A Gramaticalização do Verbo Ir e a Variação de Formas para Expressar o Futuro do Presente: uma Fotografia Capixaba

Esta pesquisa verifica o estágio do processo de gramaticalização do verbo IR, que tem assumido a função de auxiliar em construções perifrásticas para expressar tempo. Para isso, investiga-se a variação entre as formas sintética e perifrástica com IR para expressão do futuro do presente. Temos por hipótese que a forma perifrástica já atinge todos os gêneros das duas modalidades da língua, uma vez que já se especializou para codificar tempo. São examinados dois gêneros, tomando-os como prototípicos do continuun oral/escrito: entrevistas com informantes universitários e editoriais de jornal. Partindo de uma orientação teórica Funcionalista, num quadro mais geral, concebe-se a língua como flexível ao uso, passível de influências cognitivas, sociais e também individuais, embora haja nela forças que atuam no sentido de regularizar a estrutura. Seguindo algumas pesquisas que têm se mostrado frutíferas, o modelo funcionalista estará em diálogo com outro modelo que procura dar conta da heterogeneidade estruturada da língua e de seus processos de mudança: a Teoria Variacionista. Num quadro mais específico, os fundamentos que orientam a pesquisa são os da Gramaticalização. Os dados extraídos dos gêneros selecionados serão submetidos ao programa computacional GOLDVARB 2001 e, em seguida, interpretados à luz das teorias lingüísticas que fundamentam esta pesquisa

Hong Kong Renal Registry Report 2012

SummaryThis report examined the characteristics and trends of dialysis and renal transplant patients among the resident population of Hong Kong who were managed by hospitals or dialysis centers of the Hospital Authority, and accounted for approximately 95% of all patients receiving renal replacement therapies (RRTs) in the territory. Patients receiving RRTs solely in the private sector were not included in this report. Data trends from 1996 to 2011 are presented. In 2011, 1115 new patients were accepted into RRT programs, and the incident rate was 157 patients per million populations (pmp). An increasing trend was noted. The incident rate was 95.1 pmp at the commencement of the annual report in 1996. The point prevalence on December 31, 2012 was 8197 with a prevalence rate of 1152.5 pmp. Overall, there were 3573 patients (43.6%) on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 1246 patients (15.2%) on hemodialysis (HD), and 3378 patients (41.2%) were living with a functioning renal transplant. The PD/HD ratio was 74.2:25.8. The “PD First” policy was continued. The overall mortality rate among RRT patients was 9.95 patients per 100 patient-years exposed. There was a decreasing trend in mortality among PD patients. Infection and cardiovascular complications were the most common causes of death. Renal transplant was the modality with the best survival rates. The 5 years cumulative patient survival rate for patients on transplant treatment was 89.6%, whereas the corresponding patient survival rates for PD and HD patients were 50.7% and 55.7%, respectively. More than 70% of RRT patients with reports on rehabilitation were active and had normal daily activities

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Contemporary Green Solutions for the Logistics and Transportation Industry—With Case Illustration of a Leading Global 3PL Based in Hong Kong

The earth’s average temperature has risen by approximately 1.2 °C since the 1900s. The COP26 resolution aimed to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, while China has committed a more aggressive timetable to actually achieve the goal. It requires either that activities must not release any greenhouse gases or the emitted greenhouse gases must be offset. The logistics and transport activities contribute a lot to global greenhouse gas emissions on Earth. There are a no. of challenges of the logistics industry that are discussed, then the paradigmatic solutions such as green procurement, green packaging, green transport, and green warehousing, are respectively discussed. The three contemporary concepts of green solutions (circular economy, carbon neutrality and green cocreation) for logistics and transportation are explored. Subsequently, a detailed case study of CN Logistics’ contemporary green solutions is used to illustrate how to tackle the problems and exemplify the best practices to the other 3PL players. There are expected changes on green directives from the HKSAR Government on logistics green compliances. Finally, this paper concludes with an appeal to the industry to start the green journey immediately

VISUALLY INDUCED MOTION SICKNESS DURING COMPUTER GAME PLAYING

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of active control verses passive watching on visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) during game playing, as well as the types of eye motions. Two experiments are reported: Experiment one compared sickness levels in active and passive conditions and Experiment two studied the effects of eye fixation during passive watching. Preliminary results show that: (i) rated nausea levels during passive watching were significantly higher than active playing (p < 0.05) and (ii) nausea level during passive watching was significantly suppressed by eye fixation (p < 0.05)

Association between deep learning measured retinal vessel calibre and incident myocardial infarction in a retrospective cohort from the UK Biobank

Background Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of global death. Prospective population-based studies have found that changes in retinal microvasculature are associated with the development of coronary artery disease. Recently, artificial intelligence deep learning (DL) algorithms have been developed for the fully automated assessment of retinal vessel calibres.Methods In this study, we validate the association between retinal vessel calibres measured by a DL system (Singapore I Vessel Assessment) and incident myocardial infarction (MI) and assess its incremental performance in discriminating patients with and without MI when added to risk prediction models, using a large UK Biobank cohort.Results Retinal arteriolar narrowing was significantly associated with incident MI in both the age, gender and fellow calibre-adjusted (HR=1.67 (95% CI: 1.19 to 2.36)) and multivariable models (HR=1.64 (95% CI: 1.16 to 2.32)) adjusted for age, gender and other cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes mellitus (DM) and cholesterol status. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve increased from 0.738 to 0.745 (p=0.018) in the age–gender-adjusted model and from 0.782 to 0.787 (p=0.010) in the multivariable model. The continuous net reclassification improvements (NRIs) were significant in the age and gender-adjusted (NRI=21.56 (95% CI: 3.33 to 33.42)) and the multivariable models (NRI=18.35 (95% CI: 6.27 to 32.61)). In the subgroup analysis, similar associations between retinal arteriolar narrowing and incident MI were observed, particularly for men (HR=1.62 (95% CI: 1.07 to 2.46)), non-smokers (HR=1.65 (95% CI: 1.13 to 2.42)), patients without DM (HR=1.73 (95% CI: 1.19 to 2.51)) and hypertensive patients (HR=1.95 (95% CI: 1.30 to 2.93)) in the multivariable models.Conclusion Our results support DL-based retinal vessel measurements as markers of incident MI in a predominantly Caucasian population

Successful Treatment of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Keratitis – Assessing the Role of Voriconazole

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to report the successful management of the first case of Lasiodiplodia theobromae keratitis in Hong Kong. Methods: We conducted a case report. Results: A 43-year-old Chinese male with a history of diabetes developed left eye keratitis after a trauma during tree felling. Fungal keratitis was diagnosed using a confocal microscope on day 1, and L. theobromae was confirmed from the culture. He was given oral voriconazole, topical natamycin, and topical and intracameral amphotericin B. The patient’s condition improved after the initial treatment. However, there was a slow progression to descemetocele formation and impending perforation due to corneal melting. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed at 8 weeks after presentation. Final visual recovery was good with no recurrence of infection. The cornea remained clear. Conclusions: We report the first case of L. theobromae keratitis in Hong Kong, and it is the only case so far that involved the use of oral voriconazole in the combination therapy. Early recognition with the aid of confocal microscopy allowed the early start of treatment. The use of newer antifungal voriconazole topically and orally combined with topical amphotericin B appeared to be useful in the eradication of the fungus and prevention of recurrence. Intracameral antifungals might have improved the clinical management