Relationships for quality improvement in the Hong Kong China supply chain : a study in the theory of cooperation and competition

Manufacturers recognize trusting, long-term relationships with suppliers can contribute to improving the quality of their products. However, developing these relationships has proved quite challenging. This study uses the theory of cooperation and competition to specify the nature of these relationships and how they can be established. Results of structural equation analyses suggests that manufacturers and suppliers who build cooperative goals rather than competitive or independent are able to discuss quality issues open-mindedly. This open-mindedness in turn strengthens trust and a long-term orientation which results in quality enhancing relationships with suppliers. Deutsch’s theory of cooperation and competition, although developed largely through North American research, seems useful for understanding and developing quality supply chain partnerships in East Asia

The effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation intervention for the caregivers of young adults with first-episode psychosis: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation (MBFPE) program on the mental-health outcomes of both caregivers and young adults with first-episode psychosis with an onset in the past three years through a multi-site randomized controlled trial. We also studied the outcomes of three potential mediating effects of interpersonal mindfulness, expressed emotions, and non-attachment on the program. Method: We randomly assigned 65 caregivers of young adults with psychosis to MBFPE (n = 33) or an ordinary family psychoeducation (FPE) program (n = 32); among them, 18 young adults in recovery also participated in the evaluation of outcomes. Results: Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted. No significant time × group interaction effects of MBFPE and FPE programs were found in any of the caregivers’ outcomes. However, the young adults with psychosis reported higher levels of recovery after the MBFPE program than after the ordinary FPE program (F = 8.268, p = 0.012, d = 1.484). They also reported a larger reduction in over-involvement of their caregivers (F = 4.846, p = 0.044, d = 1.136), showing that MBFPE had a superior effect to FPE in promoting recovery and reducing over-involvement. Conclusions: A brief psychoeducation program may not reduce the burden on or improve the mental-health outcome of caregivers of individuals with recent-onset psychosis. However, integrating mindfulness into a conventional family psychoeducation program may reduce the expressed emotions of caregivers, especially over-involvement. Further studies should explore how psychoeducation programs can reduce the impact of psychosis on family through sustainable effects in terms of reducing their burden and expressed emotions, using a rigorous study and adequate sample size

Phytochemical and Antibacterial Studies on the Genius Hypericum

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Phytochemical and antibacterial studies on the genus Hypericum, with synthesis of antibacterial acylphloroglucinol derivatives

This thesis is part of an ongoing project to characterize the antibacterial constituents of the genus Hypericum and to investigate their antibacterial activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation using various chromatography techniques was carried out on six plants in this study. Fifteen natural products were isolated. Their structures were characterized by extensive 1- and 2-dimentional NMR experiments. A panel of Staphylococcus aureus strains was used in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the plant extracts and isolated compounds. 2,5-dihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone was isolated from the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of H. forrestii. Fractionation of the DCM extract of H. moserianum and H. revolutum ssp. revolutum yielded 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone and the new 3-hydroxy-1,4,7-trimethoxydibenzofuran respectively. All three compounds were active against various S. aureus strains with MIC values ranging from 128 to 256 μg/ml. Stigmasterol was isolated from the hexane extract of H. beanii. Fractionation of the DCM extract of this plant led to the isolation of 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone and a mixture of two new acylphloroglucinols. (+)-catechin and (-)-shikimic acid were isolated from the methanol extract. The acylphloroglucinol mixture showed MIC values of 16-32 μg/ml. Stigmasterol, (+)-catechin and (-)-shikimic acid were inactive at 512 μg/ml. Fractionation of the hexane extract of H. olympicum L. cf. uniflorum yielded β-sitosterol (inactive at 512 μg/ml) and a new acylphloroglucinol (WS-09; MIC = 0.5 to 1 μg/ml). Fractionation of the DCM extract of this plant yielded four other closely related acylphloroglucinols, with MIC values ranging from 64 to 128 μg/ml. A new pyranone and lupeol were isolated from the hexane and DCM extracts of H. choisianum respectively. Both compounds were inactive at 512 μg/ml. Due to the excellent activity of WS-09, a four-step synthesis method was designed and patented. Twenty-five compounds were synthesized and the structure-activity relationship of various acylphloroglucinol derivatives was investigated

Dibenzofuran and pyranone metabolites from Hypericum revolutum ssp. revolutum and Hypericum choisianum

In a project to isolate and characterise anti-staphylococcal compounds from members of the genus Hypericum, a dibenzofuran and a pyranone were isolated from the dichloromethane and hexane extracts of Hypericum revolutum ssp. revolutum Vahl (Guttiferae) and Hypericum choisianum Wall. ex. N. Robson (Guttiferae), respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as 3-hydroxy-1,4,7-trimethoxydibenzofuran (1) and 4-(3-O-3″)-3″-methylbutenyl-6-phenyl-pyran-2-one (2). The metabolites were evaluated against a panel of multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 1 exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 256 μg/ml, whereas compound 2 was inactive at a concentration of 512 μg/ml

Anti-staphylococcal acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum beanii

As part of an ongoing project to investigate the anti-staphylococcal properties of the Hypericum genus, an acylphloroglucinol, 1,5-dihydroxy-2-(2′-methylpropionyl)-3-methoxy-6-methylbenzene (1), was isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of H. beanii (Guttiferae), together with a minor related acylphloroglucinol 1,5-dihydroxy-2-(2′-methylbutanoyl)-3-methoxy-6-methylbenzene (2) as a mixture in a 5:2 ratio. The known compounds 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (3), stigmasterol, catechin and shikimic acid were also isolated from this plant. The structures of the compounds were characterized by extensive 1- and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values the acylphloroglucinol mixture and (3) against a panel of multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus ranged from 16–32 μg/ml to 128–256 μg/ml, respectively

Agrumentative writing in L1 Chinese and L2 English: a study of secondary six students in Hong Kong

published_or_final_versionEducationMasterMaster of Educatio