Humanism and Religion: How to use one to understand the other

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph. Humanism is a concept that was more realized than discovered during the Renaissance era (cultural awakening) in Europe during the fourteenth century. Since then, it has developed in the way we look at, not only the arts and architecture, but also the way we view religion. It helps incorporate ideas and ethics of human action to how we focus on the belief, values, and morals we derive from religion. If anything, humanism has helped the spiritual form of religion to grow. However, it is not in any way, shape, or form limited to people who have an expressed religion, for it may also pertain to those who claim that they are of a different persuasion, such as Atheist

Eliot’s Approach to Ethical Poetry as a Case Study The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock

This study aims at showing the ethical approaches in T.S. Eliot’s poetry. I argue that Eliot’s poetry is loaded with ethical approaches that characterized the era in which he lived. Also, the significance of this study arises from the fact that ethics have become buried in modern life. I, among others, feel we need it urgently these days to survive in a nice manner.In The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, readers are shocked to notice male man has become or is viewed as being less productive and lacking decision-making, exactly another copy of Hamlet. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock reflects the feelings of emasculation, not feminism, experienced by many men as they returned home from World War I to find women empowered by their new role as wage earners. Prufrock (2009), unables to make a decision, watches women wander in and out of a room, “talking of Michelangelo” (p.14), and elsewhere admires their downy, bare arms.

Effect of individual, simultaneous and sequential inoculation of pseudomonas fluorescens and meloidogyne incognita on growth, biochemical, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum l.)

This study was conducted on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. K-21) to investigate the bioprotective nature of Pseudomonas fluorescens and its interactive effects with Meloidogyne incognita in terms of growth biomarkers, changes in biochemical attributes and modulation in antioxidant enzymes of the tomato plant. In this study, we grew tomato plants with M. incognita and P. fluorescens in separate pots, simultaneously and sequentially (15 days prior or post) after 15 days of seed sowing. The sequential inoculation of Mi15→Pf maximally increased the root-knot index and decreased the nematode population. It was also noted that inoculation suppressed the plant growth biomarkers in comparison to control. However, maximum suppression in nematode reproduction and increment in growth and physiological attributes were observed when P. fluorescens was applied 15 days prior to the nematode (Pf15→Mi) as compared to control. All the treatments showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes. Expression of phenol content and defensive enzymes such as peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased, in contrast to a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) contents when compared with the untreated inoculated plants. However, the highest levels of POX and SOD, and a lowest of phenol, MDA and H2 O2 were displayed in the treatment Pf15→Mi, followed by Mi+Pf and Mi15→Pf

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

Repurposing the oncolytic virus VSV∆51M as a COVID-19 vaccine

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an urgent and continued need for the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines to induce preventive responses for limiting major outbreaks around the world. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we repurposed the VSV∆51M oncolytic virus platform to express the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this study, we report the development and characterization of the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine. Our findings demonstrate successful expression of the RBD gene by the VSV∆51M-RBD virus, inducing anti-RBD responses without attenuating the virus. Moreover, the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform to current COVID-19 vaccines

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Humanism and Religion: How to use one to understand the other

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph. Humanism is a concept that was more realized than discovered during the Renaissance era (cultural awakening) in Europe during the fourteenth century. Since then, it has developed in the way we look at, not only the arts and architecture, but also the way we view religion. It helps incorporate ideas and ethics of human action to how we focus on the belief, values, and morals we derive from religion. If anything, humanism has helped the spiritual form of religion to grow. However, it is not in any way, shape, or form limited to people who have an expressed religion, for it may also pertain to those who claim that they are of a different persuasion, such as Atheist

Technology in the Arabic Classroom

In an effort to make my students’ learning experience productive and fun I have been constantly been trying to integrate new approaches to teaching that would lead to more engagement and better results. Selecting from available technological tools can help enhance the delivery of the material in the classroom, and can help to encourage students prepare, study, interact and express themselves with more creativity. As a language instructor I have the students and their achievement in mind as my main goal. I strive to assign projects that allow students to be creative and imaginative and go beyond the material in the textbook. In my presentation I will share about using Voice-Thread for various assignments as well as how I grew to use Moodle more effectively and to the students’ satisfaction. Voice-Thread and Students’ progress and proficiency: Voice Thread is a very useful tool that one could employ to the class and the students’ advantage. I have been trying various ways of making the best use of it. I used Voice Thread in 2014- 2015 and again this year to better results. I will share several assignments that would work effectively in a language classroom. (I might also include the students’ feedback, if I manage to do a survey by semester end.) Moodle: Moodle can be a very useful tool, and at the service of the professor and the students. I rely on Moodle as a means of communication with the students. I added the Journal Feature this semester to encourage the students to write more. I also use the grade book and the attendance feature (at Haverford.

Technology in the Arabic Classroom

In an effort to make my students’ learning experience productive and fun I have been constantly been trying to integrate new approaches to teaching that would lead to more engagement and better results. Selecting from available technological tools can help enhance the delivery of the material in the classroom, and can help to encourage students prepare, study, interact and express themselves with more creativity. As a language instructor I have the students and their achievement in mind as my main goal. I strive to assign projects that allow students to be creative and imaginative and go beyond the material in the textbook. In my presentation I will share about using Voice-Thread for various assignments as well as how I grew to use Moodle more effectively and to the students’ satisfaction. Voice-Thread and Students’ progress and proficiency: Voice Thread is a very useful tool that one could employ to the class and the students’ advantage. I have been trying various ways of making the best use of it. I used Voice Thread in 2014- 2015 and again this year to better results. I will share several assignments that would work effectively in a language classroom. (I might also include the students’ feedback, if I manage to do a survey by semester end.) Moodle: Moodle can be a very useful tool, and at the service of the professor and the students. I rely on Moodle as a means of communication with the students. I added the Journal Feature this semester to encourage the students to write more. I also use the grade book and the attendance feature (at Haverford.