Teen Club (91%) and those in standard care (89%) (p = 0.956). Younger adolescents (10-14 years) had better retention rates at 24 months compared to older adolescents (15-19 years) (94% vs. 86%; p = 0.016)

Determinants and rates of retention in HIV care among adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy in Windhoek, Namibia: A baseline cohort analysis

Long-term engagement in HIV care is essential to achieving and maintaining viral suppression. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) experience many barriers to remaining engaged in care and treatment programs. Higher attrition among adolescents compared to adults remains a huge concern due to unique psychosocial and health systems challenges adolescents face, and recently the COVID-19 pandemic effects. We report on determinants and rates of retention in care in adolescents aged 10–19 years enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Windhoek, Namibia. A retrospective cohort analysis of routine clinical data of 695 adolescents aged 10–19 years enrolled for ART at 13 Windhoek district public healthcare facilities, between January 2019 and December 2021 was conducted. Anonymized patient data were extracted from an electronic database and registers. Bivariate and Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed to determine factors associated with retention in care among ALHIV at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. Retention in care trends were also described using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis

The effect of carbohydrate dose and timing on timed effort and time to exhaustion within a simulated cycle race in male professional cyclists

A key performance limitation affecting professional endurance cycling is carbohydrate storage and utilisation (Pöchmüller, Schwingshack, Colombani & Hoffmann, 2016, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 13). Muscle glycogen stores alone are inefficient at maintaining optimal blood glucose levels beyond two hours of exercise; consequently, exogenous CHO is commonly used to counteract this (Jeukendrup, 2011, Journal of Sports Sciences, 21, 91-99). High concentrations of CHO can cause drops in blood glucose, excessive glycogen utilisation and gastrointestinal discomfort (GID) (Jeukendrup, 2011). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if frequent, smaller CHO feedings would be preferable to large, bolus CHO feedings on time trial cycling performance. With institutional ethics approval, 5 professional cyclists completed a 4h simulated cycle ride with 3 timed efforts in a randomised, cross-over, double blind design study. Each timed effort occurred in the last 10 min of each hour (TE1, TE2, TE3); participants were asked to cycle with maximum effort for this time. There was also a final effort at the end of the 4th hour to replicate a sprint finish. This was measured as time to exhaustion (TTE). Two interventions were used; a frequent feed (F) where participants drank 20g maltodextrin in 300ml flavoured water solution 3 times per hour and a bolus feed (B) where participants drank 60g maltodextrin solution once per hour. Heart rate, power output, GID, perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate and blood glucose were recorded before and after TE1, TE2, TE3 and TTE. Wilcoxen signed rank test and Cohen’s D was performed to study differences between interventions and effect sizes.In the F intervention, average watts were significantly higher at TE2 (P<0.05 d=0.75) and TE3 (P<0.05 d=1.21) and the RPE was lower TE1 (P≥0.05 d=1.12), TE2 (P<0.05, d=1.12) and TTE (P≥0.05 d=1.12) compared to B. There was no significant difference between any other variables. The results suggest that despite power output being higher, RPE was lower in the F intervention. Gut absorption of CHO is limited to 1g/h (Jeukendrup, 2011), which may help explain these findings. This is one of the first studies to look at concentration and timing of CHO consumption in endurance cycling. Regular feeds of 20g CHO may be more beneficial on power output and RPE in endurance cycling compared to hourly 60g feeds

Caregivers’ and nurses’ perceptions of the responsibilities of community nurses in the management of infant developmental needs in a primary healthcare clinic in South Africa

By virtue of their access to infants and their families, community nurses in South Africa are provided with an important window of opportunity to assess and positively influence infant health and development. Hence, developmental surveillance should be incorporated into the ongoing healthcare of the child. Such routine child development services are not consistently provided by community nurses and if at all these services are provided, significant inadequacies hamper the delivery thereof. A single holistic case study design was used to explore the perceptions of caregivers and community nurses about the responsibilities of community nurses regarding the management of infant developmental needs in a primary healthcare clinic in one of the provinces in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurses and eleven caregivers of infants. Data were analysed by means of content analysis. Community nurses do not focus adequately on infant development, as stipulated in their scope of practice. The caregivers indicated that they receive limited emotional and appraisal support. The only interventions indicated by the community nurses were that of referral and limited anticipatory guidance. This study highlights the importance of community nurses living up to their responsibility regarding the management of infant developmental needs to ensure optimal outcomes for both the infant and the family.http://www.ajol.info/journal_index.php?jid=153&ab=ajpherd2017-12-31am201