Synthesis of ozone from air via a polymer-electrolyte-membrane cell with a doped tin oxide anode

The generation of ozone from air using an electrochemical cell consisting of an air cathode, a polymer-electrolyte-membrane (PEM), and a doped tin oxide anode is reported. This synthesis is environmentally friendly compared to the conventional high-voltage corona discharge process since NOx formation is eliminated; a higher ozone concentration is generated; and lower energy may be required. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2006.postprin

An exploratory study of the job satisfaction and educational needs of health care workers working in private homes for the elderly in Hong Kong

Health Services Research Fund & Health Care and Promotion Fund: Research Dissemination Reports (Series 2)published_or_final_versio

Validity and normative data for thirty-second chair stand test in elderly community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese

It is important to establish valid field measures of lower body strength in the elderly, and to provide representative normative values that are culturally specific in order to help health professionals in the risk assessment of this group. A sample of 1,038 elderly Hong Kong Chinese undertook a 30-sec chair stand test (30CST), with a subsample of 143 completing isometric measures of maximal hip flexion and knee extension, plus a habitual physical activity questionnaire. The 30CST was significantly, yet only weakly, correlated with the isometric strength measures (r ∼ 0.3-0.4), but accurately discriminated between levels of habitual physical activity and across ages in decades. The normative values generated provide useful data for health screening in this elderly Hong Kong population, but do not compare well with their healthier US counterparts. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.postprin

Patterns of physical exercise and contributing factors among Hong Kong older adults

Key Messages 1. Studies suggest that regular physical activity and exercise offer a significant opportunity to enhance years of active independent life for older individuals. However, the majority of local respondents have a relatively sedentary lifestyle and were not getting adequate physical activity and exercise, though many recognised the health benefits of being active. 2. Compared with their relatively active American counterparts, in terms of strength, flexibility and agility, the respondents of this study fared unfavourably, with mean values in the 20-30 percentile score or lower. 3. More than 80% of elderly adults regularly participated in sports activities, the majority of whom engaged in only a low-to-moderate level of physical exercise mainly due to limited choices and time allocation for such activity. Nearly 17% of the respondents engaged in walking as a leisure activity; a substantial proportion included completion of their household activities (shopping, visiting friends) in what they termed ‘walking’. As walking confers many health benefits, its promotion in the immediate environments of the elderly is practical and undoubtedly health enhancing. 4. Findings suggested that cognitive-perceptual factors, ie perceived ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of doing exercise, selfefficacy of exercise, stages of change and perceived barriers to exercise were all influential variables contributing to engagement in sports activity. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the causal and temporal relations between these variables. 5. Health promotion programmes to educate older adults about the benefits of engaging in physical activity with respect to their self-efficacy are crucial. Education can enhance individual’s knowledge and/or awareness concerning the health benefits of physical activity and exercise. Those who are deprived and less educated should receive more attention from policymakers and service providers.published_or_final_versio

An exploratory study on utilisation pattern and costs of aged care in Hong Kong: implications for formal care in the community

SUMMARY: This paper explores the aged care utilisation patterns among elderly people in Hong Kong, and the relationship between the cost of aged care and the health of respondents. 450 persons aged 65 and above residing in public housing estates in the Southem District of Hong Kong Island were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. In the preceding six months, community-dwelling elderly had a higher rate of utilising medical/health services than community support services. Using the standard cost of each service supplied by the relevant departments, the average cost for those who used both medical/health and community support services was higher compared to those who used medical/health services only or community support services only. Using ADLs and self-rated health to indicate the level of health of the respondents, non-linear relationships were observed between the health of respondents and the average cost of care services. The number and nature of diseases reported, other than cultural explanations and individuals’ help-seeking behaviour, may explain this ‘unconventional’ situation. To conclude, affordable and accessible formal care enables many elderly people to live independently in the community. Preventive intervention may enhance the well-being of elderly people, rendering them less dependent on expensive medical/health care. Although there are limitations to this study, the study provides a premise forfurther discussion on assessing the cost of aged care and the health of elderly people in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Electrolytic generation of ozone on antimony- And nickel-doped tin oxide electrode

In a recent report, ozone was produced with high efficiency in perchloric acid on an anode coated with antimony-doped tin oxide. We report here that high current efficiency can be enhanced if trace amounts of a second dopant, nickel, is present. The effect of composition of the coating in terms of Ni:Sb:Sn was carefully analyzed. The optimum Ni:Sb:Sn ratio, determined to be 1:8:500, was determined giving a corresponding ozone generation current efficiency of over 30% at room temperature. The highest current efficiency was observed at an optimum operating potential of 2.2 V vs Ag/AgCl. Electrolytic generation of ozone in perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid at different concentrations was also studied and compared. In 0.1 M H 2SO 4, the ozone concentration reached 34 mg/L and a current efficiency of 36.3% could be achieved. This is about the highest current efficiency ever reported for electrolytic generation of ozone in an aqueous medium at room temperature. © 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

An exploratory study examining breastfeeding practices among mothers in a maternity hospital in Hong Kong

published_or_final_versio

Chemical Printing of Biological Tissue by Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Laser Ablation

published_or_final_versio

Glutathione regulation in arsenic-induced porcine aortic endothelial cells

[[abstract]]The objective was to investigate the regulation of glutathione (GSH) turnover in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO2), arsenic trioxide (AS(2)O(3)) or sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4) up to 72 hr at 0, 1, 5, and 10 mu M, respectively. Intracellular GSH and glutathione disulficle (GSSG) contents, as well as the activities and mRNA levels of glutamate-cysteine lyase (GCL; gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). were examined. The trivalent arsenic compounds increased GSH and GSSG contents in PAECs. An increase in GCL activity was observed at 24 hr whereas an increase in GCL mRNA level was observed at 72 hr. The increase in GGT activity was only observed at 72 hr. In addition, a tendency of increase in GGT mRNA level was observed. Na2HAsO4 treatment did not affect GSH content and the turnover-related enzymes. A differential GSH modulation in PAECs by trivalent arsenic compounds was found. The regulatory mechanism responsible for the As2O3-induced GSH increase is related to the GSH-turnover enzymes, GCL and GGT, while that for the NaASO(2)-induced GSH increase may not be related to expression of GSH-turnover enzymes. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Application and discussion of three dimensional numerical manifold method based on hexahedron element

2004-2005 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe