What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19?

This is an unusual article in that it brings together the perspectives of many on this journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and environmental education. The future is not yet written, of course, so it is worth thinking about how the current moment may impact on the months and years to come. The aim of this article is to influence and support such thinking

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Outdoor education : Threaded pathways to belonging

This chapter traces the interwoven paths of two women’s journeys working and living in the outdoors in Australia over the last 30 years. This journey explores the parallel lives of the women whilst documenting changing practices within the profession over three decades. Born on the same day of the same month of the same year, both women share a deep sense of connection to nature and are still actively engaged in working in the outdoors. This narrative articulates their approach to life with a whimsical and curious questioning of alternate pathways of lives lived in the outdoors

Selective hearing : the unrecognised contribution of women to the outdoor profession

The role, place, and often invisible contributions of women working in the outdoor learning profession have become an area for increased scrutiny. Alarmingly, there is an underrepresentation of women cited in research and practice, yet women make up approximately half those involved in outdoor education and outdoor recreation. A male-dominated narrative seems to prevail. The intention of this paper is to serve as a focal point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in the outdoor learning profession. We investigate the prevalence of females presenting keynotes at Australian national and state outdoor education conferences, complemented by dialogical engagement with women working in the outdoor learning profession regarding the opportunities for their voices to be heard. Our analysis clarifies some of the key issues and identifies constructive ways to recognise and support women’s contributions with the aim of enabling both women and men to be valued for their unique and shared involvements in the outdoor learning profession

The future in youth sport program, Timor-Leste : impacts on youth, coaches and community

Sport is often recognised as an effective vehicle for achieving various development goals throughout the international community. Often grouped together under the ‘sport for development’ label, sport programs within developing nations have the potential to reduce the impacts of poverty, foster health and cultivate social networks. This study investigated the extent to which a sport for development initiative achieved its objectives within Baucau, Timor-Leste. Community leaders and coaches (n=24) involved with the program shared their views regarding the program and its impacts. Data were gathered through interviews and focus groups at the completion of the three-week program and three months later. The outcomes that appeared to be targeted most successfully in association with the program were those related to health, well-being and life skills. Findings regarding capacity building and program sustainability were mixed. The results of this study have informed recent changes to ongoing program planning and implementation

Selective hearing : recognising the contribution of women to the outdoor profession

The role, place and often invisible contribution of women in the outdoor learning profession has recently come under the researcher’s microscope. Alarmingly, there is an under representation of women cited in research and practice, yet they represent half the OE population. A male dominated narrative prevails in the outdoor profession; the intention of this paper is to serve as a starting point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in outdoor learning environments (OLEs). Women have chosen to participate actively in outdoors careers, believing the profession was a level playing field and it offered alternatives to traditional sporting activities. We entered careers based on a passion for leading and teaching in natural environments; however, we naively assumed the field was inclusive, rewarding excellence regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, disability or ethnicity. Collective experiences of many women in OLEs suggest they feel relegated, marginalized and undervalued. This paper will investigate the historical contribution of women in OLEs within Australia and place this within the global context. Parallels with other professions and sectors will be examined where tests such as the Bechdel, Finkbeiner or Surfette Principle have been applied to examine the gender inequities and typecasting. The workshop will conclude by exploring how our professional body may move forward positively in this space: How do we value women in Outdoor Learning Environments? How do we address existing blind spots to recognition and barriers, which females may currently experience in the field? How do we celebrate the role, place and contribution of women in our profession