Financial access for immigrants: highlights from the national conference

Immigrants

Immigrant financial market participation: defining the research questions

Immigrants ; Population

Enhancing information literacy via MOOC and library’s i-Space

Equating search with research, as reaffirmed by the studies led by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library, is a widespread misconception among undergraduates in Hong Kong. Base on real findings of the studies, a self-paced, asynchronous, non-credit bearing online MOOC courseware “InfoLit for U”, has been launched in early 2018. The “InfoLit for U” MOOC courseware was jointly designed by the libraries of all public funded universities in Hong Kong. Its design takes reference from the relational model of information literacy, in particular, the knowledge creation face of informed learning. The focal module, developed by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library, addresses essential concepts and common misconceptions about using information in university learning and career settings, while the eight discipline modules designed by participating libraries focus on discipline-specific information literacy (IL) practices. All modules start with the “IL & Me” series of video sharing by professionals to highlight the personal relevance of information to university learning, research and future career. Animated scenarios, games and exercises help students to adopt appropriate learning-to-learn dispositions and best practices of information literacy. An i-Space has been set up in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library in October 2017 to enrich students’ information experience. It is a technology-rich space furnished with a variety of easy to use digital equipment and facilities for students from all disciplines to experience evolving technologies, to learn, evaluate and create digital content. The Digital Makerspace provides 3D Printers, 3D scanners, laser cutter, VR Experience Zone, IoT (Internet of Things) and Large Format Printing equipment while the Digital Visualisation Room is equipped with a high performance computer and high-resolution Video Wall to facilitate visualisation of data. The Multimedia Commons provides a Digital Studio and a number of multimedia workstations

Inspiring Novel Application of Technology and Self-Directed Learning in Library Makerspace

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s mission is to nurture next generation of critical thinkers, effective communicators, innovative problem solver, and global citizens. Opened to all students in September 2017, the i-Space of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library is designated to ignite students’ spirit of innovation and facilitate the development of self-directed learning. The vision of the i-Space is to lower the barrier of entry of the latest technology for students of all disciplinary and inspire novel application in their disciplinary work. Students can explore different technologies, including 3D scanning, 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, video recording and editing on their own in the i-Space, or join workshops or contests of its MakerMindset@i-Space programme to nurture a creative, curious, and can-do mindset. Apart from picking up new techniques, students also develop self-directed learning competence like identifying goals, plan for decisions and arrangements arising from the goals set, identify new skills to learn and set their learning pathway, setup evaluation criteria, constructive use of comments and feedback for further improvements and so on

One needs to be reminded and motivated: Mediating role of digital nudging for food waste reduction

© 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. This is the accepted manuscript version of an article which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2023-0025 ​​​​Purpose: The global food waste and food scarcity paradox is steadfastly increasing. This study aims to examine the effects of digital nudging as forms of positive and negative reinforcement to change food waste behavior and found that nudging positive reinforcement modifies this habit. Design/methodology/approach: A field experiment was conducted on 628 diners randomly split into experiment (n = 412) and control group (n = 216) in two separate dining locations over four weeks. Out of these, 412 diners were randomly subjected to tent cards with positive (n = 228) and negative (n = 184) reinforcement nudging and completed a questionnaire to ascertain if nudging affects their consumption behavior. Consumption waste per unit revenue was calculated from all 628 diners individually to analyze the financial impact between control and experiment groups. Findings: SEM analysis reveals that positive reinforcement mediates between external motivators (social media and restaurant service) and reduction of food waste behavior. Further analysis also reveals that nudging has a higher three times effect on reducing food waste as compared with no nudging (control). Social implications: Positive messaging encourages behavior change more effectively as compared to negative ones. Gentle reminders of how everyone can personally be a “warrior” or “hero” in the fight against global food waste increases the likelihood of altruistic motivation in tackling these issues. Originality/value: This study demonstrates how positive reinforcement in the form of nudges acts as key mediator to support reduction of consumer food waste on site, ultimately helping to reduce financial costs compared to those without nudges.Peer reviewe

