Lincoln University - New Zealand

Global Challenges Scholarship

Applications close

Wednesday 1 October 2015

Enrollment 

February 2016 Intake

10X Global Challenges Scholarships for International Students

Value: 1st year domestic tuition fees for bachelor degree (approximately NZ$600, depending on the bachelor degree the student enroll in)

Benefits: Student ambassadors for Global Challenges Program 2016

For more information, please feel free to contact your nearest JM Office today!

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Macquarie University - Australia

Macquarie maintains strong position in ARWU rankings

It's the most widely consulted ranking for international students and once again Macquarie has been classed as one of the region's leading universities in the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

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Scholarships to increase number of women in MBA

The Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) is aiming to be the first top-50 business school in the world to achieve gender balance in the classroom with its Women in MBA scholarship and mentoring program.

$4 million of University funding will be combined with $4 million from employers to provide full or partial scholarships to 100 women enrolling in MGSM’s premier MBA degree.

Recognising that female students often have to balance work and family commitments with study, the program will also provide mentoring, career planning and employer support. Mentors include the former Premier of New South Wales, Kristina Keneally.

MGSM offers a range of scholarships for international students.

Google gets behind Macquarie’s robotics program

Google Australia announced $1 million in cash grants aimed at introducing and inspiring 10,000 students to careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

A large portion of this funding will go to FIRST® Robotics Australia, established at Macquarie University in 2010. It will help the organisation introduce its program into 150 new schools.

Google Australia said: “Australia’s jobs of the future will require new skills, and it’s critical that students from all walks of life are introduced to this field and have the opportunity to shape it and benefit from it. We hope that these organisations will create more moments that will inspire our kids.”

Students launch their Sydney adventure

In late July, Macquarie warmly welcomed a new group of bright minds to the campus community – Session 2, 2015 commencing international students. The welcome began as soon as they stepped off the plane, with students enjoying a personal airport greeting and free transport to their accommodation. 

It was an exciting and busy orientation week for the students, with information sessions, social activities and plenty of opportunities to explore the delights of their new home city.

Article is courtesy by Macquarie University Newsletter. 

For more information, please feel free to contact your nearest JM office today!

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KBU International College - Malaysia

KBU June News 2015

Recently, KBU international college partnered with Shalini Ganendra Fine Art (SGFA) on the project of Designer Glaze: Earth to Eternity. 

For any inquiry on KBU International College, please contact your nearest JM Office today!

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Le Cordon Bleu - Malaysia

Intake Date

Intakes for year 2015 is now open for registration, apply now to book a seat before the class is filled!!

Next intake on 2 October 2015.

Program Offered

1. Diploma de Commis Cuisinier (9 months)

• Combination of all 3 certificates as below.
• Taught by trained master chef who have experience working in senior position in the world's finest kitchen & Michelin star restaurant. 

- Certificat d'Assistant de Cuisine (3 months)

• First level - Beginner
• Introduction to French Cuisine
• French classical cooking techniques
• Variations of cooking methods
• Foundation sauces preparation

-  Certificat de Cadet de Cuisine (3 months)

• Intermediate
• Understanding, organisation, production & presentation
• Knowledge on ingredients, classifications & origins of the regions including seasonings
• Techniques in butchery

- Certificat de Commis de Cuisine (3 months)

• Precision & speed in the kitchen
• Use richer & more refine & luxury products
• Creative, taste & presentation strongly encouraged
• Teamwork
• Career preparation

2. Diploma de Commis Patissier (9 months)

• Completion of all 3 certificates as following.

- Certificat d' Assistant de Patissierie (3 months)

• Provide strong basic foundation using the core ingredients of French Patissier
• Introduction to a variety of French Patissier - cakes & pastries

- Certificat de Cadet de Patissierie (3 months)

• Introduction to artistic & decorative skills
• Mastering Bavarian creams & mousses

- Certificat de Commis de Patissierie (3 months)

• Presentation of petit fours
• Teamwork
• Career preparation

For more information, please feel free to contact your nearest JM Office today!

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Media Reporting 6th MERS Case In Jordanian Cluster

 

# 10,472

 

Since the Jordanian Ministry of Health website isn’t posting updates we have to rely upon local media for updates on Jordan’s recent MERS outbreak.  Earlier today I posted on the 5th case in less than a week, and this afternoon we have word on a 6th case.

