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Health of War-Affected Karen Adults 5 Years Post-Resettlement
Get PDFBackground: An estimated 140 000 refugees from Burma have resettled to the USA since 2009, comprising 21% of total resettlement in the USA over the last decade. Our objective was to describe patterns of longitudinal health outcomes in a cohort of Karen refugees resettled in the USA for 5 years, and to translate these findings to a primary healthcare context. Methods: The study was a retrospective cohort study focused on the analysis of the first 5 years of electronic health records of a sample of 143 Karen refugees who were initially resettled between May 2011 and May 2013. Results: Through descriptive, inferential and survival statistics, we described patterns of retention in primary care, biometric trends, condition prevalence and survival probabilities. Highest prevalence health conditions documented at any point in the 5-year period included diagnoses or symptoms associated with pain (52%); gastrointestinal disturbance (41%); metabolic disorder (41%); infectious process (34%); mental health condition (31%) and central nervous system disorder (24%). Conclusions: This study is the first retrospective longitudinal analysis of patterns of health in Karen refugees originating from Burma and resettled to the USA. Findings identified in the 5-year, the post-resettlement period provided important clinical insights into the health trajectories of war-affected populations. Burden of illness was high although results did not demonstrate the extent of trauma-associated physical health conditions reported in the literature. Indicators such as significant increases in body mass index (BMI), the overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia and others suggested that the cohort may be exhibiting an early trajectory towards the development of these conditions. Authors summarize potential protective factors experienced by the cohort that promoted aspects of health frequently challenged in forced migration
The Cave, The Wind, and The Cosmos: A Study of the Villa Eolia as a Sacred Space
No full textThe pinnacle of sacred architecture during the Italian Renaissance is defined by monumental, opulent, and inherently religious edifices designed specifically for ritual use by the Christian Church, however, I believe that not all sacred spaces are necessarily religious by nature, as I propose is the case with Villa Eolia, a naturally cave-cooled villa located in the hills of Costozza, Italy.
Villa Eolia and its subterranean ventilation system, both designed in the 1560s by local architect Francesco Trento, provide an example of pneumatic architecture, a theme dating back to classical antiquity which describes architecture that involves the channeling of wind or water into edifices which takes the form of pneuma – defined as “breath” or “spirit.” While Trento’s pneumatic architecture was highly praised through the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Villa Eolia remained relatively obscure in the canon of architectural history until discovered by contemporary scholar Barbara Kenda whose work explores the pneumatic architecture of Eolia in relation to well-being.
Using Kenda’s investigation as a point of departure, I layer on the work of contemporary scholars of unconventional sacred space and utilize a comparative analysis of Eolia to other works of architecture to classify the villa specifically as a sacred space. I argue that the pneumatic architecture of Villa Eolia not only influenced the interior atmosphere of the structure, but it also served as a mediator between the earthly and the divine, creating a sacred space for transcendent experiences to occur and impacting activities that took place there. Through an analysis of the cave, the wind, and the cosmos at Villa Eolia, my goal of this research is to convey the power of architecture in creating sacred experiences and connecting the individual to something greater than oneself, even if the architecture itself is not inherently religious
Mary & Muslims: Bridge or Barrier?
