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Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 239 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on April 1, 2010). Vita. Thesis advisor: Habib Zaghouani. "May 2008" Includes bibliographical references.

Prediking is 'n dialoog. Dit dompel die preek in 'n direkte krisis. Wat kan die prediker doen om hierdie dialoog te bevorder? Die deelnemers in die erediens word kortliks bespreek. God spreek met die prediker deur die teks. Die prediker moet hierdie teks aan die hoorder in die erediens oordra. Om die oorspronklike teks te verstaan het daar drie hoofstrome in die tradisionele hermeneuse ontstaan: Krities-histories, Tekskrities en Hoorders hermeneutiek. Die probleem is egter nie opgelos nie. Hoe kan die prediker die boodskap effektief aan die hoorder oordra? Daar word voorgestel dat die kreatiewe proses gebruik word in die voorbereiding van die preek. Die breinkaart kan gebruik word om die teks en hoorder van die teks, beter te verstaan. Hulpmiddelle moet gebruik word om die teks aan die hoorder oor te dra. Hier word die gebruik van literatuur en drama bestudeer. / Preaching is a dialogue. This states the current problem of preaching. How can the preacher improve this dialogue in the sermon? The participants in the sermon are shortly discussed: The preacher listens to the text. God speaks through the text. The preacher must communicate this text to the listener in the sermon. Three major streams have evolved in the tradisional hermeneutics: Critical-historical, Textual and Listeners hermeneutics. There is however, still a problem. How does the preacher present this message effectivly to the listener? It is suggested that the creative process must be considered in preparing a sermon. The mind map can be used to understand the text and listener of the text better. More aids can be used to reach the listener effectivly. In this thesis the use of literature and drama in the preparing and delivering of the sermon will be studied. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical theology)

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Background: The Durban University of Technology (DUT) chiropractic teaching clinic (CTC) represents a training facility for future chiropractors as well as providing a healthcare service to the local population. It is important to measure the demographic characteristics and presenting complaints of patients attending the DUT CTC as this information prepares the student interns for private practice. It also provides an insight into the popularity of chiropractic in the community. Objectives: This study sought to measure certain demographic variables and presenting conditions of patients attending DUT CTC and to assess whether these have changed over time. Method: A retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was performed by drawing patient files of new patients presenting to the DUT CTC for the months of February through April, during 2000, 2006 and 2011 (data from a 1994 study was included for analysis). The files had the following information regarding the patient collected: age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, medical aid, main presenting complaint, as well the duration of the most recent complaint. The data was analysed for trends using statistical software (SPSS v19). Results: Data from 1 311 patient files were analyzed. The number of patients attending the DUT CTC had reduced significantly since 2000. The mean age ranged from 37.0 – 39.7yrs across the samples with a trend of increasing age occurring between 1994 and 2006. Ages ranged from 2 weeks – 89yrs, with 20 – 29yrs being the most common group. Females formed 50.5 – 51.2% of the samples with no significant change over time. White (46.3 – 64.2%) and Indian patients (27.2 – 40.9%) formed the majority, with Black patients showing a trend of increasing representation (from 6.4% in 2000 to 15.8% in 2011). The most common occupations were student (19.7 – 26.8%) and clerical (17 – 23%), with a trend noted between 1994 and 2006 of a decreasing student proportion. This trend reversed from 2006 – 2011. Medical aid subscription among patients reduced significantly (p<0.05) from 56.2% in 1994 to 41.6% in 2011. The main presenting complaints were spinal (68.2 – 84.1%), with low back (30.7 – 40.7%) and neck/head (27.8 – 33.8%) being the most common. Most main complaints were of a chronic nature (45.8 – 61.7%), though a trend of reducing chronicity was noted between 1994 and 2006. A trend of increasing sub-acute complaints was seen between 1994 and 2011. Conclusions: The patients attending DUT CTC are similar to most international CTC’s in terms of patients’ age, gender, occupation, and main presenting complaint. Compared to existing data on South African private practice, the patients at DUT CTC are generally younger, less likely to be female, less likely to be White, more likely to be Indian or Black, less likely to have medical aid, more likely to present with low back pain as appose to neck/head pain, and more likely to present in the acute/sub-acute phase. Between 1994 and 2006, the trend shows that patients at DUT CTC were older, less likely to be White, less likely to be students, less likely to have medical aid, and less likely to present in the chronic phase.

