Rejection of hearing aid use among Hong Kong elderly

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.Also available in print."A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, June 30, 2005."published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

Fostering creativity from an emotional perspective: Do teachers recognise and handle students’ emotions?

Emotions have a significant effect on the processes of designing and creative thinking. In an educational context, some emotions may even be detrimental to creativity. To further explore the link between creativity and emotion, a series of interviews were conducted with design and technology (D&T) teachers in Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing concerning their experiences of working with students on design projects. The intent was to investigate how these teachers understood and managed their students’ emotions while teaching creative design skills. Some teachers indicated that they understood their students’ emotions through observing their behaviour, connecting with them by synchronising emotions or by evaluating student performance. The teachers also reported using various other methods to handle their students’ emotions. This study highlights the importance of equipping D&T teachers with skills for awareness and regulation of emotions so that they can better enable students to cultivate creativity in the design process

A framework for evaluating the performance of sustainable service supply chain management under uncertainty

Developing and accessing a measure of sustainable service supply chain management (SSSCM) performance is currently a key challenge. The main contributions of this study are two-fold. First, this paper provides valuable support for SSSCM regarding the nature of network hierarchical relations with qualitative and quantitative scales. Second, this study indicates the practical implementation and enhances management effectiveness for SSSCM. The literature on SSSCM is very limited and performance measures need to have a systematic framework. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the SSSCM importance based on aspects i.e., environmentally conscious design, environmental service operations design and environmentally sustainable design. This paper developed a hierarchical network for SSSCM in a closed-loop hierarchical structure. A generalized quantitative evaluation model based on the Fuzzy Delphi Method and Analytical Network Process were then used to consider both the interdependence among measures and the fuzziness of subjective measures in SSSCM. The results indicate that the top-ranking aspect to consider is that of environmental service operation design, and the top criteria is reverse logistics integrated into service packag

Single and Multiple-Band Bandpass Filters Using Bandstop Resonator Sections

In this paper, the design methodology and implementation of single-band and multiple-band elliptic function bandpass filters (BPFs) are presented, based on the concept of bandstop resonator (BSR) sections. One or more single-mode and multiple-mode BSRs can be dangled from a non-resonant node. Each BSR can generate one reflection zeroes (RZ) and one transmission zeroes (TZ). Multiple BSR sections are used to flexibly and independently control the location and bandwidth of the stop bands and therefore the same of the passbands. The method to design single- and multiple-band elliptic function BPFs has been detailed using a number of examples based on waveguide technology. For proof of concept, a 6th-order single-band BPF with six BSR&amp;#x00A0;&amp;#x003D;&amp;#x00A0;2 sections and a 3rd-order dual-band BPF using three BSR&amp;#x00A0;&amp;#x003D;&amp;#x00A0;3 sections are designed and fabricated monolithically using a selective-laser-melting (SLM) 3-D printing technique. Excellent agreement between simulated and measured results verifies the proposed design methodology and its versatility as well as the additive-manufacture approach.</p

Probable Secondary Infections in Households of SARS Patients in Hong Kong

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is highly infectious in clinical settings, SARS has not been well examined in household settings. The household and household member attack rates were calculated for 1,214 SARS case-patients and their household members, stratified by two phases of the epidemic. A case-control analysis identified risk factors for secondary infection. Secondary infection occurred in 14.9% (22.1% versus 11% in earlier and later phases) of all households and 8% (11.7% versus 5.9% in the earlier and later phases) of all household members. Healthcare workers’ households were less likely to be affected. Risk factors from the multivariate analysis included at-home duration before hospitalization, hospital visitation to the SARS patient (and mask use during the visit), and frequency of close contact. SARS transmission at the household level was not negligible in Hong Kong. Transmission rates may be greatly reduced with precautionary measures taken by household members of SARS patients

Elevation of hilar mossy cell activity suppresses hippocampal excitability and avoidance behavior

Modulation of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) excitability regulates anxiety. In the DG, glutamatergic mossy cells (MCs) receive the excitatory drive from principal granule cells (GCs) and mediate the feedback excitation and inhibition of GCs. However, the circuit mechanism by which MCs regulate anxiety-related information routing through hippocampal circuits remains unclear. Moreover, the correlation between MC activity and anxiety states is unclear. In this study, we first demonstrate, by means of calcium fiber photometry, that MC activity in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) of mice increases while they explore anxiogenic environments. Next, juxtacellular recordings reveal that optogenetic activation of MCs preferentially recruits GABAergic neurons, thereby suppressing GCs and ventral CA1 neurons. Finally, chemogenetic excitation of MCs in the vHPC reduces avoidance behaviors in both healthy and anxious mice. These results not only indicate an anxiolytic role of MCs but also suggest that MCs may be a potential therapeutic target for anxiety disorders

