Search

We investigated the nutrition education (NE) practices of teachers of grade 4‒7 learners in 11 primary schools (85% of total number) of the Bronkhorstspruit district (Gauteng Province) to identify opportunities for improving NE in these schools. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among a convenient sample of the teachers (N = 73) using a structured nutrition education practice questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was done. Results showed that the majority of the teachers taught nutrition in about 10% to 20% of their teaching time. Thirty percent had no training to teach nutrition, and most teachers (86%) would like to receive training in nutrition. Teachers mostly taught nutrition as part of the curriculum (67%) and very few (18%) integrated nutrition into other subjects. Needing improvement were adequate classroom time for nutrition education delivery, continuing training in nutrition for teachers, and provision of up-to-date instructional materials for teaching nutrition.

Huidige navorsing op die gebied van welstand in die werkplek is gefragmenteer en vereis 'n holistiese, geintegreerde en stelselmatige begrip van werknemerwelstand sodat gesondheid en welstandsorg doeltreffend bestuur kan word. Die toenemende las van nie-oordraagbare toestande in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van voorkomingstrategiee soos welstandprogramme. Die werkomgewing bied 'n ideale plek, aangesien 'n groot deel van die bevolking geteiken word, insluitende diegene wie se lewenstyl verbeter moet word. Hierdie studie is dus daarop gemik om verskeie gesondheid- en welstandkomponente onder werknemers van 'n mediesefondsmaatskappy te evalueer in 'n poging om risikogebiede te identifiseer wat verdere ingryping vereis. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit 140 werknemers van 'n mediesefondsmaatskappy wat ten minste 40 h per week werk. Hulle is onderwerp aan 'n welstandassesseringsbattery bestaande uit antropometrieke, gesondheidverwante en fisieke kapasiteitmetings. Die resultate toon dat ingryping nodig is betreffende alkohol- en dwelmgebruik, dieetgewoontes, hartgesondheid, liggaamsamestelling, spieruithouvermoi, kardiorespiratoriese uithouvermoi en individuele persepsies van die maatskappy. Die studie het resultate opgelewer wat die bevindings van baie vorige navorsing op hierdie gebied staaf. Die trefwydte van welstandprogramme op die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking is egter beperk. Die sukses van welstandprogramme wat fisieke aktiwiteit beklemtoon, is goed gedokumenteer in hoe-inkomstelande, met bewys van die ekonomiese voordele en opbrengs op belegging. Gevolglik word daar aangevoer dat die toepassing van welstandprogramme 'n positiewe uitwerking op die Suid-Afrikaanse werkmag sal he. An evaluation of the state of wellness amongst medical aid company employees in South Africa. Current research in the area of wellness in the workplace is fragmented and requires a holistic, integrated and systemic understanding of employee wellness in order for health and wellness care to be effectively managed. The growing burden of noncommunicable conditions in South Africa highlights the necessity for prevention strategies such as wellness programmes to be implemented. The workplace provides an ideal setting as a large proportion of the population will be targeted, including those who require lifestyle improvement. Therefore this study sought to evaluate various health and wellness components among employees of a medical aid company in an attempt to identify risk areas which require further intervention. Participants were 140 employees of a medical aid company who work a minimum of 40 h per week and who were subjected to a wellness assessment battery, consisting of anthropometrical, health-related and physical capacity measurements. The results indicate that intervention is required in terms of alcohol and drug usage, dietary habits, heart health, body composition, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and individual perceptions towards the company. This study produced results which corroborate the findings of a great deal of previous research in this field. However, the scope for applying wellness programmes to the South African population is limited. The success of wellness programmes which emphasise physical activity has been well documented in high-income countries, with evidence of economic benefits and return on investment. And so it is proposed that implementation of wellness programmes will have a positive effect on the South African workforce.

Tradisioneel is individue se vermoens, belangstellings en persoonlikhede tydens beroepsvoorligting en werwings- en keuringsprosesse geassesseer, terwyl slegs enkele studies op die liggaamlike gesondheid van tweedejaarstudente, as intreevlakwerknemers vir sakeondernemings in SuidAfrika, gefokus het. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing was om die stand van die kardiovaskulere gesondheid van universiteitstudente in hul tweede jaar (as intreevlakwerknemers) te bepaal. Die motivering vir die studie was tweeledig: eerstens om die huidige kardiovaskulere gesondheidsrisiko van studente te bepaal, en tweedens om hulle in te lig oor die mate van risiko waaraan hulle blootgestel is. Die studie was ’n kwantitatiewe deursneestudie wat onderneem is om inligting in te win oor die kardiovaskulere gesondheid van universiteitstudente. Die steekproef wat vir hierdie navorsingstudie gebruik is, het bestaan uit 162 universiteitstudente in Suid-Afrika wat almal tussen 18 en 25 jaar oud was. Die resultate het aangedui dat 55.6% van die betrokke studente aan hoe bloeddruk gely het. Uit laasgenoemde groep studente is 81.1% as prehipertensief gediagnoseer, terwyl stadium 1-hipertensie by 18.9% gediagnoseer is. Altesaam 64.8% van al die deelnemende studente se tellings is in die hoer meetgebied van die Kardiale Stresindeks (KSI). Ongelukkig het 61% van die studente met verhoogde KSI-tellings ook hoe bloeddruk getoon. Benewens verhoogde harttempo en bloeddruk het 15.2% van die deelnemers ook swak harttempoveranderlikheid getoon. Dus het byna 10% van die totale steekproef verhoogde kardiale stresvlakke, verhoogde harttempo en hoe bloeddrukvlakke vertoon. Die resultate dui daarop dat universiteitstudente heeltemal onbewus is van hul kardiovaskulere gesondheid en van die moontlikheid dat dit ’n invloed op hul loopbane kan he. Beroepsvoorligters, industriele sielkundiges, opvoedkundige sielkundiges en praktisyns op die gebied van menslikehulpbronbestuur kan hierdie inligting voordelig binne die bestek van hul praktyk gebruik om beroepsvoorligting aan fisiologiestudente te verskaf. Die praktiese benadering sal fisiologiestudente ook in staat stel om vas te stel wat hul eie kardiovaskuleregesondheidsrisiko’s is.

Responsible stewardship of the earth has often been hailed by ecotheologians as an important corrective to an exploitative dominion-orientated attitude towards the earth. The idea of "responsible stewardship" is then introduced as a possible way to soften this harsh view of dominion over nature. The Garden in Eden and especially the command in Gen 2:15 to "till" and "guard" it is often quoted in eco-theology as an argument why humans should take on this responsibility towards nature conservation. This view can either be supported by a historical or a metaphorical argument. It is however argued that Eden should not be used in either way: Eden was not located within historical times or within a historical setting and the Garden of Eden is described in terms exactly opposite to those used to describe nature or wilderness: that is, as a well-farmed garden or agricultural field. It is further argued that the term "responsible stewardship" may be problematic from an ecological perspective. Contemporary ecology has demonstrated that nature does not need constant interference and is naturally self-sustaining. The term "responsible stewardship" may therefore merely be a hidden new way to affirm human dominion, human arrogance and anthropocentrism. It is therefore suggested that the terms "reluctant interference" or "careful interference" should rather be used than the concept of "responsible stewardship. "

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programmes are regarded as an important strategy in the management of the HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide. Such programmes, however, often have limited success due to various problems such as the existence of attitudes and beliefs that act as psychosocial barriers. This article, which presents a study of attitudes towards VCT in South Africa, attempts to ascertain the reasons for people's continued resistance to VCT programmes. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey the views of 1422 people. The results indicate that while the research participants, in principle, were not opposed to VCT, they professed a deep mistrust of health-care professionals, and feared discrimination and rejection by the latter, their sexual partners, and their communities. Participants did not know how to disclose their HIV-positive status, and were concerned about testing that did not include treatment and/or follow-up support, as well as their ability to deal with the ensuing psychological turmoil in the event of testing HIV-positive. The authors proposed various suggestions concerning how to improve VCT services in South Africa.

