Happy Family Kitchen II, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) to enhance Family Health, Happiness and Harmony in Hong Kong: A cluster randomized control trial under FAMILY Project

Oral Poster Presentation SessionHong Kong Council of Social Service and School of Public Health, HKU conducted a three-arm cluster randomized control trial (cRCT) of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) “Happy Family Kitchen II” during July 2012 to June 2013. The present paper compared intervention arm A and control arm C to determine whether CBPR intervention improved family health, happiness and harmony (3Hs). 31 organizations in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts were randomly allocated into: intervention arms A (n=11) and B (n=10), and waitlist control arm C (n=10).Within positive psychology and an agreed similar framework, each organization organized their own program on one selected theme of “Five-Taste Model” for people aged 6+ recruited by organization. Arm A had two intervention-sessions and one tea-gathering, and arm C had tea-gathering first (intervention at 3 months later). Participants were assessed four times (T1, pre-intervention; T2, immediately post-intervention; T3 and T4, 1 and 3 months after T2). Changes of primary outcomes from T1 to T3/T4 were compared in participants aged 12+ of arms A and C. Behavior score change was greater in arm A (n=416) than arm C (n=432) at both T3 (Effect size=0.11, p=0.03) and T4 (ES=0.21, p=0.003). Family health score and happiness score changes were greater in arm A than arm C at T3, with ES=0.23 (p=0.001) and ES=0.18 (p=0.01) respectively. Mental health score and intention score changes were greater in arm A than arm C at T4, with ES=0.16 (p=0.03) and ES=0.18 (p=0.01) respectively. All changes above indicated improvements in outcomes. This was the first cRCT to evaluate a CBPR short intervention in Hong Kong, which was effective with small effect size in increasing participants’ intention and practice in healthy behaviors and improving family 3Hs, suggesting that CBPR, evidence-based and evidence-generating programmes are feasible and effective.postprin

Low handgrip strength is a predictor of osteoporotic fractures: Cross-sectional and prospective evidence from the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Study

Handgrip strength (HGS) is a potentially useful objective parameter to predict fracture since it is an indicator of general muscle strength and is associated with fragility and propensity to fall. Our objective was to examine the association of HGS with fracture, to evaluate the accuracy of HGS in predicting incident fracture, and to identify subjects at risk of fracture. We analyzed a cross-sectional cohort with 2,793 subjects (1,217 men and 1,576 women aged 50-101 years) and a subset of 1,702 subjects which were followed for a total of 4,855 person-years. The primary outcome measures were prevalent fractures and incident major fragility fractures. Each standard deviation (SD) reduction in HGS was associated with a 1.24-fold increased odds for major clinical fractures even after adjustment for other clinical factors. A similar result was obtained in the prospective cohort with each SD reduction in HGS being associated with a 1.57-fold increased hazard ratio of fracture even after adjustment for clinical factors. A combination of HGS and femoral neck bone mineral density (FN BMD) T-score values (combined T-score), together with other clinical factors, had a better predictive power of incident fractures than FN BMD or HGS T-score alone with clinical factors. In addition, combined T-score has better sensitivity and specificity in predicting incidence fractures than FN BMD alone. This study is the first study to compare the predictive ability of HGS and BMD. We showed that HGS is an independent risk factor for major clinical fractures. Compared with using FN BMD T-score of -2.5 alone, HGS alone has a comparable predictive power to BMD, and the combined T-score may be useful to identify extra subjects at risk of clinical fractures with improved specificity. © The Author(s) 2011.published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Urbanization Development under Climate Change: Hydrological Responses in a Peri-Urban Mediterranean Catchment

Relatively few studies have so far investigated the hydrological impacts of urbanization in Mediterranean catchments, and particularly in peri-urban catchments experiencing relatively rapid and large changes in their land-use mosaic. This study uses data-based model simulations to investigate such impacts, with the Ribeira dos Covoes catchment in Portugal as a concrete Mediterranean peri-urban catchment example. We distinguish the impacts of urbanization from those of climatic change on the water flux partitioning and connectivity in the catchment over the period 1958-2013. Decrease in precipitation over this period has primarily driven decreases in annual runoff and actual evapotranspiration, while the urbanization development has primarily changed the relative flux partitioning and connectivity pattern in the catchment. The relative contribution of overland flow to annual and seasonal runoff has increased, keeping the absolute overland flow more or less intact, while the baseflow contribution to the stream network has decreased. Methodologically, the present simulation approach provides a relevant means for distinguishing main drivers of change in hydrological flux partitioning and connectivity under concurrent urbanization and climatic changes.</p