Validation and reliability of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in Chinese population

Objectives: Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is a widely used questionnaire in epidemiological studies for assessing the physical activity level of elderly. This study aims to translate and validate PASE in Chinese population. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Chinese elderly aged 65 or above. Methods: The original English version of PASE was translated into Chinese (PASE-C) following standardized translation procedures. Ninety Chinese elderly aged 65 or above were recruited in the community. Test-retest reliability was determined by comparing the scores obtained from two separate administrations by the intraclass correlation coefficient. Validity was evaluated by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between PASE and Medical Outcome Survey 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), grip strength, single-leg-stance, 5 times sit-to-stand and 10-m walk. Results: PASE-C demonstrated good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient  =0.81). Fair to moderate association were found between PASE-C and most of the subscales of SF-36 (rs=0.285 to 0.578, p<0.01), grip strength (rs=0.405 to 0.426, p<0.001), single-leg-stance (rs =0.470 to 0.548, p<0.001), 5 times sit-to-stand (rs =–0.33, p=0.001) and 10-m walk (rs =–0.281, p=0.007). Conclusion: PASE-C is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the physical activity level of elderly in Chinese population

Mutations in the paralogous human α-globin genes yielding identical hemoglobin variants

The human α-globin genes are paralogues, sharing a high degree of DNA sequence similarity and producing an identical α-globin chain. Over half of the α-globin structural variants reported to date are only characterized at the amino acid level. It is likely that a fraction of these variants, with phenotypes differing from one observation to another, may be due to the same mutation but on a different α-globin gene. There have been very few previous examples of hemoglobin variants that can be found at both HBA1 and HBA2 genes. Here, we report the results of a systematic multicenter study in a large multiethnic population to identify such variants and to analyze their differences from a functional and evolutionary perspective. We identified 14 different Hb variants resulting from identical mutations on either one of the two human α-globin paralogue genes. We also showed that the average percentage of hemoglobin variants due to a HBA2 gene mutation (α2) is higher than the percentage of hemoglobin variants due to the same HBA1 gene mutation (α1) and that the α2/α1 ratio varied between variants. These α-globin chain variants have most likely occurred via recurrent mutations, gene conversion events, or both. Based on these data, we propose a nomenclature for hemoglobin variants that fall into this category

Cultural threats in culturally mixed encounters hamper creative performance for individuals with lower openness to experience

Ministry of Education, Singapore under its Academic Research Funding Tier

Sport-specific balance ability in Taekwondo practitioners

ABSTRACT Fong SSM, Cheung CKY, Ip JY, Chiu JHN, Lam KLH, Tsang WWN. Sport-specific balance ability in Taekwondo practitioners. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 520-526, 2012. Taekwondo is a combat sport emphasizing on kicking techniques and dynamic footwork. Specialized balance ability is crucial for Taekwondo practitioners. This study aimed to compare (1) the postural stability during turning, and (2) the forward lunge distance between adolescent TKD practitioners and non-practitioners. Nineteen TKD practitioners (12 males, 7 females; Mean age ± SD: 15.58 ± 1.07 years) and nineteen control participants (13 males, 6 females; Mean age ± SD: 16.21 ± 0.98 years) were recruited in the study. Balance performance was assessed by the Forward Lunge Test and Step/Quick Turn Test with the NeuroCom Balance Master system. Forward lunge distance, turn time and turn sway were measured. TKD practitioners were found to turn faster by 35.37% (p=0.004) and sway less during turning by 15.23% (p=0.034) than non-practitioners. The forward lunge distance in TKD practitioners was 5.67% shorter than that in control participants (p=0.046). This study shows that TKD practitioners might have sport-specific balance ability. The findings of this study inspire the exploration of the longitudinal training effect of TKD so as to develop the evidence base for this exercise option to improve the postural control of adolescents with balance problems