A Strong Impact of Genetic Background on Gut Microflora in Mice

Genetic background affects susceptibility to ileocolitis in mice deficient in two intracellular glutathione peroxidases, GPx1 and GPx2. The C57BL/6 (B6) GPx1/2 double-knockout (DKO) mice have mild ileocolitis, and 129S1/Sv (129) DKO mice have severe inflammation. We used diet to modulate ileocolitis; a casein-based defined diet with AIN76A micronutrients (AIN) attenuates inflammation compared to conventional LabDiets. Because luminal microbiota induce DKO ileocolitis, we assessed bacterial composition with automated ribosomal intergenic-spacer analysis (ARISA) on cecal DNA. We found that mouse strain had the strongest impact on the composition of microbiota than diet and GPx genotypes. In comparing AIN and LabDiet, DKO mice were more resistant to change than the non-DKO or WT mice. However, supplementing yeast and inulin to AIN diet greatly altered microflora profiles in the DKO mice. From 129 DKO strictly, we found overgrowth of Escherichia coli. We conclude that genetic background predisposes mice to colonization of potentially pathogenic E. coli

Applying outcomes-based teaching and learning framework in the BSc Information Management Program in the Faculty of Education

The Conference proceedings website is located at http://www.cetl.hku.hk/conference2010/conf_proc.htmThis study reports on the preliminary findings of a Teaching Development Grant project that applies the outcomes-based teaching and learning framework in the BSc Information Management (IM) Program in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. The study investigates three kinds of learning outcomes related to the BScIM Program: (1) Program level learning outcomes; (2) Course specific learning outcomes; (3) Generic academic outcomes: Information literacy and IM & Technology skills and knowledge of the BScIM Program. We examined the program level learning outcomes that were desirable to equip students for an IM-related career and to help students become a well-rounded university grad…postprin

Pediatric spinal cord lipoma - operative experience

The Abstracts in pdf format are available for download at the HKNS website: http://www.ns.org.hk/asmSession - Free Paper 5Meeting Theme: Degenerative Lumbar SpineBACKGROUND: Spinal cord lipoma causes tethered cord syndrome. The tethering produces neurological, urological and orthopaedic problems which cause significant morbidity in both children and adult. Prophylactic surgery was shown to have a trend in minimizing tethered cord syndrome in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patient.1,2 Long term results are …published_or_final_versio

MYOELECTRIC STIMULATION ON GLUTEUS MEDIUS OR BICEPS FEMORIS REDUCED KNEE VALGUS TORQUE DURING A FORWARD LANDING TASK

Anterior cruciate ligament injury can be caused by excessive knee valgus torque. This study demonstrated the effect of myoelectric stimulation to the gluteus medius and biceps femoris on the reduction of knee valgus torque. Twelve females performed a forward drop landing task in a biomechanics laboratory. A 130V myoelectric stimulation was delivered to either or both the gluteus medius and biceps femoris through electrodes of different size (38 or 19 cm2) when the subject landed. A motion analysis system was used to obtain the normalized knee valgus torque data. Results showed a significant drop from 15.7 Nm to 11.0-11.4 Nm in stimulating either one muscle with the big electrodes. The technology could be a new option to be implemented as active functional sport apparel for the prevention of sport-related injury induced by knee valgus spraining motion

Developing multiple literacies for BSc Information Management students

This study examines the development of information, computer software, and Web 2.0 literacies among undergraduate students at the University of Hong Kong. A survey was administered to students undertaking the Bachelor of Science in Information Management three times: on entry, in the middle, and towards the completion of the program. It assessed their self-reported literacy levels and their perceptions of familiarity with and the importance of the three literacies. Preliminary findings indicated that students had improved in all three forms of literacy at the end of the two academic years. Moreover, positive associations were found between their familiarity with each literacy, and their perceptions of its importance. Mastering multiple literacies fosters life-long learning by enabling students to search for information effectively and use applications such as Web 2.0 tools and computer software to present their ideas in academic activities and ultimately in the workplace. Accordingly, the study has implications for educators and librarians working to develop multiple literacies among Hong Kong university students.postprin