Contents

Efficacy in German Teacher Education Ewald Kiel; Sabine Weiß; Thomas Eberle (1) Provision and Usage of Medical Services by Community Pharmacy: A Comparative Study of New York, Macao and Zhuhai (China) GE Shuai; Kuan-long Cheong; HU Hao; WANG Yitao (11) Government Conduct: The Guiding Force for Developing National Soft Power TANG Daixing; LI Xiaoping; CHEN Qing (18) Functions of Courtroom Responses in Cognitive Context Construction and the Realization of Litigants’ Communicative Aims in Chinese Court Hearing GE Yunfeng (27) Structural Review of Rent Government and Its Effect on Democracy Process Mehrzad Javadi Kouchaksaraei; Mohammad Reevany Bustami (33) A Probe into Translation Strategies from Relevance Perspective—Direct Translation and Indirect Translation XI Dong (39) Military Intervention in the Nigerian Politics and Its Impact on the Development of Managerial Elite: 1966-1979 Olusoji James George; Olusanmi C. Amujo; Nelarine Cornelius (45) A Brief Introduction to Chinese Mascot PENG Yuanqin (54) The Development of an Evaluation Model on Learning Management of Foreign Language Teachers in the World-Class Standard Primary Schools Penprapa Kuapituk; Songsak Phusee-orn; Nawamin Prachanant (60) An Assessment of Housing Delivery in Nigeria: Federal Mortgage Bank Scenario Joseph K. Ukwayi; Eja E. Eja; Felix E. Ojong; Judith E. Otu (68) Analysis University Identity System (UIS) in the Perspective of Soft Power CAO Hailing (75) Rethinking Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: An Advocacy for the Buttom-Top Paradigm Achimugu Hassan; Abubakar Y. Idu; Agboni Joy Uyo; Orokpo John Ogbole (78) Determinant Controllability of Responsibility Accounting in Profit Planning Evans O. N. D. Ocansey; John A. Enahoro (91) Present Development Situation of Commercial Service Industry of Japan and Enlightenment to Shandong Province LIU Yanyan (96) Impediments to Entrepreneurship Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Anietie E. Efi; Sunday S. Akpan (102) Introduction to Membership Rights HOU Debin (110) Local Government and Good Governance in Nigeira’s Emerging Democracy, 1999-2011: An Analysis of the Constraining Factors Ademola Adebisi (114) Discussion on the Democratic Value Orientation of International Law WANG Jiabing (123) Investigating the Relative Importance of Customer Recovery Strategies in the Hospitality Industry Ibok, Nkanikpo Ibok; Victoria, Sunday Umana; Agu, Godswill Agu (130) On Chinese Sports Competition Honesty Construction Research LI Jian (137) Safeguard by Rule of Law for the Fiduciary Construction of Chinese Capital Market JIANG Furong; Tony ZHANG Lu (141) The Conditions for Achieving the Private Copy of Protected Works in Jordanian Law Adnan Al-Nuemat Ahmed; Isaaf Alazab Saleem (147) Causes of the Global Financial Crisis and Its Effects on the Arab Countries Thikraiat Soufan; Shatha Abdul-Khaliq; Ruba Abu Shihab (153) Background Analysis of Traffic Law Discipline Construction ZHANG Zhiwen (160) The Use of Too as a Pragmatic Presupposition Trigger KANG Qiang (165) An Empirical Study on Problems Involved in CET-4 Communicative Listening Test and Teaching LEI Min (170) Causes and Enlightenments of European Debt Crisis on China’s Participation in East Asia’s Monetary Cooperation CUI Rui (179) Reflections on the Overseas Labor Welfare Plan of Pakistan with the Overseas Workers Welfare Security of China ZUO Yujia (182) Overseas Returnees’ Entrepreneurial Competency and Personality Research FAN Wei; ZHAO Ning; CAI Xuejun; FU Jianchun (186) Analysis on Value Creation Inherent Mechanism and Profit Model of Creative Industry in Jilin Province FANG Wen; DING Mengchun (195) Credit Legal System Research of Chinese Market Economy – Based on the Financial Crisis Brought by the United States’ Subprime Crisis YU Haibin (198) Column Topic: Institutional Construction of Public Participation in Environment Affairs The Construction of China’s Environmental Public Interest Litigation Mechanism TANG Meng; SUN Kai (201) The Construction of China’s Environmental Legislation Public Participation System TANG Meng; TAN Xinyu (206) The Breakthrough on the Legality Plight of Environmental Control in China TANG Meng; CHENG Xiaoye (212) Brief Introduction to Dr. TANG Meng (219) French Column Reflections on the Implementation of the FOS for the Benefit of Students Majored in French WANG Shuyan; ZHANG Qinglu (220) The Comparison of the Cultural Connotations of Animal Terms in Chinese and French LÜ Jiqun (225) The Thought Existentialiste in The Little Prince WANG Mu (231

Pitfalls in the routine diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus

