Blind speech separation algorithm for dynamically mixing systems

Conference sponsored by the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society2000-2001 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Genetic variation of Oratosquilla oratoria (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) across Hong Kong waters elucidated by mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The population genetic structure of the mantis shrimp, Oratosquilla oratoria, in Hong Kong waters was determined using 923 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. Samples were collected from six localities including the open-waters and sheltered bays in both the eastern and western waters of Hong Kong. Twenty-seven haplotypes were detected in 99 individuals. A high overall haplotype diversity (h=0.886), with a low nucleotide diversity (=0.0026), was observed, and the haplotype minimum spanning network suggested that rapid expansion might have occurred among the total stomatopod population. Genetic homogeneity was observed over a meso-scale distance (80-100km) whilst there were significant genetic differentiations between all pairs of the six samples. Partition of genetic variability based on hydrographic conditions did not reveal significant differentiations between: (1) eastern and western waters; and (2) open-waters and sheltered bays; but showed high levels of variation both within groups and within samples. Unexpectedly, genetic distance did not correlate with hydrographic distance among the samples. Results demonstrated a genetic patchiness pattern of O. oratoria in Hong Kong waters that may be attributable to the interplay between hydrographic conditions (e.g. salinity) and the species' life history traits. Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009.published_or_final_versio

Destination image in travel magazines: A textual and pictorial analysis of Hong Kong and Macau

Based on the analyses of texts and pictures in the top six outbound travel magazines in Mainland China, this article presents an evaluation of the destination images of Hong Kong and Macau as portrayed in 88 travel articles over a three-year period. The results showed that the projected destination images of Hong Kong and Macau were dominated by attributes related to culture, history, and art and leisure and recreation. Hong Kong was often described by image attributes such as places and attractions, shopping, cuisine and food, hotels, and the creative industries. For Macau, history and heritage, places and attractions, gambling, cuisine and food, and hotels were the most often reported. During the study period, Hong Kong and Macau witnessed several significant changes in the image attributes featured in both texts and pictures. These changes were partly influenced by news and events over the period. In this article, implications for destination marketing organizations and directions for future research were suggested

Large-eddy simulation of turbulent transports in urban street canyons in different thermal stabilities

Three scenarios of large-eddy simulation (LES) were performed to examine the characteristic flow and pollutant dispersion in urban street canyons under neutral, unstable and stable thermal stratifications. Street canyons of unity aspect ratio with ground-heating or –cooling are considered. In the LESs of the thermal stabilities tested, a large primary recirculation is developed in the center core and the turbulence production is dominated at the roof level of the street canyon. The current LES results demonstrate that unstable stratification enhances the mean wind, turbulence and pollutant removal of street canyons. On the other hand, in stable stratification, which has been less investigated in the past, the ground-level mean wind and turbulence are substantially suppressed by the large temperature inversion. Whereas, the weakened recirculating wind in the street canyon results in a larger velocity gradient that increases the turbulence production at the roof level. It also slows down the turbulence being carried from the roof down to the lower street canyon. Therefore, a higher level of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is retained at the mid-level of the windward side in the stably stratified street canyon.postprintThe 5th International Symposium on Computational Wind Engineering (CWE2010), Chapel Hill, N.C., 23-27 May 2010

Isolated foetal ascites.

The prenatal diagnosis and perinatal outcome of two patients with isolated foetal ascites compatible with chyloperitoneum is described. The foetal ascites resolved spontaneously after delivery with good perinatal outcome in both cases. A good prognosis can be anticipated in such cases. Antepartum and intrapartum interventions are seldom necessary.published_or_final_versio