Psycho-behavioural responses of the general population to COVID-19 after mass vaccination: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Previous studies have examined public psycho-behavioural responses in the early stages of the epidemic, little is known after mass vaccination has been implemented. This study aimed to investigate the public's behavioural (adoption of COVID-19 precautionary measures) and psychological (depression, anxiety and stress) responses to COVID-19 and their relationships after the launch of the territory-wide vaccination programme in Hong Kong. Methods A cross-sectional survey study using anonymous online or face-to-face questionnaires was conducted between June 2021 and September 2021. A convenience sample of Hong Kong Chinese residents aged ⩾18 years were recruited online by referrals and from a university-run community vaccination centre. Results A total of 1893 valid questionnaires were received. The results showed that Hong Kong residents have high levels of adoption of precautionary measures and low levels of depression, anxiety and stress after the mass vaccination. Hierarchical regression analysis identified that in the fully adjusted model, the adoption of precautionary measures was a consistent protective factor (β ranged −1.51 to −1.67, p < 0.001) for depression, anxiety and stress amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions This study offers new information on the public's psycho-behavioural responses to the pandemic, as well as insights into public health planning after introducing the mass vaccination

Can heart rate variability be a bio-index of hope? A pilot study

BackgroundHope can affect the thinking habits, emotional regulations, and behaviors of individuals. Hope is considered as a positive trait by clinicians, who often assess the level of hope in psychological evaluations. Previous measurements of hope were largely based on self-reported questionnaires leading to the problem of subjectivity. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a bio index that is an objective, quick, cost effective, and non-invasive measurement. HRV has been used in the evaluation of physical health and some psychiatric conditions. However, it has not been tested for its potential to be a bio-index of the level of hope.MethodThis pilot cross-sectional observational study aimed to examine the relationships between HRV and the level of hope among adult Chinese people in Hong Kong. Convenience sampling was used and 97 healthy participants were recruited. Their level of hope was measured by the Dispositional Hope Scale-Chinese (DHS-C), and their HRV was quantified by emWave Pro Plus, a reliable sensor of HRV. Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis was performed on the HRV measurements and DHS-C.ResultsThe DHS-C’s overall mean score was 45.49. The mean scores of the subscale DHS-C (Agency) was 22.46, and the mean scores of DHS-C (Pathway) was 23.03. It was also revealed that there were significant, weak, and negative correlations between the level of hope and four out of ten HRV metrics. One HRV metric was found to have a significant, weak, and positive correlation with the level of hope.ConclusionThis study provided initial evidence to support the use of HRV as a bio-index of hope. Implications of the current study and recommendations for future research directions are discussed

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk profile of patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with tenofovir alafenamide or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for 96 weeks

Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic hepatitis BAterosclerosi; Malaltia cardiovascular; Hepatitis B crònicaAterosclerosis; Enfermedad cardiovascular; Hepatitis B crónicaBackground Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who switch from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) show changes in lipid profiles. Aim To evaluate how these changes affect cardiovascular risk. Methods This pooled analysis, based on two large prospective studies, evaluated fasting lipid profiles of patients with CHB who were treated with TAF 25 mg/day or TDF 300 mg/day for 96 weeks. Patients who fulfilled the American College of Cardiology criteria (age 40–79 years, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] 20–100 mg/dL, total cholesterol [TC] 130–320 mg/dL and systolic blood pressure 90–200 mmHg) required to assess 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk with baseline lipid data and at least one post-baseline measurement were included in the ASCVD-risk population. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated for patients in this population, and changes from baseline to Week 96 were assessed using intermediate- (≥7.5%) and high-risk (≥20%) cut-offs. Results Among 1632 patients, 620 (38%) met the criteria for the ASCVD-risk population. At Week 96, fasting levels of all lipids, except TC:HDL ratio, were lower with TDF than TAF. No significant increase was observed in overall ASCVD risk or in any ASCVD-risk categories during the 96-week treatment period compared with baseline. A similar proportion of patients in the TAF and TDF treatment groups (1.3% and 2.3%, respectively; p = 0.34) reported cardiovascular events. Conclusion Despite on-treatment differences in lipid profiles with TAF and TDF, predicted cardiovascular risk and clinical events were similar for both groups after 96 weeks