Many contemporary biblical exegetes choose to work only within the protected environment of their own methodology. This has led to a lack of methodological integration. This article wishes to introduce the idea of fuzzy logic as a possible way ofsolving the deadlock between methodologies, especially between modernism and postmodernism. Influenced by Aristotelian philosophy, contemporary scholars still, largely work with binary categories. Fuzzy logic questions this assumption in a fundamental way: A fuzzy view of reality prohibits total relativity ('everything goes'), because it accepts the possibility of some degree of objectivity. It also appreciates that different perspectives are not necessarily totally exclusive. It is therefore the task of the reader to attempt to integrate perspectives on a higher level of abstraction.

Goeie visuele vaardighede is noodsaaklike komponente in die bereiking van opvoedkundige, ekonomiese en sosiale sukses, en onafhanklikheid. 'n Behoefte is geidentifiseer om te bepaal of die visuele vaardighede van studente verbeter kan word deur visuele sportoefeninge, en of die potensiele voordele van hierdie soort oefeninge beinvloed kan word deur emosionele toestande soos angs en nuuskierigheid. Albei laasgenoemde toestande kan 'n impak he op die aanleer van visuele vaardighede. Aangesien daar tot dusver min navorsing gedoen is oor die verwantskap tussen die aanleer van visuele vaardighede en die aanwesigheid van die twee emosionele toestande, is dit nodig om te bepaal in watter mate angs en weetgierigheid wel die aanleer van visuele vaardighede kan beinvloed. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is vir die doel van die studie gebruik. 'n Kwasi-eksperimentele ontwerp is uitgevoer ten einde data te versamel oor visuele vaardighede en die uitwerking van visuele sportoefeninge daarop. Die steekproef het bestaan uit tweedejaarse fisiologiestudente (n = 204) en het studente ingesluit van albei geslagte, uiteenlopende etnisiteite, almal in die ouderdomsgroep 18-27 jaar. Angs en weetgierigheid is gemeet aan die hand van die State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), terwyl die visuele vaardighede van die deelnemers gemeet is deur 'n battery toetse vir visuele vaardigheid. Die uitslae van die toetse kan moontlik aantoon dat oefeninge sommige visuele vaardighede kan verbeter. Dis egter belangrik om daarop te let dat angsvlakke in berekening gebring moet word wanneer die opleiding onderneem word. Volgens die bevindings van hierdie studie blyk dit dat angs in 'n mate 'n negatiewe uitwerking op die aanleer van fokus, sporingsvermoe en vergensie het. Volgens die huidige studie blyk dit egter dat weetgierigheid nie enige invloed gehad het op enige van die visuele vaardighede wat in die studie nagevors is nie. The effect of emotional state on the learning of visual skills. The findings of the present study suggest that anxiety, to some extent, influences the learning of focusing, tracking and vergence. Curiosity, on the other hand, did not influence the learning of any of the visual skills under investigation in the present study. Good visual skills are essential components in achieving educational, economic and social success, and independence. A need has been identified to determine whether the visual skills of students can be improved through sports vision exercises, and whether the potential benefits derived from these sports vision exercises could be influenced by emotional states such as anxiety and curiosity. Since little research has been conducted on the relationship between the learning of visual skills and the presence of these two emotional states, one needs to determine the extent to which anxiety and curiosity affect the learning of visual skills. For the purposes of this study, a quantitative research methodology was used. A quasi-experimental approach was employed to collect data on visual skills and the effects of sports vision exercises on these visual skills. The sample consisted of second-year physiology students (n = 204) and included students of genders, various ethnicities, and ages ranging from 18 to 27 years of age. Anxiety and curiosity were measured by using the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), whilst the visual skills of the participants were measured by using a battery of visual skills tests. The results proved that sports vision exercises can improve some visual skills. It should, however, be noted that anxiety levels must be controlled when administering this training. The findings of the present study suggest that anxiety, to some extent, negatively influences the learning of focusing, tracking and vergence. Curiosity on the other hand did not influence the learning of any of the visual skills under investigation in the present study.