Would Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Adhere to and Benefit from a Structured Lifestyle Activity Intervention to Enhance Cognition?: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Epidemiologic evidence suggests that cognitive and physical activities are associated with better cognition in late life. The present study was conducted to examine the possible benefits of four structured lifestyle activity interventions and compare their effectiveness in optimizing cognition for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Method and Findings This was a 12-month cluster randomized controlled trial. 555 community-dwelling Chinese older adults with MCI (295 with multiple-domain deficits (mdMCI), 260 with single-domain deficit (sdMCI)) were recruited. Participants were randomized into physical exercise (P), cognitive activity (C), integrated cognitive and physical exercise (CP), and social activity (S, active control) groups. Interventions comprised of one-hour structured activities three times per week. Primary outcome was Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes (CDR-SOB) scores. Secondary outcomes included Chinese versions of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), delayed recall, Mini-Mental State Examination, Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT) and Disability Assessment for Dementia - Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (DAD-IADL). Percentage adherence to programs and factors affecting adherence were also examined. At 12th month, 423 (76.2%) completed final assessment. There was no change in CDR-SOB and DAD-IADL scores across time and intervention groups. Multilevel normal model and linear link function showed improvement in ADAS-Cog, delayed recall and CVFT with time (p<0.05). Post-hoc subgroup analyses showed that the CP group, compared with other intervention groups, had more significant improvements of ADAS-Cog, delayed recall and CVFT performance with sdMCI participants (p<0.05). Overall adherence rate was 73.3%. Improvements in ADAS-Cog and delayed recall scores were associated with adherence after controlling for age, education, and intervention groups (univariate analyses). Conclusions Structured lifestyle activity interventions were not associated with changes in everyday functioning, albeit with some improvements in cognitive scores across time. Higher adherence was associated with greater improvement in cognitive scores. Factors to enhance adherence should be specially considered in the design of psychosocial interventions for older adults with cognitive decline.published_or_final_versio

Large-eddy simulation of street canyon flow and pollutant transport in neutral and unstable stratifications

Session 15 - Urban Dispersion II: 15.1postprintThe 90th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), Atlanta, GA., 17-21 January 2010

Human disease/clinical medical sciences for dentistry in early-years dental graduates: Transition from undergraduate study to clinical practice

Introduction Dental bodies across Europe have published curricula aiming to guide the development of a graduating dentist who is safe and competent, and which also contain direction on what knowledge and understanding of patient's health, drugs and disease a recent graduate should have. Materials, Methods and Aim A questionnaire to survey Foundation Dentists in Wales regarding their undergraduate teaching and assessment in human disease/clinical medical science for dentistry and how this translates to their knowledge, attitudes and confidence in the dental management of patients who may have chronic disease or disability. Results A 97% response rate to the questionnaire from Foundation Dentists graduating from schools across the UK showed that the large majority felt their teaching and learning in human disease/clinical medical science for dentistry was appropriately delivered and assessed, and that they were well prepared for independent dental practice and to plan and safely manage treatments for all their patients. Discussion This survey of newly qualified dentists representing graduates from different types of dental courses and both newer and long‐established schools across the UK reports the foundation dentists felt that they are competent and safe to care for all patients, including those with complex medical histories. Conclusions The foundation dentists surveyed have completed dental undergraduate courses containing the appropriate education and assessment for human health and disease, such that they are prepared to manage their patient population safely, and are well placed to serve their patients as the population continues to age and the amount of medical morbidity increases

The prevalence and characterization of verotoxin-producing Eschericha coli isolated from cattle and pigs in an abattoir in Hong Kong

The aim of the study was to define the prevalence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in cattle and pigs in a Hong Kong abattoir. Faecal and carcass samples collected from 986 cattle and 487 pigs from an abattoir were tested for verotoxin (VT) by PCR and cytotoxicity assays. VTEC was isolated from 41.5 and 1.8% of cattle faecal and carcass samples and from 2.1 and 0.2% of porcine faecal and carcass samples, respectively. Amongst 409 VTEC isolates from cattle, 9 were serotype O157:H7 and eaeA+. The most prevalent vt genotype among bovine VTEC was vt1+ vt2+ (73.8%) and in porcine VTEC was vt2e+ (30%). None of the porcine VTEC isolates and 9.3% of the bovine VTEC isolates was eaeA+. The non-O157 serogroup VTEC isolates carrying eaeA and EHEC-hlyA belonged to serogroups O172, O15, O84, O91, O110 and O121. The local dietary preference for pork or chicken (rather than beef), the low VTEC carriage in pigs, the rarity of additional virulence factors (eaeA) in VTEC isolated from cattle may explain the apparently low incidence of human diarrhoeal disease associated with VTEC in Hong Kong hitherto. However, the presence of non-O157 VTEC strains carrying the eaeA virulence marker in cattle highlights the fact that sole reliance on sorbitol-MacConkey agar for screening human VTEC isolates may underestimate the human disease burden. The changing dietary habits of the population in Hong Kong reinforce the need for continued vigilance.published_or_final_versio