Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund system : a study of the evolution of governance and policy tools

published_or_final_versionPolitics and Public AdministrationMasterMaster of Public Administratio

養龍神話的魔幻化重寫 : 讀也斯 \u3c養龍人師門\u3e

在香港，也斯被評為可能是最早譯介當代拉丁美洲小說的譯者，也可能是最早發表帶魔幻色彩的小說的作者。〈養龍人師門〉帶有濃厚的魔幻寫實主義的色彩，業界自然不乏以魔幻寫實主義分析也斯作品，然而似乎只把魔幻寫實視為創作技法，片面理解魔幻寫實主義，忽略其背後的精神。本文嘗試結合學者研究魔幻寫實主義的成果，旁借也斯訪談錄，分析也斯在〈養龍人師門〉如何用魔幻寫實主義重寫神話。本文核心主要是環繞以下兩個問題： 1. 也斯為養龍神話加入／重寫了不少情節和細節，這些故事新質有何意義？ 2. 也斯如何以魔幻手法處理重寫，並體驗了怎樣的魔幻寫實主義的特色？ 為行文方便，本文將「受魔幻寫實主義影響」、「經過魔幻寫實主義的手 法處理」縮寫成「魔幻化」

Improving the Energy Efficiency of Petrochemical Plant Operations: A Measurement and Verification Case Study Using a Balanced Wave Optimizer

The Chinese petrochemical industry is facing pressure to meet strict targets of energy consumption and carbon emission reductions. Water pumps are the primary equipment used in most chemical and agrochemical industries sectors since water is commonly used for cooling and heating purposes, but these pumps also consume a large amount of energy. Other uses of water pumps in these industries include producing steam for heating, preparing reaction media or absorptive reagents, rinsing products, and distilling. As for the electrical components of the water pump systems, current technologies of variable frequency drives and superconducting transmission lines are unable to increase the energy efficiency of these systems with a fixed load. However, the Balanced Wave Technology (BWT) is offered as a solution to overcome these limitations. In this report, a case study using a BWT optimizer is conducted on a closed loop water circulation system. Two BWTs are added to the individual motor-controlled section of each pump that is being used on the switchboard. For the first time, a detailed example was provided on how to implement option B of the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) in China by evaluating the performance of BWT as an energy conservation measure. The evaluated periods included those of the baseline, post-installation, and actual performance of the optimizers. An average saving of energy of about 10.46% is recorded in a 5-week reporting period. On this basis, that annual electricity saved is estimated to be 66,447.18 kWh, which is equivalent to the emission of 68.94 metric tons of CO2e. This case study demonstrates in detail how option B of IPMVP can be implemented for BWTs applied on pumping systems. In addition to petrochemical production plants, other industries like textile and clothing sections, which are heavy users of water and electrical energy with fixed loads in the production processes of raw materials, fiber, yarn, and fabric, as well as textile-dyeing and final treatment, could benefit from applying this new technology

A comparison of intimate partner violence and associated physical injuries between cohabitating and married women: A 5-year medical chart review

© 2016 The Author(s). Background: Cohabitation, referring to a co-residential romantic relationship between two intimate partners without a marriage license, has become widely accepted in contemporary societies. It has been found that cohabitating women have a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) than married women. However, as yet, no studies have investigated the level and pattern of IPV-associated physical injuries and its mental health impact on cohabitating women. Therefore, we aim to compare IPV-associated physical injuries between cohabitating and married women by conducting a review of 5-year medical records from the emer gency departments of two major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Using two computerized systems, we identified the medical charts of 1011 women who had experienced IPV and presented at emergency departments between 2010 and 2014, of which, 132 were cohabitating and 833 were married. Results: Cohabitating women were significantly younger (p-value < .0001) and had obtained a higher educational level (p-value =.008) than married women. After adjusting for those two variables, the logistic regression models showed that cohabitating women were approximately 2.1 times more likely than married women to present with head, neck, or facial injuries (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.30-3.40, p =.002), and the risk of having multiple injuries in different locations (head, neck, face, torso, limbs) was almost twice that for cohabitating women compared with married women (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.25-2.65, p =.001). Furthermore, cohabitating women were almost two times as likely as married women to experience more than one method of physical violence (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.18-2.51, p =.005). There were no significant differences regarding mental health, police reporting, and discharge plans. Conclusions: Owing to recent social changes to the family structure, including the growing acceptance of cohabitation, it is essential that a screening program for IPV is established for cohabitating women, as well as the inclusion of IPV content in medical and nursing curriculums and in-service training.published_or_final_versio