2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a promising anti-cancer agent that disrupts the integrity and dynamics of the spindle network. In order to overcome the pharmacokinetic constraints of this compound, a panel of sulphamoylated estradiol analogues were in silico-designed by our laboratory. In this study, we analysed the potential of each analogue to induce cell death on a panel of cancer cell lines. Moreover, the mechanism of action of the most effective compounds was determined.Cytotoxicity screening of the compounds and intermediates was performed on five different cancer cell lines to determine IG50 values. An in vitro tubulin polymerization assay was done to determine the effect of the drugs on tubulin polymerization while their intracellular effects on the microtubule network were assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy.IG50 calculations showed that the sulphamoylated analogues induce cytotoxicity at nanomolar concentrations in all cell lines, including the P-glycoprotein pump overexpressing multidrug-resistant uterine sarcoma cell line. The non-sulphamoylated compounds were only cytotoxic at micromolar ranges, if at all. The sulphamoylated compounds inhibited pure tubulin polymerization in a dose-dependent manner and induced microtubule destruction in cells after 24-h exposure.Results revealed that the novel sulphamoylated 2ME derivatives have potential as anti-cancer drugs, possibly even against chemoresistant cancer cells. These compounds disrupt the intracellular microtubule integrity which leads to mitotic block of the cells.

Armed service recruits are faced with many stressors, including a strenuous training regimen that may have an impact on their physiological functioning. The Cardio Stress Index (CSI) is a noninvasive marker of the stress that the heart is experiencing. The aim of the study was to test the physiological impact of 20 weeks of intense training of armed service recruits, using CSI as a noninvasive biomarker of cardiac stress. Armed service recruits are faced with many stressors, including a strenuous training regimen that may have an impact on their physiological functioning. The CSI is a noninvasive marker of the stress that the heart is experiencing. The calculation of the CSI is based on the duration of vascular excitation (QRS duration), heart rate, heart rhythm and standard deviation of the duration of time between each successive cardiac cycle (RR-interval). The aim of the present study was to test the physiological impact of 20 weeks of strenuous training of armed service recruits, using CSI as a noninvasive biomarker of cardiac stress. Experiments were conducted at three points in time (weeks 1, 12, 20) during the basic military training of armed service recruits (n = 202, males = 115, females = 87), aged between 18 and 24 years. Variables measured include: Resting CSI, heart rate and blood pressure. Data analysis was performed, using paired t-tests for pairwise comparisons of week 1 (baseline) with week 12; week 12 with week 20; and week 1 with week 20. The average CSI and heart rate remained within normal values for male participants on all three testing occasions. However, baseline readings for females were significantly higher during week 1. There was an overall decrease in the CSI in the 20 week time frame. From this study it seems as if the CSI measurement is a noninvasive method to establish the effects of training on the health of the heart.

Perceptions about God's involvement in the health of people have always been an issue in Christianity. Conflicting views regarding the transcendent versus immanent nature of God have therefore played a prominent part within theological discussions. The purpose of this empirical survey was to explore the extent to which South African Christians directly attribute their health and/or diseases to the hand of God. A total of 3000 structured questionnaires were distributed of which 575 were received back. The IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 21) statistical program was used to analyse the data. Most participants disagreed with the view that God largely determined their health, although the majority did think that diseases (including AIDS) were sent by God, whilst playing down the role of natural causes. In conclusion, one could say that health beliefs amongst South Africans are closely linked to supernatural agents, although the direct role of God is seen mostly in terms of the sending of occasional diseases rather than constant involvement in general health. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS: The study challenges the applicability of a secularised medical model within the South African context and its relevance for prevention programmes.