Thesis (MScMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MBV and Coley’s Toxin on dendritic cells in vitro. The dendritic cell system of antigen presenting cells is the initiator and modulator of the immune response. The principle function of the dendritic cells is to present antigens to resting naïve T lymphocytes: these cells are the only APCs that prime naïve T cells and only mature DCs can carry out this function.Previous studies done on dendritic cells showed that bacterial peptides can induce the maturation of dendritic cells. With the results of these studies in mind we hypothesized that these two vaccines will also induce the maturation of dendritic cells. Chapter 1 is a literature review on the immune system explaining the organs and cells of the immune system. Chapter 2 includes a full description of DCs, the MBV and Coley’s toxin. Also included in this chapter is a short explanation of the principle of the technique being used for the identification and maturation of both mDCs and pDCs, namely the technique of flow cytometry. Chapter 3 describes the method for the phenotypic identification of DCs: the subsets are distinguished by their absence of expression of several lineage markers for lymphocytes, monocytes and NK cells and the expression of CD11c (in the case of myeloid DCs) and CD123 (in the case of plasmacytoid DCs). The inclusion of HLA-DR in addition to the previous described markers allows the discrimination of CD123+ DCs from basophils. The assay requires three tubes per sample which enables quick analysis of these rare subsets with a small sample volume. This assay was applied to peripheral blood samples obtained from healthy individuals and individuals with cancer, HIV and HIV and TB co-infected patients. Our results showed that the maturation status of DCs in HIV and lymphoma were low but those measured in the case of HIV + TB patients were even higher than in the control group. Chapter 4 and 5 describe the in vitro activation and maturation status of DCs following their incubation with bacterial-derived products. Interactions between DCs and microbial pathogens are fundamental to the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses and upon contact with bacteria or bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), immature DCs undergo a maturation process that involves expression of costimulatory molecules, HLA molecules, and cytokines and chemokines, thus providing critical signals for lymphocyte development and differentiation. In this study, we investigated the response of human DCs to MBV and Coley’s Toxin. Previous studies showed DCs can be activated with killed Streptococcus pyogenes. With this study in mind it was hypothesized that the MBV and Coley’s Toxin used in this study might modulate DC maturation. The results of this study showed that the MBV and Coley’s toxin did induce the maturation of both pDCs and mDCs as measured by increased surface expression of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD83. Chapter 6 presents the measurement of cytokines released after the PMBCs had been were incubated with Coley’s Toxin and Mixed Killed bacteria. The BD™ Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) flex set was used for the simultaneous detection of multiple soluble analytes. The results indicated that both Coley’s Toxin and the MBV activated the DCs and subsequently induced TH1 as well as a TH2 responses in the T cells present in the cell cultures. Finally, a general conclusion discussing the significance and implications of our results as well as possible future research required is discussed in Chapter 7. DCs are potent antigen presenting cells (APCs) which play a critical role in the regulation of the immune response. There is great interest in exploiting DCs to develop immunotherapies for cancer, chronic infections, immunodeficiency diseases and autoimmune diseases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die effek van ‘n gemengde bakteriële vaksiene en Coley se toksiene op dendritiese selle te toets in vitro. Die dendritiese sel sisteem speel ‘n belangrike rol in die modulering en reaksie van die immuun sisteem.Die hoof funksie van dendritiese selle is om antigene bloot te stel aan naïewe ongeaktiveerde T selle. Slegs volwasse dendritiese selle kan die T selle aktiveer. Vorige studies het bewys dat bakteriële peptiedes die veroudering van die dendritiese selle kan induseer. Met die resultate in gedagte het ons gehipotiseer dat die twee vaksienes ook die maturasie van dendritiese selle kan induseer. Hoofstuk 1 is ‘n literatuur studie wat handel oor die organe en selle van die immuun sisteem. Hoofstuk 2 gee n volle beskrywing van dendritiese selle, die gemengde bakteriële vaksiene en Coley se toksiene. Ingesluit in die hoofstuk is die beskrywing van die prinsiep van die tegniek, vloei sitometrie, wat gebruik word vir die identifikasie en veroudering status van die dendritiese selle. Hoofstuk 3 beskryf ‘n vloei sitometrie metode vir die fenotipiese identifikasie van dendritiese selle. Dendritiese sel tipes kan onderskei word deur die afwesigheid van sekere merkers vir limfosiete, monosiete en NK selle. Plasmasitoïede dendritiese selle druk CD123 uit en miloïede dendritiese selle druk CD11c uit. HLA DR is ook ingesluit saam met die bogenoemde