The Impact of Change on the Hong Kong Convention and Exposition Business

The primary objective of this paper was to look into the future of the Hong Kong Convention Center. The July 97 hand-over has generated many speculations regarding Hong Kong\u27s future as a business center and as a tourist destination. The newly expanded Convention Center in the city has hosted many conventions and exhibitions in the past but its future is still uncertain. A wide scope of opinions is cited, predicting various scenarios regarding the future of the city. Based on these opinions and on statistical figures provided by the Hong Kong Tourist Association an attempt to predict the city\u27s future was made

A position sensitive photon detector for the CLAS12 ring imaging Čerenkov application

The upgrade of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) to CLAS12 will offer unique possibilities to study the strong interaction and the internal nucleon dynamics. For this, excellent hadron identification over its full kinematic range is essential and a Ring Imaging CHerenkov detector (RICH) has been proposed for installation into CLAS12 to achieve this. This thesis describes studies performed towards the selection of a photon detector for use in the CLAS12 RICH, which will be a crucial component for the success of the RICH performance. MultiAnode PhotoMultiplier Tubes (MAPMTs) have been selected as the most promising photon detectors for the CLAS12 RICH. A high-precision laser test-stand was developed to characterise candidate MAPMTs and the results were used to determine the Hamamatsu H8500 MAPMT as the optimal device. Throughout the laser tests the H8500 MAPMT proved to be single photon sensitive as demanded, the spatial resolution was found to satisfy the required value of less than 1cm by 1cm and the device exhibited sufficiently low crosstalk levels of less than 3%. The response and crosstalk of the device showed a dependency upon the MAPMT construction, the magnitude of which was shown to be negligible and overall the H8500 provides a plane of suitable uniformity to satisfy the imaging functionality of the CLAS12 RICH. To further confirm the H8500 MAPMT choice, its performance in response to Cherenkov light within two prototype setups was evaluated. First a small-scale prototype was designed and constructed, incorporating one H8500 MAPMT to image Cherenkov rings created by cosmic muons traversing aerogel radiators. Extraction of the results required full understanding of the device based upon calibrations made with the laser tests. The prototype was also simulated in detail, allowing for a model description of the MAPMT to be validated. Secondly, 28 H8500 MAPMTs were used in a large-scale prototype to image Cherenkov rings produced by mixed hadrons traversing aerogel radiators, to evaluate their performance in a geometry and an environment similar to that expected in the CLAS12 RICH. Both prototypes revealed that the H8500 MAPMT can be used to successfully detect the required 7 photons per Cherenkov event to achieve pion/kaon separation in the CLAS12 RICH. Furthermore, a pion/kaon separation of more than 3 sigma at 6GeV/c was observed through a preliminary analysis of data extracted with the large-scale prototype. The prototype studies also confirmed the low-noise behaviour of the H8500 MAPMT. As a result of the laser test-stand and prototype tests, the choice of the H8500 MAPMT as the photon detector for the CLAS12 RICH was validated

American Journal of Education: retos y oportunidades en las ciencias translacionales y la zona gris de la publicación académica

American Journal of Education (AJE) es una de las once revistas más importantes en el campo de la educación y publica nuevos trabajos de investigación en un amplio espectro de disciplinas educativas. Con sede en la Pennsylvania State University, la revista trabaja con editores asociados de toda la nación y con un consejo asesor de académicos sénior. También cuenta con un foro online (AJE Forum) gestionado por el consejo editorial estudiantil. El mayor problema que afronta la revista es cómo difundir eficazmente la investigación revisada por pares para que llegue a un público amplio, incluidos gestores, responsables políticos, reformadores y educadores. Dadas las limitaciones de los recursos universitarios, la revista ha explorado nuevas vías para difundir información sobre sus artículos a través de las redes sociales, y continúa evaluando la mejor forma de analizar el impacto de los artículos publicados en contextos académicos y políticos.The American Journal of Education (AJE) is one of 11 core journals identified in the field of education and publishes new research across abroad range of educational disciplines. Located at Penn State, the journal is supported by associate editors from around the nation as well as an advisory board of senior scholars. The journal also supports an online forum (AJE Forum) that is managed by the student editorial board. The major issue facing the journal is how to effectively disseminate peer-reviewed research to a broad audience that includes administrators, policy makers, reform advocates and educators. Given the limitations of university resources, the journal has experimented with new ways to disseminate information about its articles via social media and continues to assess how best to monitor the impact of journal articles in academic and policy contexts

