Micro and nanotechnology commercialization: balance between exploration and exploitation

Innovative materials, components, and systems based on micro and nanotechnologies are recognized as promising growth innovators. The coming years the commercialization of micro and nanotechnology will be extended, but in order to commercialize micro and nanotechnology successfully, besides exploration a parallel focus should be aimed at exploitation. This paper presents in a brief and non-exhaustive manor a theoretical introduction and two company introductions related to exploitation and exploration focus embedded in the innovation development process to commercialize customer-oriented applications. A balanced approach between exploration and exploitation within organizations business, technological, and scientific domain could sharpen micro and nanotechnology companies into sustainable competitive market-driven enterprises.

Nanotechnology and business opportunities: scenarios as awareness instrument

For a few years now, nanotechnology has been recognised as a promising new growth innovator. This leads to a shift from the exploration of nanotechnology knowledge towards a phase of exploitation. The coming years this commercialisation of nanotechnology will be extended. Nanotechnology is a disruptive technology phenomenon, which leads to more difficulties in overseeing business opportunities. Additionally, the fact that high-tech small firms, especially those dealing with nanotechnology, are highly interested in developments in science and technology, begs the question how to stimulate the awareness for (new) business opportunities in nanotechnology within these firms. A promising strategy to stimulate learning and awareness of business opportunities in nanotechnology is the use of scenarios. These projections focused on uncertainty stretch the mental model of entrepreneurs and/or managers and have the ability to activate learning processes. This paper presents the (theoretical) fundaments of scenario usage in relation to the recognition of business opportunities in nanotechnology.

Strategies used by children to cope with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer: an exploratory study

The Conference program's website is located at http://www.hkicc.org/download/16th%20HKICC%20Scientific%20Programme%20(2009).pdfFree Paper Session - Psychosocial Oncology: abstract no. A6

Healthy children, healthy communities: Nurses’ contributions

Session: Mental Health Across the Life CycleConference theme: Health, Equity and Sustainable DevelopmentBackground: The mental health problems in children are aggravating in Hong Kong and have turned out to be a major public health concern. Objectives: The aim of this paper was to shed light on the mental well-being of Hong Kong Chinese children living in public housing estate. Specifically, this paper discussed how nurses can contribute in enhancing the health and well-being of the children in our society. Underlying values and principles: Children are our greatest treasures, the most precious resource. Besides, Children hold the key of our future. Therefore, for a better & healthy community, and for the better of our future, we must ensure healthy growth and development of our children. Knowledge base/ Evidence base: There is some evidence that children who engaged in healthy lifestyle, such as having healthy eating and regular exercises, was found to have less depressive symptoms, better emotional and physical health than those who did not engage in healthy lifestyle. Context of intervention/project/work: An exploratory study was conducted in the largest public housing estate in Hong Kong. Using convenience sampling, 162 Chinese children aged 7 to 15 years, attended a Health Carnival organized by a community centre in the housing estate were invited to participate the study. Methods: Children were assessed for any presence of depressive symptoms by using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Besides, childrenřs self-esteem was measured by using the Rosenbergřs Self-esteem Scale. Results and Conclusions: Results: Findings from this study reveal that more than 30% children were potentially at risk of depression or at least presented some depressive symptoms. The results also reveal that there was a medium negative correlation between self-esteem and depression scores. Conclusions: There is an imperative need for nurses to advance their practice and take a more assertive role in enhancing the health and well-being of children in the community. In addition, nurses should take one step forward to extend beyond traditional practice by building partnerships with schools and community to create a harmonious social environment and set up a community supporting network for children so that they can be able to lead a healthy life. Disclosure of Interest: None declaredpublished_or_final_versio

股骨旋轉的放射學評估：屍體標本研究

Purpose: To define how the lesser trochanter can be used in an objective manner to assess the femoral rotation in plain radiograph. Methods: Eighteen pairs of cadaveric femurs from Chinese individuals were used in this study. For each femur, radiographs were taken in the following positions with reference to the anatomical transepicondylar axis: neutral position; 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° internal rotation; and 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° external rotation. Lesser-trochanter index, which was defined as the width of lesser trochanter divided by the remaining width of the proximal femur, measured at the level of its most prominent point, which was perpendicular to the anatomical axis of the proximal femur, was obtained on a Picture Archiving Communication System workstation in every radiograph. Statistical analyses were performed by using a statistical software R (R language, version 2.12.0). Results: The lesser-trochanter index showed positive correlation with increasing external rotation of femur: correlation coefficient = 0.75 (p<0.00001). Analysis-of-variance test showed that the lesser-trochanter indexes of Group 1 (20° and 15° internal rotation), Group 2 (10° internal rotation to 10° external rotation), and Group 3 (15° and 20° external rotation) had statistically significant differences (p<0.00001). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the cutoff value of lesser-trochanter index to distinguish the three groups. By using the lower cutoff value as 0.17, we can distinguish Group 2 from Group 1 with a sensitivity of 0.85 and a specificity of 0.65. By using the upper cutoff value as 0.28, we can distinguish Group 2 from Group 3 with a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.73. Conclusion: The lesser-trochanter index can be used as a method to assess the rotational alignment of femur in plain radiograph. It is simple, objective, not affected by the factor of magnification, and can be applied to both long and short films. © 2012.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Toll-like Receptor: from Immunity to Metabolism

The human gut contains trillions of commensal bacteria, and similar to pathogenic bacteria, the gut microbes and their products can be recognized by toll-like receptors (TLRs). It is well acknowledged that the interaction between gut microbiota and the local TLRs help to maintain the homeostasis of intestinal immunity. High-fat intake or obesity can weaken gut integrity leading to the penetration of gut microbiota or their bacterial products into the circulation, leading to the activation of TLRs on immune cells and subsequently low-grade systemic inflammation in host. Metabolic cells including hepatocytes and adipocytes also express TLRs. Although they are able to produce and secrete inflammatory molecules, the effectiveness remains low compared with the immune cells embedded in liver and adipose tissue. The interaction of TLRs in these metabolic cells or organs with gut microbiota remains unclear, but a few studies have suggested that the functions of these TLRs are related to metabolism. Alteration of the gut microbiota is associated with body weight change and adiposity in human, and the interaction between the commensal gut microbiota and TLRs may possibly involve both metabolic and immunological regulation. In this review, we will summarize the current findings on the relationship between TLRs and gut microbiota with a focus on metabolic regulation, and discuss how such interaction participates in host metabolism.published_or_final_versio

Effectiveness of a parental training programme in enhancing the parent-child relationship and reducing harsh parenting practices and parental stress in preparing children for their transition to primary school: a randomised controlled trial

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Play interventions to reduce anxiety and negative emotions in hospitalized children

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