merkers om die dendritiese selle te onderskei van basofiele. Vir elke toets word slegs drie buise geprosesseer en dus kan die subklasse vinning geanaliseer word. ʼn Klein volume bloed word benodig vir die toests. Perifêre bloed is gebruik vir die toets op bloed monsters van 10 gesonde individue en individue met kanker, HIV en HIV en TB. Die resultate van die studie het getoon dat die maturasie status van die dendritiese selle in HIV en limfoom was, maar in die geval van HIV en TB pasïente was die maturasie status selfs hoër as die van die kontrole groep. Hoofstuk 4+5 beskryf die aktivering en maturasie status van die dendritiese selle na inkubasie met die bakteriële produkte. Interaksie tussen dendritiese selle en patogene speel ‘n belangrike rol in die aktivering van die immuunstelsel. Wanneer dendritiese selle in aanraking kom met bakterieë of bakteriële komponente, matureer die dendritiese sel wat lei tot the uitdrukking van stimulerings molekules, HLA molekules end die uitskeiding van sitokiene. Die uitdrukking van die molekules lei tot limfosiet ontwikkeling en differensiasie. In die studie het ons gekyk na die reaksie van menslike dendritiese selle in die teenwoordigheid van die gemende bakteriële vaksiene en Coley se toksiene. Vorige studies het bewys dendritiese selle word geaktiveer deur Streptococcus pyogenes. Met die resultate in gedagte het ons gehipotetiseer dat die gemengde bakteriële vaksiene en Coley se toksiene ook die maturasie van dendritiese selle kan induseer. Die resultate van die studie het bewys dat die gemengde bakteriële vaksiene en Coley se toksiene die veroudering van beide pDCs en mDCs induseer. Die uitdrukking van verouderings merkers CD80 en CD83 is gemeet. Hoofstuk 6 beskryf ‘n vloei sitometrie metode om die sitokiene te meet wat afgeskei word nadat selle geinkubeer het in die teenwoordigheid van Coley se toksiene en die gemengde bakteriële vaksiene.Die BDTM CBA Flex set metode het dit moontlik gemaak om meer as een sitokiene te meet in net een buis Die resultate het getoon dat albei die vaksienes ‘n TH1 en TH2 reaksie veroorsaak. Laastens volg‘n algemene afleiding waar ons kyk na die toepassing en implikasies van die resultate asook toekomstige navorsings moontlikhede,word bespreek in Hoofstuk 7 Dendritiese selle speel ‘n kritiese rol in die regulering van die immuun reaksie. Verdere studies kan nou gedoen word om dendritiese selle terapeuties toe te pas vir die behandeling van kanker, autoimmuniteit, immuun onderdrukkende siektes en kroniese siektes.

<p>In 1995 and 2000 a total of 29 886 non surgical ED visits at Uppsala University Hospital were registered. Presenting complaint, admittance to a ward, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, discharge diagnoses, 30-day and long-term mortality were registered. The presenting complaints were sorted into 33 presenting complaint groups (PCGs). </p><p>For different PCGs there was different in-hospital fatality rate. Compared to the largest PCG, chest pain, the gender and age adjusted OR was 2.12 (95% CI 1.01 – 4.44) for the miscellaneous complaint group and 2.04 (95 % CI 1.35 – 3.08) for the stroke–like symptom group. Within a given PCG the in-hospital mortality could vary depending on discharge diagnoses. By relating PCG and long term mortality to the expected mortality in the population, the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) could be calculated. The SMR was found to be highest in seizure 2.62 (95 % CI 2.13 – 3.22), intoxication 2.51 (95% CI 2.11-2.98) and symptoms of asthma 1.8 (1.65 – 2.06). For the same discharge diagnoses the long term mortality could differ considerably depending on PCG at ED arrival (p<0.001). </p><p>Between 1995 and 2000 there was a 30 % increase in ED visits at the non surgical ED. PCGs representing lesser severe conditions had increased. Demographic changes could account for 45 % of the increment and the remaining increase could be ascribed to change in visiting pattern. </p><p>In the 2000 cohort 41.0 % of all visits were performed by re-visitors. The number of revisits and five-year mortality had an inversed u-shaped relationship were patients with three re-visits within the same year had an increased mortality compared to patients with more or less visits. </p><p>Conclusion: It is possible to define presenting complaint groups (PCGs) that are robust and consistent over time and useful as a tool for epidemiological studies in the ED.</p>

Les basophiles sont les granulocytes les plus rares. Ils sont impliqués dans la polarisation des réponses immunitaires de type Th2, dans la différenciation des lymphocytes B et dans la protection contre les infections helminthiques. Les basophiles sont impliqués dans la modulation des réponses immunitaires, en particulier dans les maladies auto-immunes et inflammatoires. Des études récentes ont montré que les basophiles murins sont cellules présentatrices d’antigène (CPA) et induisent des réponses Th2 et IgE contre les allergènes et les infections helminthiques.Par conséquent, Nous avons exploré les fonctions des basophiles humains, en particulier comme CPA professionnelles. Les résultats montrent que les basophiles, contrairement aux cellules dendritiques et monocytes, n’expriment pas HLA-DR et les marqueurs de co-stimulations CD80 et CD86. De plus, la stimulation