No full textThe 1965 Vatican II document Nostra Aetate encouraged Catholics and Muslims to “forget the past” and focus on a more positive future together, one based on dialogue and cooperation. Since then, Catholics at all levels, from popes to parishioners, have heeded this call. However, the complicated, centuries-long history of Christian-Muslim relations demands attention. Instead of “forgetting the past,” Catholics need to revisit this history, both on their own and with their Muslim partners. Join us this summer for a webinar series on the history of encounter between Catholics and Muslims. In this series, we will examine Nicholas of Cusa’s approach to the Qur’an; the history of Mary as a bridge or barrier in Christian relations with Muslims; and St. Francis and Pope Francis as models of fraternal encounter. No preparation is necessary, and participants can attend according to their availability. Click the links below for more information and to register for each session. Part I: July 21, 6pm CST: “Nicholas of Cusa & Qur’anic Exegesis” Dr. Wilhelmus (Pim) Valkenberg (Catholic University) Part II: August 18, 6 pm CST: “Mary & Muslims: Bridge or Barrier?” Dr. Rita George-Tvrtković (Benedictine University), with a response by Dr. Zeki Saritoprak (John Carroll University)
In 1965, Nostra Aetate acknowledged that Christian and Muslims share a devotion to Mary. But did Christians always view Mary as a bridge? A few medieval Latins stressed concord between the two Marys, but others raised the Virgin on military standards in battles against Muslims. This talk will consider the myriad ways in which Mary’s role in Christian-Muslim relations has shifted back and forth from bridge to barrier and back again. The lecture will be followed by a response from a Muslim scholar, and further dialogue.
Dr. Rita George-Tvrtković (PhD, University of Notre Dame), is Professor of Theology at Benedictine University in suburban Chicago, where she specializes in medieval Christian-Muslim relations and the contemporary theology and praxis of interreligious dialogue. Her books include A Christian Pilgrim in Medieval Iraq: Riccoldo da Montecroce’s Encounter with Islam; a co-edited volume, Nicholas of Cusa and Islam; and Christians, Muslims, and Mary: A History. Her articles have appeared in Theological Studies, Catholic Historical Review, Journal of Jesuit Studies, Medieval Encounters, and America. A former associate director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, she was recently appointed by Pope Francis to be a consultor for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Dr. Zeki Saritoprak is Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and the Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, He received his PhD in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. He has published widely in English, Turkish, and Arabic on a variety of topics related to Islam, Islamic Studies, and Interfaith Dialogue and is the author of over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. He is editor and translator of Fundamentals of Rumi’s Thought: A Mevlevi Sufi Perspective and the editor of a critical edition of al-Sarakhsi’s Sifat Ashrat al-Sa’a. He has two books in English: Islam’s Jesus (University Press of Florida, 2014) and Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017). He is currently working on the manuscript for a book on Islamic Eschatology. Dr. George Tvrtković and Dr. Saritoprak collaborated in writing a chapter about Islam (insider/outsider views) in a comparative theology textbook, and since 2017 have participated together in a semi-annual Catholic-Muslim Scholars Dialogue. Part III: September 8, 6 pm CST: “Francis & Francis: Encountering Muslims, Past & Present” Dr. Jason Welle, OFM (Pontifical Institute of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Rome)
Sponsored and Organized by: Lumen Christi Institute (Chicago) American Cusanus Society
Promotional Cosponsors: Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (New York) Nova Forum for Catholic Thought (University of Southern California) Saint Benedict Institute (Holland, MI) St. Paul\u27s Catholic Student Center (Madison, WI) The Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University (Chicago) Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and the Encountering Islam Initiative at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota
RiFNet: Automated rib fracture detection in postmortem computed tomography