BACKGROUND: Novel, in silico-designed anticancer compounds were synthesized in our laboratory namely, 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estra-1,3,5(10),15-tetraen-17-ol (ESE-15-ol) and 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estra-1,3,5(10)16-tetraene (ESE-16). These compounds were designed to have improved bioavailability when compared to their source compound, 2-methoxyestradiol. This theoretically would be due to their increased binding affinity to carbonic anhydrase II, present in erythrocytes. Since the novel compounds under investigation are proposed to be transported within erythrocytes bound to carbonic anhydrase II, the morphological effect which they may exert on whole blood and erythrocytes is of great significance. A secondary outcome included revision of previously reported procedures for the handling of the whole blood sample. The purpose of this study was twofold. Firstly, the ultrastructural morphology of a healthy female's erythrocytes was examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after exposure to the newly in silico-designed compounds. Morphology of erythrocytes following exposure to ESE-15-ol and ESE-16 for 3 minutes and 24 hours at 22°C were described with the use of SEM. The haemolytic activity of the compounds after 24 hours exposure were also determined with the ex vivo haemolysis assay. Secondly, storage conditions of the whole blood sample were investigated by determining morphological changes after a 24 hour storage period at 22°C and 37°C. RESULTS: No significant morphological changes were observed in the erythrocyte morphology after exposure to the novel anticancer compounds. Storage of the whole blood samples at 37°C for 24 hours resulted in visible morphological stress in the erythrocytes. Erythrocytes incubated at 22°C for 24 hours showed no structural deformity or distress. CONCLUSIONS: From this research the optimal temperature for ex vivo exposure of whole blood samples to ESE-15-ol and ESE-16 for 24 hours was determined to be 22°C. Data from this study revealed the potential of these compounds to be applied to ex vivo study techniques, since no damage occurred to erythrocytes ultrastructure under these conditions. As no structural changes were observed in erythrocytes exposed to ESE-15-ol and ESE-16, further ex vivo experiments will be conducted into the potential effects of these compounds on whole blood. Optimal incubation conditions up to 24 hours for whole blood were established as a secondary outcome.

Past suggestions for the locality of the biblical Eden mostly fell into the trap of either assuming a real historical setting, or supposing that the garden in Eden had a fictional or fantastical setting. Even in those cases where scholars did assume a mythical setting for the garden, they were more interested in locating the possible historical garden on which this mythical garden may have been modelled than trying to identify the exact imagined position for the garden within the mythical cosmography of the ANE. It is concluded that it is futile to assume a locality for Eden within the boundaries of our natural human world, because it was perceived as being located outside our known world in the mythical in-between space of the eastern horizon. The Garden in Eden retained most features of the ANE mythical garden of the gods. These include: its sense of abundance, waterrichness, the eastern horizon as the source of cosmic rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, its association with mythical monsters, guards and spells (cherubs and a flaming sword), wondrous (magical) trees, the allusion to a garden of gems and its association with life and immortality.

Background Whether vanadium induces bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma in previously normal subjects is unresolved: the two reported series addressing this question both have shortcomings. Objective To determine the cause of cough and breathlessness in vanadium plant workers after variable periods of exposure. Design Case series of employees presenting with persistent symptoms over a 24-month study period. Patients and Methods Forty of an estimated 1,440 patients were investigated by 1) blood count and serum IgE, 2) intracutaneous allergen skin tests, 3) spirometry, and 4) bronchoprovocation by histamine inhalation or exercise challenge. Exposure was assessed by measurement of 1) ambient V2O5, NH3 and SO2 over 7 days during the 24-month study period, 2) urine vanadium concentration at time of first presentation. Results Twelve of 40 subjects had bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), and these were compared to 12 age-matched companion subjects whose BHR was normal. In 10, BHR was diagnosed by histamine inhalation (PC20 0.25–1.82 mg/ml, nl > 8.0 mg/ml), and in six of these the abnormality was severe (PC20

This paper was initially delivered at the Annual Congress of the Biological Sciences Division of the South African Academy for Science and Art, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, South Africa on 01 October 2010.

This paper was initially delivered at the Annual Congress of the Biological Sciences Division of the South African Academy for Science and Art, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, South Africa on 01 October 2010.