des basophiles par divers allergènes, comme des ligands de TLR et IgE, n’induit pas des changements dans l’expression de ces marqueurs. Enfin, nos résultats montrent que les basophiles ne favorise pas les réponses immunitaire de type Th2 ou Th17. Ainsi,notre étude montre que les basophiles humains circulant ne possèdent pas des fonctions de CPA professionnelles. Des plus, les basophiles sont impliqués dans la pathogenèse de maladies auto-immunes et inflammatoires dépendantes des réponses Th2 et médiées par les lymphocytes B. Puisque la dérégulation des basophiles joue un rôle important dans le développement des réponses immunitaires dans différentes conditions pathologiques, nous avons exploré les mécanismes de régulations qui modulent les fonctions les basophiles. En particulier, nous avons étudié le rôle suppresseur des lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs) CD4+CD25+FoxP3, des cellules clés dans la maintenance de l’homéostasie immune, sur les fonctions des basophiles. Nos résultats montrent que les fonctions des basophiles, contrairement à la majorité des cellules immunes, ne sont pas régulées par les Tregs. Bien au contraire, nos résultats montrent que les lymphocytes T favorisent l’activation des basophiles. En résumé, nous avons exploré de nouveaux mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires impliqués dans la régulation des fonctions des basophiles humains. Ces résultats nous permettent de mieux comprendre le rôle des basophiles dans les conditions inflammatoires et dans le développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. / Basophils are the rare granulocytes and play an important role in the polarization of Th2 responses, differentiation of B cells and protection against helminths. Basophils have a major influence on immune responses and various roles of these cells in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are emerging. Recent reports showed that murine basophils function as antigen presenting cells (APCs) to induce Th2 and IgE responses to allergens and helminths. Therefore, I explored whether human basophils possess the features of APCs. I found that unlike dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes, steady-state circulating human basophils did not express HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. Basophils remained negative for these molecules following stimulation with various allergens, toll-like receptor ligands and IgE cross-linking.Unlike DCs, basophils did not promote Th2 and Th17 responses. Together, these results demonstrate the inability of circulating human basophils to function as professional APC. Further, basophils were also reported to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Th2 –associated and B cell-mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Considering the impact of dysregulated function of basophils on the outcome immune responses in various pathological conditions, it was essential to investigate the regulatory mechanisms by which basophil functions are kept in check. As CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for the maintenance of immune homeostasis, I sought to investigate the interaction of Tregs with human basophils and its repercussion on basophil functions. My results indicated that unlike other immune cells that aresusceptible to Treg-mediated suppression, basophils are refractory to regulatory mechanism of Tregs. On the contrary I found that T cells could promote activation of basophils. My results thus provided an insight on cellular and molecular basis of regulation of human basophil functions. These data will have a repercussion in understanding role of basophils ininflammatory conditions and in designing therapeutic strategies.

The main purpose of this paper is to examine how the Holocaust is presented in textbooks, and if there are any differences in the textbooks since the Holocaust got more attention in the Swedish society. Six different textbooks, written for the two latest curriculums, are the empirical material for this study. They have been analyzed by using Ammerts theoretical perspective about four different ways of presenting the content in textbooks, and historical culture. The method for this study is a qualitative text analysis. The analysis shows that textbooks seem to have simplified presentations of the Holocaust. In the textbooks for the latest curriculum, the Holocaust is presented as a historical event that could be compared with other events in the past. Another difference is that authors for the newer textbooks presents the content by using values. The content about the Holocaust in the newer textbooks has also expanded. One possible reason could be that the authors would like to offer a more detailed explanation of the Holocaust. Another motive may be that generations that grew up after genocide has occurred see themselves as responsible to provide something similar to happen again. In relation to other countries, the historical culture in Swedish textbooks is different. It seems to be typical for Swedish textbooks to present how the Jews and other minorities were affected by the Holocaust. This could lead to make the students understand the value of the Holocaust, and preserve its place in the historical culture that exists in our society.