Get PDFImaging techniques are widely used for medical diagnostics. In some cases, a lack of medical practitioners who can manually analyze the images can lead to a bottleneck. Consequently, we developed a custom-made convolutional neural network (RiFNet = Rib Fracture Network) that can detect rib fractures in postmortem computed tomography. In a retrospective cohort study, we retrieved PMCT data from 195 postmortem cases with rib fractures from July 2017 to April 2018 from our database. The computed tomography data were prepared using a plugin in the commercial imaging software Syngo.via whereby the rib cage was unfolded on a single-in-plane image reformation. Out of the 195 cases, a total of 585 images were extracted and divided into two groups labeled “with” and “without” fractures. These two groups were subsequently divided into training, validation, and test datasets to assess the performance of RiFNet. In addition, we explored the possibility of applying transfer learning techniques on our dataset by choosing two independent noncommercial off-the-shelf convolutional neural network architectures (ResNet50 V2 and Inception V3) and compared the performances of those two with RiFNet. When using pre-trained convolutional neural networks, we achieved an F1 score of 0.64 with Inception V3 and an F1 score of 0.61 with ResNet50 V2. We obtained an average F1 score of 0.91 ± 0.04 with RiFNet. RiFNet is efficient in detecting rib fractures on postmortem computed tomography. Transfer learning techniques are not necessarily well adapted to make classifications in postmortem computed tomography
A Comparison of Multinomial Likelihood and Chi-Square Approaches to Statistical Population Reconstruction
No full textStatistical population reconstruction using age-at-harvest and catch-effort data has recently emerged as a robust and versatile approach to estimating the demographic dynamics of harvested populations of wildlife. Although most reconstruction efforts employ the multinomial likelihood approach to identify which set of model parameters best describes the observed age-at-harvest and catch-effort data, using a χ 2 objective function may provide a suitable alternative with a less steep learning curve. Using a harvested population of North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) in Kentucky as a case study, we investigated the performance of population reconstruction using multinomial likelihood and chi-square formulations. We simulated populations under a range of conditions and found that both the accuracy and precision of reconstruction estimates were similar under the two approaches. These results illustrate the potential benefits of using the χ 2 approach, which may also allow agencies to incorporate auxiliary information from studies for which the corresponding likelihood contributions have yet to be developed
The Urban Art Mapping Project: Mapping Art, Narrative, and Community in St. Paul, Minnesota
No full textA Cognitive Approach to Ernest Hemingway\u27s Short Fiction
No full textStudy of the reader\u27s mental processes for thinking through and making sense of Hemingway\u27s spare prose to get at what lies beneath the surface. Tucan draws on cognitive poetics and narratology in her examination of the reader\u27s intense imaginative negotiation with laconic Hemingway narrators, thus enabling the reader to comprehend the emotional suggestiveness of objective detail. Focuses on stories dealing with the concept of journey, including The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Fathers and Sons, A Canary for One, Hills Like White Elephants, along with several from In Our Time. Provides an overview of cognitive science and its contributing disciplines, such as psychology, philosophy, and linguistics. Features a bibliography but no index. Earlier versions of some chapters published previously as articles
Probability of Success
No full textChapter analyzes a question relating to Just War Theory-should the U.S. go to war with North Korea? As a literary study, it focuses on lessons about limited wars (as opposed to total wars and the mirage of doing nothing ) that might be learned in For Whom the Bell Tolls, inviting comparisons to novels discussed in the previous chapter by Kevin Powers (The Yellow Birds, 2012) and Tim O\u27Brien (Going After Cacciato, 1978). Examines the role of the Catholic church during the Spanish Civil War, the complicated idea of self-sacrifice in war (see, as Hemingway did, Horace\u27s Odes and Wilfred Owens\u27s Dulce et Decorum Est), and apparent dichotomies about killing expressed by Hemingway\u27s characters. Concludes that Hemingway presciently understood, via Robert Jordan, the intellectual and moral cost of going to war: For Hemingway, when we keep in view that the act of killing, even when necessary, is sinful, we preserve the possibility of a just peace
Queering the Colonizer: (Re)mapping Whiteness in Ernest Hemingway\u27s In Our Time
No full textWhile visiting the critically divisive field surrounding Hemingway\u27s self-described sense of a Native American heritage, Keith focuses on an idea, (re)mapping, which serves to eschew the white/native and colonizer/colonized binary as it otherwise might appear in the early Nick Adams stories of In Our Time and moves it toward a decolonized space. Surveys, expands on, and argues with readings of the stories in terms of gendered violence, white subjectivity, and similar critical lenses while positioning Nick Adams along a porous border between white and native identities
Containing and Unleashing the Shock of the Modern in \u27A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,\u27 \u27A Natural History of the Dead,\u27 and \u27A Way You\u27ll Never Be
No full textClose reading of three stories to illustrate how Hemingway presents differing expressions of the self-a spectrum that ranges from the existential void to a fragmented historical consciousness to a post-humanist process of constant change or always becoming