Political impacts of Catholic education in decolonization : Hong Kong and Macau

This article aims at discussing the partnership of Catholic education with the British and Portuguese in colonial times. Then it will move to Catholic education and its interaction with the societies of these two territories in the process of decolonization. In other words it will discuss to what degree the return of Hong Kong and Macau to the People\u27s Republic of China (PRC) has affected Catholic educational policies in the context of the special nature of the Catholic church in Hong Kong and Macau. Discussion will be in the context of the Catholic-China relationship, which is the underlying problem of Catholic education policy in the decolonisation on one hand, and the convergence with the new SAR government on the other

Morality and religion in China’s rise

China is rising aiming at the status of a great power. Yet internally the Chinese society is troubling with by various kinds of crimes. Statistical figures reflect that the rise of economy accompanies the rocketing of crime rate in the last decade. Hu Jin Tao called for the building of Morality in 2003. Traditionally, religion has been the reservoir of morality, but China does not invite religion to be the partner in helping the building of Morality. This paper discusses why the effect is very limited in China’s campaign of building morality when it works by selectively choosing its partner for its own convenience without going to religion which is the reservoir of principles, values and morality

Marian Galik Influence, Translation and Parallels: Selected Studies on the Bible in China

Le monumental ouvrage de Marian Galik réunit un ensemble de travaux sur les études bibliques en Chine. Il propose une réflexion sur la loi menée dans une perspective chrétienne, qui cite abondamment la Bible et présente au lecteur son sujet de prédilection : l’influence du Livre en Chine. A l’exception du chapitre d’introduction écrit par un exégète renommé, Irène Eber (Jérusalem), l’ouvrage contient dix-huit essais sur les études bibliques en Chine. La première partie contient huit chapitre..

Marian Galik, Influence, Translation and Parallels : Selected Studies on the Bible in China

Professor Marian Galik’s monumental work Influence, Translation and Parallels : Selected Studies on the Bible in China is a compilation of his continuing research on Bible studies in China aiming at a high standard of scholarship. He discusses the law from the Christian point of view with extensive quotes from the Bible, and with much consideration of the influence of the Bible in China. In addition to introductory chapter written by a renowned biblical scholar, Irene Eber of Jerusalem, the ..

Catholic Church-State Relations in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: A Review of 20 Years

The Catholic Church and the Hong Kong British Government formed warm relations when the Church became the contractor of the government to provide education and social and medical service. The British did not provide democracy to Hong Kong but allowed ample freedom including religious freedom which the Hong Kong Catholics would like to protect in the post-colonial period under the Communist Party rule. For religious freedom, right after Hong Kong became the Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Catholic Church under the prophetic and vocal leadership of Bishop Joseph Zen, became very active in political participation. Zen’s leadership was short-lived (1996-2009) and the soft-spoken Bishop John Tong replaced him with a different approach of consolidating the church without antagonising the government with social issues

Xi Jinping’s Religious Freedom Policy vs Human Rights

The People’s Republic of China has signed to accept the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which include freedom in religious expression. Yet the control and suppression of religion has been carried on all the same since Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping according to the political climate. This paper aims at discussing the paradigm shift of religious freedom from the universal understanding to the “Chinese characteristics” under Xi Jinping’s rule with his launching of regulations and laws on tightening the control of religions in the name of national security

Structure evolution in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) - Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films during <i>in-situ</i> uniaxial deformation

Combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), mechanical and thermal techniques have been used to follow the morphology evolution in a series of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films during quasi solid-state uniaxial deformation at low strain rates. Uniaxially deformed PET-MWCNT films displayed improved mechanical properties compared with unfilled PET films. SAXS/WAXS data revealed a well oriented lamellar structure for unfilled PET films. In contrast, the PET-MWCNT composites revealed a nanohybrid shish-kebab (NHSK) morphology, with reduced orientation and crystallinity. Mechanistically, this morphology development is attributed to the MWCNTs acting as shish for the epitaxial growth of PET crystallites. Furthermore, nucleation and crystal growth occurs in the PET matrix, but MWCNTs ultimately inhibit crystallite development and hinder a final lamellar structure developing. The results show unequivocally the role MWCNTs play as nanofillers, in the morphology development, thermal and mechanical properties in composite polymer films

The homozygous K280N troponin T mutation alters cross-bridge kinetics and energetics in human HCM

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic form of left ventricular hypertrophy, primarily caused by mutations in sarcomere proteins. The cardiac remodeling that occurs as the disease develops can mask the pathogenic impact of the mutation. Here, to discriminate between mutation-induced and disease-related changes in myofilament function, we investigate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying HCM in a patient carrying a homozygous mutation (K280N) in the cardiac troponin T gene (TNNT2), which results in 100% mutant cardiac troponin T. We examine sarcomere mechanics and energetics in K280N-isolated myofibrils and demembranated muscle strips, before and after replacement of the endogenous troponin. We also compare these data to those of control preparations from donor hearts, aortic stenosis patients (LVHao), and HCM patients negative for sarcomeric protein mutations (HCMsmn). The rate constant of tension generation following maximal Ca2+ activation (k ACT) and the rate constant of isometric relaxation (slow k REL) are markedly faster in K280N myofibrils than in all control groups. Simultaneous measurements of maximal isometric ATPase activity and Ca2+-activated tension in demembranated muscle strips also demonstrate that the energy cost of tension generation is higher in the K280N than in all controls. Replacement of mutant protein by exchange with wild-type troponin in the K280N preparations reduces k ACT, slow k REL, and tension cost close to control values. In donor myofibrils and HCMsmn demembranated strips, replacement of endogenous troponin with troponin containing the K280N mutant increases k ACT, slow k REL, and tension cost. The K280N TNNT2 mutation directly alters the apparent cross-bridge kinetics and impairs sarcomere energetics. This result supports the hypothesis that inefficient ATP utilization by myofilaments plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London