The Study Abroad Experience: Where Does Religion Fit?

This article explores the theoretical and practical dimensions of the question: “Where does religion fit in the study abroad experience?” Students abroad are often immersed in communities where religious practice and spiritual worldviews may be widespread and privileged. This may well be one of the areas where students find themselves most disoriented, and may represent one of the greatest challenges at the heart of the study abroad experience. From a theoretical standpoint, the paper interrogates some of the foundational secular assumptions upon which international development programmes in northern universities are based, while providing a brief introduction to the growing literature exploring the role of religion in development. From a practical perspective, the article emphasizes the pervasiveness and diversity of religious influence and then proceeds to highlight the communal and explanatory power of religion. In conclusion, some approaches are suggested that might better serve to prepare students for understanding the place of religion in many societies in the developing world

Orthopaedic surgeons: as strong as an ox and almost twice as clever? Multicentre prospective comparative study

Objective To compare the intelligence and grip strength of orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists

The long-term benefit of computer-assisted surgical navigation in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

We reviewed the outcomes of 30 consecutive primary unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKA) performed by a single surgeon for medial compartmental osteoarthritis. Fifteen Allegretto knees were implanted without computer navigation and 15 EIUS knees were implanted with navigation. We compared the survivorship, radiological and clinical outcomes of the two groups at an average of 8.9 years and 6.9 years respectively. The patients were assessed clinically using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and radiologically using long-leg weightbearing films and non-weightbearing computed tomography alignment measurements. The overall survivorship was 86.7% at 9 years. A higher proportion of navigated knees were well aligned with a more reproducible position and malaligned knees tended to have a less favourable OKS. However, we found no statistically significant difference in survivorship, clinical outcome and radiological alignment between the two groups

Camper Conversion

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 has seen hundreds of thousands sequestered in quarantine for long periods of time. When quarantined in an urban setting, many cannot leave their respective apartment buildings which only adds to the strain of isolation. In the context of isolation, the design team of Hafler, Nicholas, Owen, Willis, and Zehentbauer personally sought to incorporate their individual enthusiasm for nature with the benefits of living off-grid. After initial research and deliberation, the team discovered the “Skoolie” community and the plans for a mobile tiny home began production. The team outlined the design project as the full design, purchase, and construction of a 54-passenger bus transformed into a mobile tiny home. The team highlights the terms “sustainable” and “off-grid” in the problem statement, this was done intentionally to ensure that all decisions made in the project were centralized back to these two main themes. By completing this project, the team will make a point to include all living amenities of an average student’s apartment such as hot water shower, fridge storage, living and recreation area, sleeping area for 4-5 adults

Vitamin D binding protein variants associate with asthma susceptibility in the Chinese han population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Asthma is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Polymorphisms of genes encoding components of the vitamin D pathway have been reported to associate with the risk of asthma. We have previously demonstrated that vitamin D status was associated with lung function in Chinese asthma patients. In this study, we tested whether polymorphisms of genes encoding for vitamin D receptor (<it>VDR</it>), vitamin D 25-hydroxylase (<it>CYP2R1</it>) and vitamin D binding protein (<it>GC</it>) were associated with asthma in the Chinese Han population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We sequenced all 8 exons of <it>VDR </it>and all 5 exons of <it>CYP2R1 </it>in a Chinese case-control cohort of asthma consisting of 467 cases and 288 unrelated healthy controls. Two mutations were identified in these regions. These variants were specified as rs2228570 in exon 2 of <it>VDR </it>and rs12794714 in exon 1 of <it>CYP2R1</it>. We also genotyped two common polymorphisms in <it>GC </it>gene (rs4588 and rs7041) by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. We analyzed the association between these 4 polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility and asthma-related traits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Polymorphic markers in <it>VDR </it>and <it>CYP2R1 </it>were not associated with asthma in the Chinese Han cohort. Importantly, variants in <it>GC </it>gene, which give rise to the two most common electrophoretic isoforms of the vitamin D binding protein, were associated with asthma susceptibility. Compared with isoform Gc1, Gc2 was significantly associated with the risk of asthma (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.01-1.78 p = 0.006).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results provide supporting evidence for association between <it>GC </it>variants and asthma susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.</p

Bilateral hip arthroplasty: is 1-week staging the optimum strategy?

Seventy-nine patients underwent bilateral hip arthroplasty staged either at 1 week (Group 1) or after greater intervals (as suggested by the patients, mean 44 weeks, range 16-88 weeks) (Group 2), over a five year period at one Institution. Sixty-eight patients (29 bilateral hip resurfacings and 39 total hip replacements) completed questionnaires regarding their post-operative recovery, complications and overall satisfaction with the staging of their surgery

Differences in hip morphology between the sexes in patients undergoing hip resurfacing

There is limited morphological data on the sex differences between the commonly used pelvic parameters. This study analysed the CT scans of 100 consecutive Caucasian patients, 61 males and 39 females, undergoing hip resurfacing arthroplasty surgery for hip osteoarthritis in one institution

Patients’ preferred mode of travel to the orthopaedic theatre

AIM: To determine the preferred mode of travel to the operating theatre for elective orthopaedic patients. METHODS: Data was collected prospectively over a 2-wk period at an elective Orthopaedic Treatment Centre. Patients were asked to complete a patient satisfaction questionnaire following their surgery on their experience and subsequent preferred mode of transport to theatre. The data was then recorded in a tabulated format and analysed with percentages. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine if there was any statistical association between patients’ preference to walk and various groups; in-patient or day case procedures, and whether patients were < 60 years or > 60 years of age. RESULTS: Seventy patients (40 females and 30 males) fully completed the questionnaire. In total there were 33 d-cases and 37 in-patients. The spectrum of orthopaedic sub-specialties included was knee (41%), hip (17%), foot and ankle (24%), spine (13%) and upper limb (4%). Patient satisfaction for overall experience of travelling to theatre was either excellent (77%) or good (23%). Following their experience of travelling to theatre, 87% (95%CI: 79%-95%) of the total cohort would have preferred to walk to the operating theatre. There was a statistically significant association (P = 0.003) between patients’ preference to walk and whether they were day-case or in-patients. Similarly, there was a statistically significance association (P = 0.028) between patients’ preference to walk and whether they were < 60 years or > 60 years of age. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the majority of Orthopaedic elective patients would prefer to walk to theatre, when given the choice and if practically possible

Cronobacter sakazakii Infection Induced Fatal Clinical Sequels Including Meningitis in Neonatal ICR Mice

Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii), formerly Enterobacter sakazakii, is an emerging pathogen associated with the ingestion of contaminated reconstituted formula that causes serious illnesses such as bacteremia, septicemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, meningitis and death in low-birth-weight preterm neonatal infants. The objective of this study was to develop an animal model for human neonatal C. sakazakii infections. We acquired timed-pregnant ICR mice and allowed them to give birth naturally. On postnatal day 3.5, each pup was administered orally a total dose of approximately 107 CFU C. sakazakii strain 3439. Mice were observed twice daily for morbidity and mortality. At postnatal day 10.5, the remaining pups were euthanized, and brain, liver, and cecum were excised and analyzed for the presence of C. sakazakii. C. sakazakii was isolated from cecum and other tissues in inoculated mice. In the tissues of C. sakazakii infected mice, meningitis and gliosis were detected in brain. In this study, we confirmed the neonatal ICR mice may be used a very effective animal model for human neonatal C. sakazakii infections