Routes to learning Chinese characters : strategies used by Japanese and Korean Chinese as foreign language learners

This study investigates the strategies used in novel character processing among 44 Chinese as foreign language (CFL) learners with either Japanese or Korean as their first language. The CFL learners completed a picture mapping task under three conditions: no cue, phonetic cue (pronunciation of the character) and semantic cue (description related to the character) provided conditions. Their strategies to map picture with pseudo-characters are analyzed. Positional strategy is found to be the dominant strategy in both Japanese and Korean learners. Japanese learners use more semantic strategy than Korean learners under semantic cued condition while correct pronunciation of the character positively predicts the use of phonetic strategy and positional strategy in Korean learners but not Japanese learners. The result supports that there is language transfer when learning a foreign language and the transfer is governed by orthographic distance.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

Genetic variation and structure/function studies of human apolipoprotein A-IV in relation to atherosclerosis

Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) is an anti-atherogenic lipoprotein, involved in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway and postprandial triglyceride clearance. The aim of this PhD was to characterise further the function of apoA-IV. Haplotype analysis of the APOA5-A4-C3 gene cluster revealed that the APOA4 T347S variant was associated with increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in the Northwick Park Heart II study [hazard ratio (HR) of 2.07 (95%CI 1.04 to 4.12)], independent of any effects on lipid levels. The S347 variant was also found to be associated with lower plasma apoA-IV levels (13.64+/-0.59 mg/dL) compared with carriers of the T347 allele (14.90+/-0.12 mg/dL, P=0.035) in the European Atherosclerosis Research Study I. Furthermore, amongst individuals with cardiovascluar disease (CVD) in the University College Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study, those homozygous for the S347 had significantly lower total anti-oxidant status compared to T347 carriers (31.2% 9.86 vs 42.5% 13.04, P=0.0024). Functional studies indicated that the pro-atherogenic role of apoA-IV-S347 could be due to its reduced antioxidant activity. Compared to wild type apoA-IV, apoA-IV-S347 decreased the time of 50% conjugated diene formation (T1/2 ) by 15% (P= 0.036) and apoA-IV-H360 increased Tm by 18% (P= 0.046). Potentially important residues of apoA-IV involved in LCAT activation were predicted by molecular modelling. Site directed mutagenesis was used to alter the polar face of helix 117-138 (R123Q, R134Q and N127R) imitating the three key arginine residues (R149, R153, R160) critical for apoA-I LCAT activation. On average the mutant apoA-IV proteins had reduced a-helicity compared to the wild type isoform in the lipid free state and limited differences in secondary structure once complexed with l-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3 Phosphocholine. These mutations did not alter the ability of apoA- IV to activate LCAT, indicating that the three critical arginine LCAT activation motif of apoA-I does not reside within helix 117-138 of apoA-IV

養龍神話的魔幻化重寫 : 讀也斯 \u3c養龍人師門\u3e

在香港，也斯被評為可能是最早譯介當代拉丁美洲小說的譯者，也可能是最早發表帶魔幻色彩的小說的作者。〈養龍人師門〉帶有濃厚的魔幻寫實主義的色彩，業界自然不乏以魔幻寫實主義分析也斯作品，然而似乎只把魔幻寫實視為創作技法，片面理解魔幻寫實主義，忽略其背後的精神。本文嘗試結合學者研究魔幻寫實主義的成果，旁借也斯訪談錄，分析也斯在〈養龍人師門〉如何用魔幻寫實主義重寫神話。本文核心主要是環繞以下兩個問題： 1. 也斯為養龍神話加入／重寫了不少情節和細節，這些故事新質有何意義？ 2. 也斯如何以魔幻手法處理重寫，並體驗了怎樣的魔幻寫實主義的特色？ 為行文方便，本文將「受魔幻寫實主義影響」、「經過魔幻寫實主義的手 法處理」縮寫成「魔幻化」

Application of tri-colour, dual fusion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) system for the characterization of BCR-ABL1 fusion in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and residual disease monitoring

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We studied the application of the <it>BCR-ABL1 </it>+ 9q34 tri-colour dual fusion fluorescence <it>in situ </it>hybridization (FISH) system in the characterization of fusion signal pattern and the monitoring of residual disease in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). The signal constellation on metaphases with the tri-colour dual fusion system was defined. The knowledge of various signal patterns obtained from the different genetic rearrangements was further applied to the analysis of hybridization signals on interphase nuclei.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>BCR-ABL1 </it>dual colour, dual fusion FISH (D-FISH) was performed on diagnostic samples of 22 CML patients. The tri-colour FISH system was performed on cases that showed aberrant signal patterns other than the classical 1 green (G) 1 orange (O) 2 fusions (F). Using the aqua band-pass filter, random signal overlap in interphase nuclei would be indicated by the presence of an aqua signal (<it>ASS1</it>), while genuine fusion was represented by the absence of the <it>ASS1 </it>signal.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using the D-FISH system, the signal patterns could be categorized into 4 groups: group 1 (n = 17) showed the classical 1G1O2F; group 2 (n = 2) showed 2G1O1F indicating <it>ABL1 </it>deletion; group 3 (n = 1) showed 1G2O1F indicating <it>BCR </it>deletion; group 4 (n = 2) with 1G1O1F indicating reciprocal <it>ABL1-BCR </it>deletion. The tri-colour dual fusion system correlated with the D-FISH system for cases with der(9) deletion. The added aqua-labelled <it>ASS1 </it>probe was useful in differentiating random signal overlap from genuine <it>BCR-ABL1 </it>fusion in the interphase cells (group 4).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although the D-FISH probe was valuable in establishing the different patterns of aberrant signals and monitoring patients with the classic 2-fusion signals in CML, the tri-colour dual fusion probe should be used for patients with der(9) deletion to monitor response to treatment.</p

Reexamining brand loyalty and brand awareness with social media marketing: A collectivist country perspective

Purpose: This study seeks to advance the literature by examining the mediating role of brand loyalty and the moderating impact of brand awareness in the relationships between social media marketing and collectivist Chinese behavior in the hospitality service context. This exploration is grounded in brand commitment and expectancy disconfirmation theories. Methods:Empirical testing was conducted on survey data gathered from 150 collectivist Chinese customers in Hong Kong, utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results:Brand loyalty plays a partial mediating role in the relationships between social media marketing and purchase intention as well as word-of-mouth. Additionally, brand awareness exerts a negative moderating influence on social media marketing-brand loyalty link. Implications:Recommendations are provided for front-line staff tasked with addressing communication challenges by effectively managing the hotel’s social media account. They are strongly advised to steer clear of creating face-threatening situations and to demonstrate respect for the loyalty of Chinese collectivist customers. Furthermore, a negative brand awareness effect emerges when collectivist Chinese customers compare hotel brands with online travel agents

The role of phonological consistency and family size of phonetic radicals in reading Chinese characters in school- aged children in Hong Kong

Also available in print.Thesis (B.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003."A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 2003."published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science