Met die toenemende klem op leefstylverwante gesondheid het die fokus vanaf die behandeling en genesing van siekte verskuif na voorkoming en gesondheidsbevordering. Alhoewel individuele welstandskomponente uitvoerig bestudeer is, het gebreke ontstaan vanweë teenstrydighede en ’n gebrek aan bewyse dat hierdie faktore kollektief op die verbetering van algehele welstand uitloop. Die huidige studie het hom op die terrein van algehele fisieke welstand toegespits en die komponente daarvan, asook die invloed van ’n aktiewe werksomgewing op die komponente nagevors. Vir die studie is ’n kwantitatiewe eksperimentele deursnee-ontwerp aanvaar. Verskille tussen die twee groepe deelnemers is met behulp van die onafhanklike steekproef t-toets gedoen. Voorgraadse universiteitstudente (n = 165) en 234 rekrute wat besig was met ’n fisieke oefenprogram tesame met wetstoepassingswerknemers is aan verskeie welstandassesserings onderwerp in ’n poging om die algehele welstand in sedentêre en aktiewe werksomgewings met mekaar te vergelyk. Die individuele resultate is vergelyk en tellings vir risiko-areas bepaal wat uiteindelik saamgestel is om ’n algehelewelstandaanwyser te formuleer. Daar is bevind dat die studente beter vertoon het op sommige welstandsterreine; die rekrute het egter beter algehele fisieke welstand gehad. Dit dui daarop dat fisieke aktiwiteit wel beduidend bydra tot die bereiking van algehele fisieke welstand en dus die risiko vir die ontwikkeling van chroniese leefstylverwante toestande verminder. Die oorkoepelende bevindings gee te kenne dat die handhawing van ’n gesonde leefstyl, deur middel van fisieke aktiwiteit en gedrag wat gesondheid bevorder, tot ’n beter stand van gesondheid sal lei. Hierdie navorsingsterrein het moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing blootgelê, veral met betrekking tot die algehelewelstandaanwyser.

Grant, CC, Mongwe, L, Janse van Rensburg, DC, Fletcher, L, Wood, PS, Terblanche, E, and du Toit, PJ. The difference between exercise-induced autonomic and fitness changes measured after 12 and 20 weeks of medium-to-high intensity military training. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2453-2459, 2016-The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness, based on VO2max and exercise-induced cardiac autonomic changes, measured by heart rate variability (HRV) of 12 weeks with 20 weeks of training in the South African National Defence Force. Recruits (n = 154) participated in a medium-to-high intensity exercise intervention (daily energy expenditure: 8,485 kJ·d). The significant effect on VO2max between weeks 1 and 12 (48.57, SD = 9.25 vs. 53.36, SD = 7.21] did not continue during weeks 12-20 (53.36, SD = 7.21 vs. 53.87, SD = 7.87). No changes in the supine low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) (0.48, SD = 0.51 vs. 0.41, SD = 0.64) or the standing LF/HF (4.02, SD = 5.14 vs. 3.91, SD = 5.28), an indicator of autonomic balance and a possible indicator of overtraining syndrome, suggests that overtraining did not take place during weeks 12-20. This was confirmed with further decreases in supine and standing heart rate. However, the power of the vagal-induced variability continued to increase after 12 weeks. Increased vagal influence without concurrent change in autonomic balance may be interpreted as decreased sympathetic cardiac control. It is important to note that although no fitness changes were detected, positive cardiac autonomic conditioning did continue between weeks 12 and 20, as measured by increased vagal-induced HRV and decreased sympathetic influence on cardiac control. Results may be extrapolated to training in the normal population/athletes after a medium-to-high intensity exercise program, as this intervention was a closely monitored and standardized exercise program.