MicroRNA profiling study reveals MIR-150 in association with metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

© 2017 The Author(s). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in pathogenesis of human cancers. Several miRNAs have been shown to involve in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) pathogenesis through alteration of gene networks. A global view of the miRNA expression profile of clinical specimens would be the best way to screen out the possible miRNA candidates that may be involved in disease pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of miRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with undifferentiated NPC versus non-NPC controls using a miRNA real-time PCR platform, which covered a total of 95 cancer-related miRNAs. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that NPC and non-NPC controls were clearly segregated. Promisingly, 10 miRNA candidates were differentially expressed. Among them, 9 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated of which miR-205 and miR-196a showed the most up-regulated in NPC with the highest incidence percentage of 94.1% and 88.2%, respectively, while the unique down-regulated miR-150 was further validated in patient sera. Finally, the in vitro gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays revealed that miR-150 can modulate the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition property in NPC/HK-1 cells and led to the cell motility and invasion. miR-150 may be a potential biomarker for NPC and plays a critical role in NPC tumourigenesis.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A Novel Tetrameric PilZ Domain Structure from Xanthomonads

PilZ domain is one of the key receptors for the newly discovered secondary messenger molecule cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). To date, several monomeric PilZ domain proteins have been identified. Some exhibit strong c-di-GMP binding activity, while others have barely detectable c-di-GMP binding activity and require an accessory protein such as FimX to indirectly respond to the c-di-GMP signal. We now report a novel tetrameric PilZ domain structure of XCC6012 from the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). It is one of the four PilZ domain proteins essential for Xcc pathogenicity. Although the monomer adopts a structure similar to those of the PilZ domains with very weak c-di-GMP binding activity, it is nevertheless interrupted in the middle by two extra long helices. Four XCC6012 proteins are thus self-assembled into a tetramer via the extra heptad repeat α3 helices to form a parallel four-stranded coiled-coil, which is further enclosed by two sets of inclined α2 and α4 helices. We further generated a series of XCC6012 variants and measured the unfolding temperatures and oligomeric states in order to investigate the nature of this novel tetramer. Discovery of this new PilZ domain architecture increases the complexity of c-di-GMP-mediated regulation

Associations of comorbid depression with cardiovascular-renal events and all-cause mortality accounting for patient reported outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a 6-year prospective analysis of the Hong Kong Diabetes Register

BackgroundPsychosocial status and patient reported outcomes (PRO) [depression and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL)] are major health determinants. We investigated the association between depression and clinical outcomes in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), adjusted for PRO.MethodsUsing prospective data from Hong Kong Diabetes Register (2013-2019), we estimated the hazard-ratio (HR, 95%CI) of depression (validated Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) score≥7) with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic kidney disease (CKD: eGFR&lt;60 ml/min/1.73m2) and all-cause mortality in 4525 Chinese patients with T2D adjusted for patient characteristics, renal function, medications, self-care and HRQoL domains (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression measured by EQ-5D-3L) in linear-regression models.ResultsIn this cohort without prior events [mean ± SD age:55.7 ± 10.6, 43.7% women, median (IQR) disease duration of 7.0 (2.0-13.0) years, HbA1c, 7.2% (6.6%-8.20%), 26.4% insulin-treated], 537(11.9%) patients had depressive symptoms and 1923 (42.5%) patients had some problems with HRQoL at baseline. After 5.6(IQR: 4.4-6.2) years, 141 patients (3.1%) died, 533(11.8%) developed CKD and 164(3.6%) developed CVD. In a fully-adjusted model (model 4) including self-care and HRQoL, the aHR of depression was 1.99 (95% confidence interval CI):1.25-3.18) for CVD, 2.29 (1.25-4.21) for IHD. Depression was associated with all-cause mortality in models 1-3 adjusted for demographics, clinical characteristics and self-care, but was attenuated after adjusting for HRQoL (model 4- 1.54; 95%CI: 0.91-2.60), though HR still indicated same direction with important magnitude. Patients who reported having regular exercise (3-4 times per week) had reduced aHR of CKD [0.61 (0.41–0.89)]. Item 4 of PHQ-9 (feeling tired, little energy) was independently associated with all-cause mortality with aHR of 1.66 (1.30-2.12).ConclusionDepression exhibits significant association with CVD, IHD, and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes, adjusting for their HRQoL and health behaviors. Despite the association between depression and all-cause mortality attenuated after adjusting for HRQoL, the effect size remains substantial. The feeling of tiredness or having little energy, as assessed by item Q4 of the PHQ-9 questionnaire, was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality after covariate adjustments. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating psychiatric evaluations into holistic diabetes management

