COVID-19 Crisis: Exploring Community of Inquiry in Online Learning for Sub-Degree Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a tremendous impact on the pedagogy and learning experience of students in sub-degree education sector of Hong Kong. Online learning has become the “sole” solution to deal with student learning challenges during this chaotic period. In this study, we explore online learning for sub-degree students by using a community of inquiry (CoI). As such, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on survey data gathered from 287 sub-degree students from the business and engineering disciplines. Results indicated that the network speed for online education determines the perceived cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence of students, whereas gender and academic disciplines of students are not moderating factors that create a significant difference in perceived cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence of students. Our study findings for creating and sustaining a purposeful online learning community are highlighted

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations against mortality and severe complications after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection: a case–control study

Data regarding protection against mortality and severe complications after Omicron BA.2 infection with CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines remains limited. We conducted a case–control study to evaluate the risk of severe complications and mortality following 1–3 doses of CoronaVac and BNT162b2 using electronic health records database. Cases were adults with their first COVID-19-related mortality or severe complications between 1 January and 31 March 2022, matched with up-to 10 controls by age, sex, index date, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-related mortality and severe complications by type and number of doses was estimated using conditional logistic regression adjusted for comorbidities and medications. Vaccine effectiveness (95% CI) against COVID-19-related mortality after two doses of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac were 90.7% (88.6–92.3) and 74.8% (72.5–76.9) in those aged ≥65, 87.6% (81.4–91.8) and 80.7% (72.8–86.3) in those aged 50–64, 86.6% (71.0–93.8) and 82.7% (56.5–93.1) in those aged 18–50. Vaccine effectiveness against severe complications after two doses of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac were 82.1% (74.6–87.3) and 58.9% (50.3–66.1) in those aged ≥65, 83.0% (69.6–90.5) and 67.1% (47.1–79.6) in those aged 50–64, 78.3% (60.8–88.0) and 77.8% (49.6–90.2) in those aged 18–50. Further risk reduction with the third dose was observed especially in those aged ≥65 years, with vaccine effectiveness of 98.0% (96.5–98.9) for BNT162b2 and 95.5% (93.7–96.8) for CoronaVac against mortality, 90.8% (83.4–94.9) and 88.0% (80.8–92.5) against severe complications. Both CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccination were effective against COVID-19-related mortality and severe complications amidst the Omicron BA.2 pandemic, and risks decreased further with the third dose

Genome-Wide Association Study in Asian Populations Identifies Variants in ETS1 and WDFY4 Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a complex and potentially fatal autoimmune disease, characterized by autoantibody production and multi-organ damage. By a genome-wide association study (320 patients and 1,500 controls) and subsequent replication altogether involving a total of 3,300 Asian SLE patients from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Thailand, as well as 4,200 ethnically and geographically matched controls, genetic variants in ETS1 and WDFY4 were found to be associated with SLE (ETS1: rs1128334, P = 2.33×10−11, OR = 1.29; WDFY4: rs7097397, P = 8.15×10−12, OR = 1.30). ETS1 encodes for a transcription factor known to be involved in a wide range of immune functions, including Th17 cell development and terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes. SNP rs1128334 is located in the 3′-UTR of ETS1, and allelic expression analysis from peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed significantly lower expression level from the risk allele. WDFY4 is a conserved protein with unknown function, but is predominantly expressed in primary and secondary immune tissues, and rs7097397 in WDFY4 changes an arginine residue to glutamine (R1816Q) in this protein. Our study also confirmed association of the HLA locus, STAT4, TNFSF4, BLK, BANK1, IRF5, and TNFAIP3 with SLE in Asians. These new genetic findings may help us to gain a better understanding of the disease and the functions of the genes involved

Opening Ceremony and welcome speeches

On Day 1 (28 June 2019), LEUNG Yuk Ming, Lisa (Director, MCS, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China) moderated the session of “Opening Ceremony and Welcome Speeches”. There were three speakers: LAU Chi Pang (Associate Vice President, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China), LEUNG Yuk Ming, Lisa (Director, MCS, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China), and LAU Kin Chi (Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China; Global University for Sustainability)

Empowering Digital Marketing with Interactive Virtual Reality (IVR) in Interior Design: Effects on Customer Satisfaction and Behaviour Intention