In this article we discuss the perceptions teachers (n = 45) have regarding the nutritional practices of a sample of primary school learners and their families in a resource-constrained community. We specifically focus on the needs, practices and expectations related to food consumption, which implies food production, food choice and food preparation. Our study forms the first part of a more comprehensive institutional research project. For the purpose of our study we utilised participatory reflection and action-based workshops with the participants in order to generate data, and employed interpretivism to interpret the findings. This study emphasises the need of resource-constrained and unemployed community members, who are often forced to purchase food as a reduced cost of which the quality is not optimal. An attenuated breakfast, lunch or dinner where choices are often limited to black tea, porridge and one or two slices of stale bread, confirms the manifestations of poverty in resource-constrained communities. Meals are often limited to large quantities of carbohydrates, few vegetables, canned fish, porridge with inkomazi and marog. Chicken feet and tripe may supplement the menu. Teachers emphasise the fact that community members typically rely on donations from employers, churches and grocery stores in order to supplement their food budget. Teachers furthermore focus on the needs of community members to be educated. In their view community members need to be informed in respect of food production, vegetable gardens, techniques of determining the quality of soil, irrigation and the application of sustainable crop rotation. The article concludes with achievable and informative ideas for educating rural communities. Based on these research findings an intervention programme is currently being developed, with the purpose of implementing the intervention in the various participating schools in support of healthy nutrition-related behaviour and well-being.

Die begrip welstand het oor die afgelope dekades verander na gelang die lewenstyl van die samelewing met tegnologiese vooruitgang tred gehou het. Die hedendaagse siening is dat welstand in die eerste plek die verantwoordelikheid van die individu self is en bepaal word deur die beoefening van gedrag wat gesondheid bevorder. Daar is verskeie faktore wat bydra tot gesondheid in die sin van ’n individu se gevoel van algehele welstand op die lang termyn. Een van die belangrikstes daarvan is fisieke aktiwiteit, en daar is aansienlike navorsing gedoen om die voordele van ’n fisiek aktiewe lewenstyl te ondersoek. Hierdie navorsingsoorsig gaan van die veronderstelling uit dat die mees akkurate metode om dié voordele te peil, is om ’n aktiewe met ’n sedentêre lewenstyl te vergelyk. Die doel van die oorsig is om die begrip ‘algehele welstand’ te verduidelik en om die voordele van ’n werkomgewing wat fisieke aktiwiteit toelaat en die nadele van ’n omgewing waarin daar hoofsaaklik gesit word uit te lig wanneer dit op die bereiking van algehele welstand aankom.

A wide range of intra- and extracellular microbial proteases has been studied and characterized. These enzymes are mostly extracellular and in some cases they may resemble ‘classical’ serine proteases. As part of a programme in which the lipase and protease activities of the fungus Geotrichum candidum are being studied, an intracellular protease with an apparent chymotrypsin-like specificity was detected. The serine protease was isolated from biomass using ion-exchange and exclusion chromatography. Kinetic characterization was done using a series of synthetic substrates and inhibitors. Aprotinin-sepharose affinity chromatography was used to isolate a fraction for molecular size determination on SDS-PAGE. The purified protease, which could hydrolyse haemoglobin as protein substrate, was obtained with a 30-fold purification and a yield of 44%, but it was very unstable and rapidly lost activity. The enzyme which bound to the affinity column had a single subunit mass of 278 kDa. Kinetic analysis showed a similarity with trypsin and chymotrypsin, but tending more towards chymotrypsin in that a bulky aromatic group, e.g. phenylalanine in the P 1 position, was preferred. The optimum pH was in the region of 7–8.25. Inhibition patterns indicated that the enzyme was a serine protease with no metal dependence, although it was stabilized by magnesium ions. The enzyme seems to share some properties with other intra- and extracellular microbial serine proteases. The exact function of the enzymatic activity is still unclear, but it is suggested that it may be involved with intracellular protein turnover.

Armed forces recruits were tested during a six month period of intense basic training. Data was collected at the start, after 12 weeks and 20 weeks.

Sport has become an increasingly competitive field of expertise, thus it is imperative that an athlete is able to perform at the highest level possible at all times. Many coaches and athletes are under the falseimpression that performance is solely determined by physical capabilities and as a result, theyfail to account for compounding factors such as: fitness levels, visual skills, body composition, nutritional status and the lifestyle habits of the athletes.