Two hundred isolates of Presumed Staphylococcus aureus from routine clinical specimens, collected from two government hospitals in Abha, Saudi Arabia, had their identity verified. We used the tube coagulase test as our gold standard. Twenty (10%) of the isolates were mis-identified. Reliance by the two laboratories on DNase test, Mannitol fermentation reaction and improper performance of the coagulase test, were responsible for the mis-diagnosis. Key Words: Staphylococcus aureus, diagnosis, pitfalls. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.4(1) 2005: 83-8

Hydro-Chemical and Stable Isotope Properties of Groundwater in Mt. Karang, West Java, Indonesia

text会議発表論文 / Conference Paperconference pape

Remote Sensing Identification of Possible Meteorite Impact Crater on Ciletuh, West Java

Ciletuh is a geopark area in West Java that has a semicircle-shaped cliff called mega-amphitheater. Morphogenesis of the amphitheater is still unknown. One possible cause is a meteorite impact that triggered a mega slump. This study aims to collect the evidence of meteorite impact. It has significant value for the geology of Indonesia since this region not yet has confirmed impact crater. In this research, image analysis from satellite remote sensing is used for identification of meteorite impact geomorphology. An analysis based on DEM unveils a ring morphology, a possible clue of an impact crater. The depression zone surrounded by a circular shape with an uplift area in the middle resembles characteristics of the complex impact crater. Meandering Ciletuh river indicates a compression due to a slump towards the southwest. Reconstruction of possible position toward the northeast (before slump deformation occurred) shows a clearer possible meteorite impact crater. A ground checking of identified structure proves that a bowl-shaped morphology found at the possible impact crater. Some steep dip structures have found, these might be due to an impact that causes the orientation of the structure to be upright. A stone that resembles the shatter-cone is found in the mélange area. The mélange is believed as a product of a sea trench million years ago. By using meteorite impact theory, it is also possible that the mélange is a kind of impact breccia. This feature adds uniqueness to Ciletuh as a geopark

Non-invasive management of peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common and symptoms can be debilitating and lethal. Risk management, exercise, radiological and surgical intervention are all valuable therapies, but morbidity and mortality rates from this disease are increasing. Circulatory enhancement can be achieved using simple medical electronic devices, with claims of minimal adverse side effects. The evidence for these is variable, prompting a review of the available literature. METHODS: Embase and Medline were interrogated for full text articles in humans and written in English. Any external medical devices used in the management of peripheral arterial disease were included if they had objective outcome data. RESULTS: Thirty-one papers met inclusion criteria, but protocols were heterogenous. The medical devices reported were intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), electronic nerve (NMES) or muscle stimulators (EMS), and galvanic electrical dressings. In patients with intermittent claudication, IPC devices increase popliteal artery velocity (49-70 %) and flow (49-84 %). Gastrocnemius EMS increased superficial femoral artery flow by 140 %. Over 4.5-6 months IPC increased intermittent claudication distance (ICD) (97-150 %) and absolute walking distance (AWD) (84-112 %), with an associated increase in quality of life. NMES of the calf increased ICD and AWD by 82 % and 61-150 % at 4 weeks, and 26 % and 34 % at 8 weeks. In patients with critical limb ischaemia IPC reduced rest pain in 40-100 % and was associated with ulcer healing rates of 26 %. IPC had an early limb salvage rate of 58-83 % at 1-3 months, and 58-94 % at 1.5-3.5 years. No studies have reported the use of EMS or NMES in the management of CLI. CONCLUSION: There is evidence to support the use of IPC in the management of claudication and CLI. There is a building body of literature to support the use of electrical stimulators in PAD, but this is low level to date. Devices may be of special benefit to those with limited exercise capacity, and in non-reconstructable critical limb ischaemia. Galvanic stimulation is not recommended

Epidemiological Significance of the Colonization of Streptococcus Agalactiae in the Anorectum and Endocervix of Non-Parturients in Jos, Nigeria

Knowledge of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage and infections in Africa is very scanty but few cases have been reported in Nigeria in particular. Streptococcus agalactiae has been reported to cause infections and diseases in non-parturients and adults ranging from bacteremia, osteomylitis, arthritis, and endocarditis to breast abscess among others, hence the necessity for this study. Fifty six non-pregnant women of different age groups and social status were screened for GBS in Plateau State Specialist Hospital using the Christie, Atkins and Munch-Petersen (CAMP) and hippurate hydrolysis tests. Two (3.6 %) of the 56 women were positive for GBS. The 2 isolates were all from the anorectum. The endocervix yielded no culture. The antibiogram showed that ampicillin is the drug of choice with all isolates (100%) sensitive to the drug. No statistically significant relationship was observed between the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients and GBS carriage (P&gt;0.05). This survey shows a much lower carriage proportion than that reported in Ibadan, Nigeria from non-parturients.Key words: Streptococcus agalactiae, epidemiology, anorectum, endocervix, non-parturient