Interior design industries have evolved to adopt advanced digital and interactive virtual reality (IVR) technologies for promotion. Marketing using a platform with a virtual interior design feature is an approach that enables not only the building up of a positive image for an interior design firm but also allows customers to experience home design intuitively on the digital platform. This study researched the relationship between the three factors of aesthetics, ease of use, and information quality in digital marketing and consumer satisfaction. Data from 120 respondents were collected via the internet. The results generated from structural equation modelling indicated that the above factors positively influence customer satisfaction with a digital platform empowered with the IVR interior design. It was found that information quality has the most influence among the three factors. Despite numerous scholars having conducted in-depth research on digital marketing, existing research lacks a consumer perspective for examining what factors have the most significant impact on consumers. Moreover, relatively little work has been conducted to determine the customer’s perceptions towards the digital marketing approach using virtual interior design and its interactive features. A theoretical model for interactive virtual interior design features for digital marketing is thus proposed

A large sieve inequality of Elliott–Montgomery–Vaughan type for Maass forms on GL(n,R) with applications

International audienceIn this paper, we establish a large sieve inequality of Elliott-Montgomery-Vaughan type for Maass forms on GL(n, R) and explore three applications

Game change: a critical review of applicable collision avoidance rules between traditional and autonomous ships

Since the rise of intelligent control and multi-sensor integration technology, the development of autonomous ships has been significantly growing over the last decade. This advancement has painted a picture of extreme change with a radical alteration of human factors and new operating models. Inherent with the development of such ships, some concerns regarding their safe operation and integration into the maritime regulatory framework arose. Although the introduction of autonomous vessels is not an impending factor, it is the future, and one day will come into application. The primary concern inherent in the development of autonomous ships is compliance with the current International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) 1972. This paper uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine autonomous vessel seaborne interactions. The results show that we should actively support the modernization of the maritime industry and integrate it with other autonomous industries in the world

Maritime Undergraduate Students: Career Expectations and Choices

The following study presents an inquiry into understanding the motivating factors of students to enroll in a maritime university and to further continue with a career in the maritime industry. By collecting data from 378 undergraduate students enrolled in various maritime programs (navigation, electromechanics, electrical engineering, and economic engineering in transport), we aimed to better understand the profiles of students, their information sources, interest, and the prospects of associated programs where they are enrolled. As such, this study seeks to enable educators and industry practitioners to better understand the educational and career paths chosen by undergraduates in the maritime field. It can align the students’ expectations with program delivery. We examined students’ perceptions and assessments according to the program they are enrolled in. Taking into account the fact that there is a world low attraction for maritime careers, the results of this study are useful for maritime education and training (MET) providers during the design and marketing campaign of the educational program to attract students. Additionally, the findings are useful for public administration and the Ministry of Education’s analysis of expanding educational and research programs, as well as for Ministry of Labour forecasting. Employers from the maritime industry can find useful the main motives for which a graduate would choose to work in this sector, business field, or a related business. Moreover, industry practitioners and academia can expand the study at a larger scale, comprising more countries and taking into account national and regional characteristics

Relaxation of DNA on a supported lipid membrane

We utilize real-time single-molecule imaging to investigate the transient response of DNA molecules on a rigidly supported lipid membrane upon their adsorptions. Following the stochastic landing onto the membrane at a nearly spherical initial state, these DNA coils gradually relax and expand their apparent size (R2g,xy) in a highly anisotropic fashion. The evolution of R2g,xy exhibits considerable variations among individual molecules, and its time dependence can be characterized by a generic exponential relaxation, but only after a statistical averaging over a large number of events. This evolution defines the primary relaxation timescale, which varies with the lipid composition of the membrane. The statistics and time-resolved analyses of the conformation of individual DNA coils further indicate that the interaction between the absorbing molecules and the lipid elements plays an important role in the relaxation towards the final equilibrium of this polymer-membrane complex

Celebrating : research at Lingnan (16 Oct 2014)

This event celebrated the launch of new books by members of the Lingnan family. Books introduced: 劉燕萍 (編) (2013)。《神祇、崇拜與文化 : 神話文學論集》。香港 : 匯智出版有限公司。 Law, S. S-M. (2014). The invisible citizens of Hong Kong : art and stories of Vietnamese boatpeople. Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. Erni, J. N., & Leung, L. Y. (2014). Understanding South Asian minorities in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press