The first two cases were described as having had recent travel outside of the country (1 to Saudi Arabia, the other not specified) while the latest four all appear to be locally acquired.

 

This report from the Qatar News Agency.

 

Recording 18 HIV infection "Corona" in Jordan

Monday, August 31, 2015

Amman, August 31 / Qena / announced the Jordanian Ministry of Health on the registration of new infection "Corona" to Jordanian woman swallow the age of 74 years, bringing the total number of infections to 18 injured.

Quoted Jordan News Agency, director of communicable diseases at the ministry, Dr. Mohammed Abdullat saying that " infected suffer several diseases such as diabetes, pressure, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

"He added that the situation is critical for the infected and is in a state of isolation in the hospital who receive the treatment, noting that it was epidemiological investigation of the situation and follow-up contacts from her family and health staff dealing with the situation

 

The pattern we’ve seen many times before – of a patient with MERS admitted to a hospital and the virus spreads to other patients (or employees) - appears to be repeating again in Jordan.

  

While we’ve seen some hospitals successfully cope with a MERS admission without incurring additional cases, a study we looked at in early July  called  Eurosurveillance: Estimating The Odds Of Secondary/Tertiary Cases From An Imported MERS Case) calculated the odds of seeing at least one secondary case derived from an imported case is 22.7% , while the odds of seeing at least one tertiary case is 10.5%.

 

Based on their calculations, the odds of seeing at least 8 cases as the result of a single importation was estimated at non-trivial 10.9%.

A reminder of the importance of continued vigilance at all hospitals for walk-ins of MERS (and other infectious diseases), and of how even a small breach in infection control standards can lead to serious risks to both patients and staff.

For more on preparing hospitals to receive, and safely deal with MERS, Ebola, Avian Flu, and other high-risk patients you may wish to revisit:

 

HHS Selects 9 Regional Ebola & Special Pathogens Treatment Centers

HHS Launches National Ebola Training & Education Center

APIC: Most HCWs Are Removing PPEs Improperly

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UNSW: Flu Vaccine Provides Significant Protection Against Heart Attacks

Photo Credit - CDC PHIL

 

# 10,471

Roughly 18 years ago, a study looked at the rate of heart attacks in the United States, and found that Acute Myocardial Infarctions (AMIs) run as much 53% higher during the winter months than than during the summer.

 

While numerous theories have been offered (holiday stress, cold weather, over-indulgence during the holidays, etc.), a growing number of studies have suggested that  Influenza - and other acute respiratory infections - can act as a trigger for heart attacks (see Study: Influenza And Heart Attacks).  

 

Assuming that flu is a major trigger for heart attacks, then it stands to reason that the flu vaccine ought to provide some measurable level of protection against them.  And over the years we’ve looked at a number of studies that have attempted to quantify that number.

• In 2010 we saw a study in the CMAJ: Flu Vaccinations Reduce Heart Attack Risk that found that those over the age of 40 who get a seasonal flu vaccine each year may reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as 19%. Questions were raised over the way this study was conducted (see Vaccine/Heart Attack Study Questioned), and so the results are in dispute.
• In August of 2013 (see Study: Flu Vaccine May Reduce Heart Attack Risk), we looked at study out of Australia – published in the BMJ Journal Heart, that found compelling – but not exactly conclusive – evidence that flu shots may reduce the risk of heart attacks as much as 45%.
• In October of 2013 (see JAMA: Flu Vaccine and Cardiovascular Outcomes) we looked at a meta analysis that found among patients who had previously had a heart attack, the receipt of a flu vaccine was linked to a 55% reduction in having another major cardiac event in the next few months.

Complicating matters, those who are most likely have cardiac events (> 65) are also the cohort least likely to derive optimal protection from the flu vaccine (see NFID: The Challenges Of Influenza In Older Adults).  There is some evidence, however, that even when it doesn’t prevent infection, the flu vaccine may reduce the severity of illness (CDC: Flu Shots Reduce Hospitalizations In The Elderly).

 

Building on the 2013 Australian BMJ study mentioned above, researchers at the University of New South Wales have put together a new meta analysis which further supports the link between getting the flu jab, and reducing the risks of having a heart attack.