THE USE OF UNI-AXIAL GYROSCOPE FOR MONITORING HEEL TILTING VELOCITY DURING SIMULATED ANKLE SUPINATION SPRAIN MOTIONS

This study investigated the feasibility of using a uni-axial gyroscope to monitor the motion of foot segment. Five male subjects performed supination spraining motion simulated by a mechanical sprain simulator. A uni-axial gyroscope was attached on the shoe surface at the heel position of the right shoe to collect the heel tilting velocity. Optical motion analysis was also used to obtain heel tilting velocity as a standard. The intra class correlation and root mean square error of tilting velocity measured by the two methods are 0.70 – 0.99 and 8.21 – 37.11 deg/s, respectively. The result shows that it is possible to use only one uni-axial gyroscope for monitoring foot segment motion. This monitoring method can be contributed to the currently developing active protection “sprain-free shoe”

THE EFFECT OF MYOELECTRIC STIMULATION ON PERONEAL MUSCLES TO RESIST SUDDEN SIMULATED ANKLE SPRAIN MOTIONS

This study evaluated the effect of myoelectric stimulation on peroneal muscles to resist sudden simulated ankle sprain motions. Ten male subjects performed unanticipated inversion and supination spraining motions simulated by a mechanical sprain simulator. Myoelectric stimulations with different delay time were delivered to the peroneal muscles to initiate involuntary muscle contraction and ankle joint pronation torque to resist the spraining motion. The motion was captured and analyzed by a motion analysis system, and was quantified by the reduction of maximum heel tilting angle and angular velocity. Results showed significant effect in all conditions with the myoelectric stimulation of any delay time within 15ms. The maximum heel tilting angle and angular velocity dropped from 18 to 9-13 degrees and from 200-250 to 140-170 degree/s respectively. The present corrective mechanism could be implemented in our current research to develop an intelligent sprain-free sport shoe attempting to prevent ankle sprain injury in sports

Computing Thresholds of Linguistic Saliency

PACLIC 21 / Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea / November 1-3, 200

Accuracy of binary black hole waveform models for aligned-spin binaries

Coalescing binary black holes are among the primary science targets for second generation ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors. Reliable GW models are central to detection of such systems and subsequent parameter estimation. This paper performs a comprehensive analysis of the accuracy of recent waveform models for binary black holes with aligned spins, utilizing a new set of $84$ high-accuracy numerical relativity simulations. Our analysis covers comparable mass binaries ($1\le m_1/m_2\le 3$), and samples independently both black hole spins up to dimensionless spin-magnitude of $0.9$ for equal-mass binaries and $0.85$ for unequal mass binaries. Furthermore, we focus on the high-mass regime (total mass $\gtrsim 50M_\odot$). The two most recent waveform models considered (PhenomD and SEOBNRv2) both perform very well for signal detection, losing less than 0.5\% of the recoverable signal-to-noise ratio $\rho$, except that SEOBNRv2's efficiency drops mildly for both black hole spins aligned with large magnitude. For parameter estimation, modeling inaccuracies of SEOBNRv2 are found to be smaller than systematic uncertainties for moderately strong GW events up to roughly $\rho\lesssim 15$. PhenomD's modeling errors are found to be smaller than SEOBNRv2's, and are generally irrelevant for $\rho\lesssim 20$. Both models' accuracy deteriorates with increased mass-ratio, and when at least one black hole spin is large and aligned. The SEOBNRv2 model shows a pronounced disagreement with the numerical relativity simulation in the merger phase, for unequal masses and simultaneously both black hole spins very large and aligned. Two older waveform models (PhenomC and SEOBNRv1) are found to be distinctly less accurate than the more recent PhenomD and SEOBNRv2 models. Finally, we quantify the bias expected from all GW models during parameter estimation for recovery of binary's masses and spins.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, minor change