Seeking sustainability on service learning projects

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Stability analysis and performance design for fuzzy-model-based control system under imperfect premise matching

Author name used in this publication: F. H. F. LeungCentre for Signal Processing, Department of Electronic and Information EngineeringRefereed conference paper2007-2008 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Residents with Alzheimer’s Disease in Long-Term Care Facilities in Hong Kong: Patterns of Hospitalization and Emergency Room Use

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Effect of synthesis conditions on the physiochemical properties of lauric acid coated magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted broad interests in many biomedical areas, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic bio-sensing, and cell labeling [1]. To avoid nanoparticle aggregation and enhance their colloidal stability, carboxylate surfactants are widely used as coating materials to form steric repulsions between nanoparticles [2]. Lauric acid is one of the classical carboxylate materials, and is already approved for use in pharmaceuticals and food industry, which makes it a very promising coating material for nanoparticles in biomedical application. [3] Various methods, like mechanical milling, microemulsion, co-precipitation, thermal decomposition, etc., have been widely attempted to prepare nanoparticles. However, it is reported that the synthesis route has great impact on the properties of nanoparticle products, such as aluminium oxide nanoparticles, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles, and so on [4, 5]. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate the effects of different synthesis methods on the properties of lauric acid coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The research outcome can enable the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles with desired features. Here, lauric acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles (LAIONPs) were prepared through two methods, co-precipitation and thermal decomposition. The products were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The iron-oxide-core average size could be tuned from 9 nm (CP-1), 11 nm (CP-2) to 13 nm (CP-3) by using different stirring speed of 1200 rpm, 800 rpm, and 400 rpm, respectively in co-precipitation experiments, while the core average size could be adjusted from 7 nm (TD-1), 11 nm (TD-2) to 17 nm (TD-3) by following different heating process in thermal - ecomposition experiments. (Fig. 1) The nanoparticles obtained through thermal decomposition (LAIONPs-TD) showed more uniform sizes and morphologies than the ones got from co-precipitation (LAIONPs-CP). Higher mass ratio of lauric acid in TD samples than CP samples, as indicated in TGA results (Fig. 2a and 2b), implies higher surface cover density of lauric acid surfactant on LAIONPs-TD than LAIONPs-CP. All the six LAIONPs samples exhibited superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature (Fig. 2c and 2d). The saturated magnetization (Ms) of LAIONPs increased as the particle size increased. Such a trend can be observed in the samples obtained through co-precipitation (CP-1, 54 emu/g; CP-2, 58 emu/g; and CP-3, 63 emu/g) and also in the samples obtained through thermal decomposition (TD-1, 53 emu/g; TD-2, 64 emu/g; TD-3, and 78 emu/g). For the LAIONPs with similar average core size of 11 nm, Ms value of TD-2 obtained by thermal decomposition (64 emu/g) was higher than CP-2 obtained by co-precipitation (58 emu/g). As shown in Fig. 2e, in colloidal solution with solvent of chloroform, smaller mean hydrodynamic sizes and narrower hydrodynamic size distributions were observed on IONPs-TD samples, compared with IONPs-CP samples. This work revealed the influences of two different synthesis methods on the core size, morphology, hydrodynamic size, surfactant coating mass ratio, and magnetic behavior of the final products. Our comparative study provides insights into the influence of synthesis conditions on the geometrical and magnetic properties of lauric acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles.postprin

Stability conditions for fuzzy control systems with fuzzy feedback gains

Author name used in this publication: F. H. F. LeungCentre for Signal Processing, Department of Electronic and Information EngineeringRefereed conference paper2007-2008 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Service learning in medical and nursing training: A randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to explore the long term effect of a service learning project on medical and nursing students' knowledge in aging and their attitudes toward older adults. A total of 124 students were recruited and then randomized to intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). A pre-and-post-intervention design measured students' knowledge in aging (using modified Palmore's Fact on Aging Quiz) and attitudes toward older adults (using Kogan's Old People Scale). A total of 103 students completed all the activities and questionnaires. After the intervention, there were significant differences between the IG and CG on Palmore's mental health (MH) (P =.04), Palmore's total score (P =.02) and Kogan's negative attitudes toward older adults (P =.001). All students increased their positive attitude toward older adults after the intervention. However, both the IG and CG showed a decrease in positive attitudes 1 month after the interventon, and such decrease varied, depending on the programme which students attended. The current study showed that the 10-week service learning activities significantly increased medical and nursing students' overall knowledge of aging and their understanding of mental health needs in old age, and reduced their negative attitudes toward older adults. However, the effect is not long-lasting. On the other hand, its effect on positive attitudes toward older adults cannot be concluded. Periodic contacts with older adults via service learning activities may be needed to sustain attitude change toward older adults. © 2011 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Severe Spastic Contractures and Diabetes Mellitus Independently Predict Subsequent Minimal Trauma Fractures Among Long-Term Care Residents