Two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate strategies for follow-up in a randomised prevention trial

BackgroundFailure to collect outcome data in randomised trials can result in bias and loss of statistical power. Further evaluations of strategies to increase retention are required. We assessed the effectiveness of two strategies for retention in a randomised prevention trial using a two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT).MethodsParents of babies included in the host trial were randomised to (1) short message service (SMS) notification prior to sending questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months versus no SMS notification and (2) a £10 voucher sent with the invitation letter for the primary follow-up visit at 24 months or given at the visit. The two co-primary outcomes were collection of host trial (1) questionnaire data at interim follow-up times and (2) primary outcome at 24 months during a home/clinic visit with a research nurse.ResultsBetween November 2014 and November 2016, 1394 participants were randomised: 350 to no SMS + voucher at visit, 345 to SMS + voucher at visit, 352 to no SMS + voucher before visit and 347 to SMS + voucher before visit. Overall questionnaire data was collected at interim follow-up times for 75% in both the group allocated to the prior SMS notification and the group allocated to no SMS notification (odds ratio (OR) SMS versus none 1.02, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.25). Host trial primary outcome data was collected at a visit for 557 (80%) allocated to the voucher before the visit in the invitation letter and for 566 (81%) whose parents were allocated to receive the voucher at the visit (OR before versus at visit 0.89, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.17).ConclusionThere was no evidence of a difference in retention according to SMS notification or voucher timing. Future synthesis of SWAT results is required to be able to detect small but important incremental effects of retention strategies

Doing trials within trials: a qualitative study of stakeholder views on barriers and facilitators to the routine adoption of methodology research in clinical trials

Abstract Background Randomised controlled trials are the cornerstone of evidence-based health care, yet many trials struggle with recruitment and retention. All too often the methodologies employed to address these problems are not evidence-based, as rigorous methodological research on these issues is rare. The current research sought to identify barriers to the routine implementation of methodology research around recruitment and retention. Methods All registered UK clinical trials unit directors were sent a short questionnaire and invited to interview. Representatives of funding bodies and other stakeholders were also approached. Interviews were recorded and the content analysed. Results Data were grouped into four themes: acceptance of the need for methodological research; trial funding and development; trial processes; and organisational factors. The need to improve the evidence base for trials methodology is well established, but numerous barriers to implementation were perceived. Conclusions The knowledge and expertise required to routinely implement methodology research exists within the current research structures, and there are clear opportunities to develop the evidence base. However, for this to be achieved there is also a need for clear strategic coordination within the sector and promotion of the necessary resources

Reducing in-stent restenosis therapeutic manipulation of miRNA in vascular remodeling and inflammation

Background: Drug-eluting stents reduce the incidence of in-stent restenosis, but they result in delayed arterial healing and are associated with a chronic inflammatory response and hypersensitivity reactions. Identifying novel interventions to enhance wound healing and reduce the inflammatory response may improve long-term clinical outcomes. Micro–ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are noncoding small ribonucleic acids that play a prominent role in the initiation and resolution of inflammation after vascular injury.<p></p> Objectives: This study sought to identify miRNA regulation and function after implantation of bare-metal and drug-eluting stents.<p></p> Methods: Pig, mouse, and in vitro models were used to investigate the role of miRNA in in-stent restenosis.<p></p> Results: We documented a subset of inflammatory miRNAs activated after stenting in pigs, including the miR-21 stem loop miRNAs. Genetic ablation of the miR-21 stem loop attenuated neointimal formation in mice post-stenting. This occurred via enhanced levels of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages coupled with an impaired sensitivity of smooth muscle cells to respond to vascular activation.<p></p> Conclusions: MiR-21 plays a prominent role in promoting vascular inflammation and remodeling after stent injury. MiRNA-mediated modulation of the inflammatory response post-stenting may have therapeutic potential to accelerate wound healing and enhance the clinical efficacy of stenting

The Iowa Homemaker vol.33, no.1

Your Date, Rachel Bernau, page 7 Shape-Up, Karen Termohlen, page 8 All in a Day’s Work, Mary Jean Stoddard, page 9 Got a Man to Please?, Margaret Mattison, page 10 Spring Calendar, page 11 Everyone Cooks… Men, Too, Mary Odegard, page 12 What’s New, Ann Lindemeyer and Dee Mingus, page 14 Home Economics Mystery, Marilyn Bergeson, page 16 Here’s an Idea, Rachel Bernau and Margaret Mattison, page 17 Trends, Jane Montgomery, page 1