Visuele vaardighede vereis die gebruik van die visuele sisteem, sentrale senuweestelsel (SSS) en skelet spierstelsel om te reageer op visuele stimuli.

As part of a larger debate on ecotheology in South Africa, Gunther Wittenberg suggested that the dominion metaphor in Gen 1:28 and Ps 8 should be transformed to have a less dominating character. In this he followed Vicky Balabanski 's idea that a Stoic interpretation of the Christ hymn in Col 1:15-20 could be used as a hermeneutic key to achieve such a transformation. Wittenberg's suggestions that ecotheology should involve more than analysing a few isolated texts and thus become central to biblical theology, that biblical metaphors should be transformed when necessary and that ecotheology should be informed by modern science, are appraised as important markers for doing ecotheology. The success of transforming the dominion metaphor by using the idea of interconnectedness is however questioned because of the fundamental difference between the biological and biblical concepts of interconnectedness. It is further suggested that ecotheology should be linked more deliberately to the larger hermeneutical frameworks of Rudolph Bultmann and HansGeorg Gadamer when exploring the transformation of biblical metaphors. Finally it is suggested that the biblical concept of wilderness may be a more fruitful metaphor when exploring such transformations.

Contains fulltext : 157699.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 157698.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Within an eco-theological context Christianity, more specifically Protestantism, has been blamed for our current ecological crisis due to the fact that it has lost its sense of the sacred. The purpose of this article is to explore how this de-sacralisation or disenchantment of nature may be linked to a specific cosmology or worldview and the theological implications such a loss of the sacred may have on the eco-theological debate. It is concluded that it is not possible to regain a sense of the sacred, except if one is willing to revert back to a pre-Renaissance magico-mythical worldview and that eco-theologians should rather search for more appropriate metaphors when arguing for the conservation of the environment.

Genesis 30:37-39 may be interpreted in various ways by modern readers, depending on the assumed underlying cosmology (world-view) of the text and how the scientific cosmology of the modern reader interacts with the ancient cosmology. In this process of interpretation the main sources of errors are either that the cosmology of the text is constructed incorrectly (e.g. in the case of Tylor and Frazer's idealistic scheme of religion), or because modern readers may mistakenly assume that the biblical cosmology is identical to their current scientific one. Five different cosmologies (i.e. magical, magico-mythical, monotheistic, deistic and atheistic) are discussed and their assumptions (regarding the mechanisms of the cosmos) applied to elucidate the Genesis 30 text. Finally, it is concluded that the most appropriate cosmology against which Genesis 30:37-39 should be interpreted, is the monotheistic cosmology, while recognising that the magical layer is especially prominent in the immediate context of Genesis 30.

The effectivity of the scrub technique used in quantitative parasite ecology to collect ectoparasites from mammalian skins was evaluated. This was done by reprocessing already scrubbed skins with the alkali digestion technique to remove any remaining parasites. The skins of six adult impala (Aepyceros melampus) ewes were used in the study. The results showed that the scrub technique is variable in its effectivity, and on average removed only 30.2% ectoparasites from the skins. It was also shown that the scrub technique is unreliable and more labour intensive and time consuming than the digestion technique, and should preferably not be used in quantitative studies.

Civil war and ethnic violence are major problems in Central Africa and have caused the death and displacement of millions of people over the years. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of religious leaders, lecturers and students in theology at various tertiary institutions in Central Africa with regard to civil war in the region. A structured questionnaire was used to investigate participants� perceptions about and attitudes towards civil war. The questionnaire was completed by 1 364 participants who originated or lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The results of the study illustrated the severe effect that civil wars had on the participants or their families and further indicated that Rwandans, Tutsis and males were more inclined toward justifying wars and seeing them as solutions for problems. The role of the Church in countering these perceptions is discussed.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1420

10.1007/s11270-008-9719-7 http://www.springerlink.com/content/6171x71459w22456/?p=c5990faa540b4cfaa9aee12e99b5c534&pi=25

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1250-z http://www.springerlink.com/content/923m4315n10w2407/fulltext.pdf