Design This was a longitudinal cohort study of prospectively collected data. Participants were followed from March 2007 to March 2016 or until death. Setting A 300-bed long-term care hospital in Hong Kong. Participants All long-term care residents who were in need of continuous medical and nursing care for their activities of daily living. Measurements Information on patients' demographic data, severe contracture defined as a decrease of 50% or more of the normal passive range of joint movement of the joint, and severe limb spasticity defined by the Modified Ashworth Scale higher than grade 3, medical comorbidities, functional status, cognitive status, nutritional status including body mass index and serum albumin, past history of fractures, were evaluated as potential risk factors for subsequent MTF. Results Three hundred ninety-six residents [148 males, mean ± standard deviation (SD), age = 79 ± 16 years] were included for analysis. The presence of severe contracture was highly prevalent among the study population: 91% of residents had at least 1 severe contracture, and 41% of residents had severe contractures involving all 4 limbs. Moreover, there were a significant proportion of residents who had severe limb spasticity with the elbow flexors (32.4%) and knee flexors (33.9%) being the most commonly involved muscles. Twelve residents (3%) suffered from subsequent MTF over a median follow-up of 33 (SD = 30) months. Seven out of these 12 residents died during the follow-up period, with a mean survival of 17.8 months (SD = 12.6) after the fracture event. The following 2 factors were found to independently predict subsequent MTF in a multivariate Cox regression: bilateral severe spastic knee contractures (hazard ratio = 16.5, P < .0001, confidence interval 4.8–56.4) and diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio = 4.0. P = .018, confidence interval 1.3–12.7). Conclusions Severe spasticity and contractures are common morbidities in long-term care residents, and bilateral severe spastic knee contractures and diabetes mellitus are 2 independent predictors of subsequent MTF. Spasticity management and prevention of contractures, combined with educational programs for caregivers to identify the high-risk residents and apply proper handling techniques during routine care, may be helpful in reducing the risk of MTF in long-term care residents. Further large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.published_or_final_versio

Robust stabilization of singular-impulsive-delayed systems with nonlinear perturbations

Many dynamic systems in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and information science have impulsive dynamical behaviors due to abrupt jumps at certain instants during the dynamical process, and these complex dynamic behaviors can be modeled by singular impulsive differential systems. This paper formulates and studies a model for singular impulsive delayed systems with uncertainty from nonlinear perturbations. Several fundamental issues such as global exponential robust stabilization of such systems are established. A simple approach to the design of a robust impulsive controller is then presented. A numerical example is given for illustration of the theoretical results. Meanwhile, some new results and refined properties associated with the M-matrices and time-delay dynamic systems are derived and discussed.published_or_final_versio

The Efficacy and Clinical Safety of Various Analgesic Combinations for Post-Operative Pain after Third Molar Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives To run a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials aiming to answer the clinical question "which analgesic combination and dosage is potentially the most effective and safe for acute post-operative pain control after third molar surgery?". Materials and Methods A systematic search of computer databases and journals was performed. The search and the evaluations of articles were performed by 2 independent reviewers in 3 rounds. Randomized clinical trials related to analgesic combinations for acute post-operative pain control after lower third molar surgery that matched the selection criteria were evaluated to enter in the final review. Results Fourteen studies with 3521 subjects, with 10 groups (17 dosages) of analgesic combinations were included in the final review. The analgesic efficacy were presented by the objective pain measurements including sum of pain intensity at 6 hours (SPID6) and total pain relief at 6 hours (TOTPAR6). The SPID6 scores and TOTPAR6 scores of the reported analgesic combinations were ranged from 1.46 to 6.44 and 3.24 - 10.3, respectively. Ibuprofen 400mg with oxycodone HCL 5mg had superior efficacy (SPID6: 6.44, TOTPAR6: 9.31). Nausea was the most common adverse effect, with prevalence ranging from 0-55%. Ibuprofen 200mg with caffeine 100mg or 200mg had a reasonable analgesic effect with fewer side effects. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis may help clinicians in their choices of prescribing an analgesic combination for acute post-operative pain control after lower third molar surgery. It was found in this systematic review Ibuprofen 400mg combined with oxycodone HCL 5mg has superior analgesic efficacy when compared to the other analgesic combinations included in this study.published_or_final_versio

Investigating the uneven current injection in perovskite-based thin film bipolar resistance switching devices by thermal Imaging

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