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Purification and Identification of the Modifies Soybean Gy5 proteins Overexpressed in E. coli

大豆組成中 40% 是儲藏性蛋白 Glycinin，為六聚體蛋白，具七種基因 (gy1~gy7)。本研究為增加大豆的功能性，因此透過基因改造方法將，降血脂胜肽 VVYP 嵌入 gy5 基因內，並利用大腸菌進行表現。改造前先參考電腦模擬改造蛋白的三級結構，選擇於蛋白的 variable region上三個位置進行改造，經由 crossover PCR 及引子黏合方式共得到十二種不同的 gy5 改造基因，分別具一至五套 VVYP 胜肽序列。接著利用大腸菌作表現，經由實驗證明十二種蛋白都能表現，選用本研究得到之最佳條件比較所有改造蛋白之表現情形，結果發現第三改造位置經改造的蛋白，其可溶性蛋白表現量最佳，其次為第二改造位置。也嚐試同時於第二及第三位置進行改造，得到具八至十套 VVYP 胜肽序列之 gy5 改造基因，以同樣表現條件進行測試，發現其具八套 VVYP 胜肽之 Gy5-v2533 可溶蛋白表現量最佳。由於不可溶之改造蛋白其表現量較高，因此以此型式純化十五種具 VVYP 胜肽序列之 Gy5 改造蛋白，再以 trypsin 及 carboxypeptidase B 對改造蛋白進行水解，並將水解液以 HPLC 進行分析發現改造之 Gy5 蛋白，其釋出之 VVYP 胜肽量，與改造基因中所含 VVYP 套數呈一正比例的關係，而 50 ug 的 Gy5-v2534 蛋白可釋放出 7159.93 pmol 之 VVYP 胜肽，為各 Gy5-VVYP 改造蛋白中釋放 VVYP胜肽量最高者。 本研究另一部份就是希望能提升 Gy5 蛋白的 methionine 及 glycine 胺基酸含量，以便作為水產養殖飼料中魚粉的代替品。由於消化道吸收胜肽能力比吸收單獨胺基酸更佳，因此設計一段為 MGKMGR 胜肽序列，並利用與改造 VVYP 相似方式進行改造。為了可以得到不同套數 MGKMGR 胜肽序列，因此採用 Template-repeat PCR (TR-PCR) 增幅目標片段，由此方式共得到分別具一、六、十和十三套四種不同套數的 MGKMGR 片段。除了十三套的 MGKMGR 外，其餘三種都分別改造於 gy5 基因中variable region上的三個不同位置上。同時也將由許文輝教授提供含有相同組成但不同序列順序之十套 RGMKGM 序列，在 gy5 基因上三個不同位置上作改造，因此共得到十二種gy5 改造基因，再利用大腸菌表現此十二種 Gy5 改造蛋白。分析後發現只有 Gy5-M16、Gy5-M21、Gy5-M26、Gy5-M36 和Gy5-G3 能成功表現，但 Gy5-G3 的表現較差，因此只純化其餘的四種蛋白，以 trypsin 水解並利用 HPLC 分析，確定都能釋放出 MGK 胜肽。Glycinins, accounting for 40% of the total seed proteins, are the predominant storage proteins in soybean seeds. It is a hexameric protein composed of five major subunits and encoded by seven genes (gy1~gy7). The aims of this study were to enhance the physicochemical values of soybean seed proteins by genetic modification of gy5 with multiple copies of bioactive peptide sequences (VVYP). Three sites of the variable region (I, II, and III) in the Gy5 protein available for genetic manipulation were predicted by computer simulation to reduce the possible change of the three-dimensional structures of the modified proteins and used in this study. A total of twelve different gy5 mutants with one to five tandem repeat of VVYP codons in the variable regions were generated by crossover PCR or annealing of the designed primers. Results revealed that modification in site III showed the best performance in expression level and solubility of the modified Gy5 proteins in E. coli, followed by modification in site II. Three mutants containing eight, nine and ten copies of VVYP sequences were also constructed. They were generated from a combination of five copies of VVYP sequences at site II and three, four, and five copies of VVYP sequences at site III, respectively. The mutant with eight copies of VVYP, Gy5-v2533, showed the best balance of the expression level and solubility under the conditions we tested. A total of fifteen modified Gy5 proteins were over-expressed in E. coli and then purified from the inclusion bodies. Yields of VVYP peptide released by in vitro digestion of these modified Gy5 proteins with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B were analyzed by HPLC. Results revealed that the VVYP peptide released from the modified Gy5 proteins is proportion to the copy number of VVYP sequences introduced into the variable region. Overall, the yield of mutant Gy5-v2534 was the best among those mutants and approximately 7159.93 pmol of released VVYP peptide could be obtained from 50 ug of purified protein. It has