 

First the link to the study, and a press release, after which I’ll return with a bit more.

Acute myocardial infarction and influenza: a meta-analysis of case–control studies

Michelle Barnes, Anita E Heywood, Abela Mahimbo, Bayzid Rahman, Anthony T Newall, C Raina Macintyre

Published Online First 26 August 2015

Abstract

Objective Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death and disability globally. There is increasing evidence from observational studies that influenza infection is associated with AMI. In patients with known coronary disease, influenza vaccination is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events. However, the effect of influenza vaccination on incident AMI across the entire population is less well established.

Method The purpose of our systematic review of case–control studies is twofold: (1) to estimate the association between influenza infection and AMI and (2) to estimate the association between influenza vaccination and AMI. Cases included those conducted with first-time AMI or any AMI cases. Studies were appraised for quality and meta-analyses using random effects models for the influenza exposures of infection, and vaccination were conducted.

Results 16 studies (8 on influenza vaccination, 10 on influenza infection and AMI) met the eligibility criteria, and were included in the review and meta-analysis. Recent influenza infection, influenza-like illness or respiratory tract infection was significantly more likely in AMI cases, with a pooled OR 2.01 (95% CI 1.47 to 2.76). Influenza vaccination was significantly associated with AMI, with a pooled OR of 0.71 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.91), equating to an estimated vaccine effectiveness of 29% (95% CI 9% to 44%) against AMI.

Conclusions Our meta-analysis of case–control studies found a significant association between recent respiratory infection and AMI. The estimated vaccine effectiveness against AMI was comparable with the efficacy of currently accepted therapies for secondary prevention of AMI from clinical trial data. A large-scale randomised controlled trial is needed to provide robust evidence of the protective effect of influenza vaccination on AMI, including as primary prevention.

 

Some excerpts from the UNSW press release follow:

 

UNSW study finds flu jab provides significant protection against heart attacks

27 Aug 2015

Dan Wheelahan

If you’re over 50 and get the flu jab, you’ll not only help to keep the dreaded lurgy at bay but you could also reduce your risk of a heart attack.

That is the advice of UNSW researchers after their study estimated a vaccine effectiveness of 29% in preventing heart attacks which is on par with other heart attack preventative measures.

Previous studies have estimated the effectiveness of statins for the secondary prevention of heart attacks at 25%, anti-hypertensives (15-18%) and smoking cessation interventions (26%).

Researchers in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine (SPHCM) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 international case control studies to estimate the association of influenza and vaccination with heart attacks.

They found significant associations between influenza infection and heart attacks, with heart attack patients twice as likely to have recently had the flu. Their review also confirmed existing evidence, including their own 2013 study, which found that the flu vaccination could lower the risk of a heart attack by 45%.

The study was published today in the journal Heart.

(Continue . . . )

 

Although the `street creds’ of the flu vaccine took a major hit last winter after the late arrival of a `mismatched’ H3N2 virus (see CDC: Updated Estimated Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness), most years the flu vaccine provides a `moderate’ level of protection.  Something on the order of 40%-60% Vaccine Effectiveness (VE).

 

As we’ve discussed before, there is a pressing need for better flu vaccines (see CIDRAP: The Need For `Game Changing’ Flu Vaccines).While far from perfect - the flu shots we have remain the best preventative action you can take against the flu.

And while not conclusive (more research is needed),  the evidence suggests it may also be one of the best preventative actions you can take against having a heart attack as well.  

 

Which is more than enough reason that I’ll be rolling up my sleeve again this year for the flu shot.

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Saudi MOH: Riyadh Adds 6 More MERS Cases

# 10,470

 

The MERS outbreak in Riyadh isn’t showing any signs of abating on this last day of August, with 6 additional cases announced in the latest update.   Five of the six are listed as `contacts with confirmed or suspected cases’ – likely part of the ongoing nosocomial outbreak – with one outlier with no known contact.

One case  - a 33 y.o. female – is listed as a healthcare worker.   Two recoveries and two deaths are also reported.

 

Based on the following ECDC chart – which is already 13 cases behind - August 2015 will go down as the third heaviest MERS month for the Saudis, and the most active month since June 2014. .

Credit ECDC 20th MERS Risk Assessment

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