been of continuing interest in identifying and developing protein source as alternatives to fish meal for use within aquafeeds. The second part of this study using the same approach to manipulate and modify the gy5 gene and our aim is to improve the nutritional qualities by incorporating more methionine and glycine codons. A tandem repeat DNA corresponding to the MGKMGR peptide sequences were generated by Template-repeat PCR. Sequence analyses revealed that DNA fragments containing one, six, ten, and thirteen tandem repeat of the MGKMGR peptide sequences, respectively, were obtained. These DNA fragments with the exception of thirteen copies cassette were individually incorporated into the three variable regions of the gy5 gene. In addition, a DNA fragment containing ten tandem repeat RGMKGM peptide sequence provided by Dr. W. H. Hsu was separately cloned into the three sites of variable region. The modified gy5 genes were then expressed in E. coli and only five (Gy5-M16, Gy5-M21, Gy5-M26, Gy5-M36 and Gy5-G3) among a total of twelve tested strains displayed overexpressed modified proteins and could be purified from insoluble fractions, except Gy5-G3. The MGK peptide peptide released by in vitro digestion of the purified modified Gy5 proteins with trypsin was identified by HPLC.縮寫字對照表………………………………………………………………………iii 中文摘要……………………………………………………………………………v 英文摘要……………………………………………………………………………vi 前言…………………………………………………………………………………1 材料與方法 I. 材料 一、 菌種及質體…………………………………………………………………10 二、 藥品…………………………………………………………………………10 三、 分析及純化管柱……………………………………………………………10 四、 酵素………………………………………………………………………11 五、 培養基與緩衝液……………………………………………………………11 六、 引子…………………………………………………………………………11 II. 實驗方法 一、 製備大腸菌小量質體 DNA………………………………………………12 二、 聚合酶鏈鎖反應……………………………………………………………12 三、 Crossover PCR………………………………………………………………12 四、 Template Repeat-PCR (TR-PCR) 和 Adaptor-PCR……………………13 五、 電泳膠體回收 DNA 片段………………………………………………13 六、 黏合作用 (Ligation) ………………………………………………………14 七、 製備熱休克法之勝任細胞…………………………………………………14 八、 熱休克法轉形作用…………………………………………………………14 九、 DNA 定序…………………………………………………………………15 十、 菌種保存……………………………………………………………………16 十一、蛋白質凝膠電泳分析 (SDS-PAGE) ……………………………………16 十二、西方墨點雜交法 (Western blot hydridization) …………………………16 十三、計算蛋白表現量及可溶率………………………………………17 十四、純化大腸菌中表出之重組蛋白…………………………………………17 十五、分析改造 Gy5 蛋白胜肽釋放量…………………………………………18 結果 一、 測試 Gy5 蛋白表現最佳條件 1. Proglycinin GY5 蛋白表現…………………………………………………20 2. Preproglycinin Gy5 蛋白表現………………………………………………20 3. 比較不同 Gy5 蛋白在大腸菌中之表現……………………………………21 二、 表現含 VVYP 序列之 G5 改造蛋白 1. 電腦模擬 GY5 重組蛋白的三級結構………………………………………23 2. 改造 gy5 基因……………………………………………………………23 3. 表現含有 VVYP 胜肽之 Gy5 突變蛋白…………………………………25 4. 純化 Gy5 和 Gy5 改造蛋白………………………………………………26 三、 分析 VVYP 胜肽釋放率 1. 利用蛋白酶對改造蛋白進行切割……………………………………………27 2. 利用 HPLC 分析水解釋出之 VVYP 胜肽…………………………………27 四、 表現含較高 Methionine 和 Glycine 之 G5 改造蛋白 1. 提升 GY5 蛋白中 Methionine 及 Glycine 含量…………………………28 2. 表現含有 MGKMGR 和 RGMKGM 胜肽之 GY5 突變蛋白……………30 3. 純化各種 Gy5-MGKMGR 突變蛋白………………………………………31 4. 分析 MGK 胜肽釋放率……………………………………………………31 討論 一、 於大腸菌中表現不同 Gy5 蛋白……………………………………………33 二、 利用不同條件大腸菌表現 proglycinin Gy5 蛋白…………………………33 三、 改造大豆 gy5 基因…………………………………………………………34 四、 表現 Gy5-VVYP 突變蛋白…………………………………………………35 五、 純化 Gy5 蛋白及 Gy5-VVYP改造蛋白……………………………………35 六、 Gy5-VVYP 改造蛋白中 VVYP 胜肽含量…………………………………35 七、 利用大腸菌表現Gy5-GMK 與 Gy5-MGK 突變蛋白………………………36 參考文獻………………………………………………………………………38 圖表…………………………………………………………………………………42 附錄一………………………………………………………………………………79 附錄二………………………………………………………………………………8

Effectiveness of housing subsidy policy in Hong Kong and its equitable issue

Hong Kong Public Housing Program was initiated by a disastrous fire sixty years ago which made thousands people lose their shelter. Public rental housing (PRH) was built to provide affordable accommodation to people who are in housing need, such as the victims of disaster, low income families, etc. The financial situation of some PRH households had been improved after receiving years of housing subsidy by residing in PRH, which is heavily subsidized by the Government. They had affordability in finding a home in private sector, but they chose to stay in PRH and continued to receive housing subsidy, which they should not entitled. This phenomenon aroused widespread public concern in 1980s. After conducting public consultation in 1984-85, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) finally implemented the Housing Subsidy Policy (HSP) in April 1987 to reduce the housing subsidy to those who are no longer in need of it. Under the HSP, tenants who have resided in public housing for 10 years or more are required to declare their household income. Households with income exceeding the Subsidy Income Limits (SIL) are required to pay double net rent plus rates. The policy was reviewed after implemented for five years. Responding to PRH’s opinion on the policy, the policy was revised in 1993.Under the new measure, households with income between two to three times of the WLIL would be charged 1.5 times rent. Tenants, with income exceeds 3 times of the WLIL would have to pay double rent. Although HKHA did not adopted the method of eviction to force the well–off tenants to move out from the PRH, the ultimate aim of HSP was to vacate the flats resided by them. Instead of taking enforcement action, a moderate method of reducing subsidy and encouragement of home ownership was adopted to encourage well-off PRH tenants to surrender their PRH units, so that they can be re-allocated to the people who had genuine housing need. With a moderate approach, the effective of HSP has been reduced. The first part of this study would conduct an examination of the effectiveness of HSP. Effectiveness in achieving its aim and the policy outcomes would be the focus of this part. Public Housing is a scarce and limited social resource. A rational and equitable allocation of the PRH units is expected. The HSP is the first step for HKHA to take measure to rationalize the distribution of the existing heavily subsidized PRH units since the public housing program started in 1953. The later part of this study would evaluate the equity of the HSP based on some theorists’ conception on equity. Recommendations would be made in conclusion to provide future policy directive on HSP.published_or_final_versionHousing ManagementMasterMaster of Housing Managemen