The relationship between Cantonese tonal confusions and audiometric configuration and sensitivity in the elderly

Also available in print.Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1992A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), University of Hong Kong, April 30, 1992.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

Architectural Learning/Thinking/Designing Model and Radarscope

Architectur

Forced homo-oligomerization of RARα leads to transformation of primary hematopoietic cells

SummaryAlmost 100% of APL patients carry chimeric transcripts encoding truncated RARα fused to homo-oligomerization domains from partner proteins. To gain further insights into the cellular transformation mechanisms mediated by RARα fusion proteins, thorough structure/function analyses have been performed and identified the POZ homo-oligomerization domain as the minimal transformation domain that is necessary and sufficient for PLZF-RARα-mediated in vitro transformation of primary hematopoietic cells. A transformation-incompetent PLZF-RARα mutant defective in homo-oligomerization but not corepressor interaction could be rescued by synthetic FKBP-oligomerization domains. Furthermore, an artificial FKBP-RARα construct not only mimicked various biochemical properties of bona fide RARα fusion proteins but also mediated an ATRA-dependent transformation. Taken together, these findings endorse an oligomerization-dependent mechanism for RARα-mediated transformation and suggest a potential avenue for molecular therapy

SARS-related Perceptions in Hong Kong

To understand different aspects of community responses related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 2 population-based, random telephone surveys were conducted in June 2003 and January 2004 in Hong Kong. More than 70% of respondents would avoid visiting hospitals or mainland China to avoid contracting SARS. Most respondents believed that SARS could be transmitted through droplets, fomites, sewage, and animals. More than 90% believed that public health measures were efficacious means of prevention; 40.4% believed that SARS would resurge in Hong Kong; and ≈70% would then wear masks in public places. High percentages of respondents felt helpless, horrified, and apprehensive because of SARS. Approximately 16% showed signs of posttraumatic symptoms, and ≈40% perceived increased stress in family or work settings. The general public in Hong Kong has been very vigilant about SARS but needs to be more psychologically prepared to face a resurgence of the epidemic

Treatment outcome and prognostic factor analysis in transplant-eligible Chinese myeloma patients receiving bortezomib-based induction regimens including the staged approach, PAD or VTD

BACKGROUND: We have reported promising outcomes using a staged approach, in which bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone was used only in 14 patients with suboptimal response to VAD (vincristine/adriamycin/dexamethasone) before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Here we compared the outcomes of the staged approach with frontline PAD (bortezomib/doxorubicin/dexamethasone) or VTD (bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone) induction, and analysed prognostic factors for outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-one transplant-eligible Chinese patients received three induction regimens prior to ASCT [staged approach (N = 25), PAD (N = 31), VTD (N = 35)]. and received thalidomide maintenance for 2 years post-ASCT. RESULTS: 43 (47.3%) patients had International Staging System (ISS) III disease. By an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall CR/nCR rate were 37.4% post-induction, and 62.6% post-ASCT. Five-year overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survivals were 66% and 45.1%. There was no difference of the post-induction CR/nCR rate, EFS or OS between patients induced by these three regimens. Moreover, ISS III disease did not affect CR/nCR rates. Multivariate analysis showed that ISS and post-ASCT CR/nCR impacted OS while ISS and post-induction CR/nCR impacted EFS. CONCLUSIONS: These three induction regimens produced comparable and favorable outcomes in myeloma. The unfavorable outcome of ISS stage III persisted despite upfront/early use of bortezomib. CR/nCR predicted favorable survivals

Dietary Microbes Modulate Transgenerational Cancer Risk

Environmental factors are suspected in the increase of obesity and cancer in industrialized countries but are poorly understood. Here, we used animal models to test how future generations may be affected by Westernized diets. We discover long-term consequences of grandmothers' in utero dietary exposures, leading to high rates of obesity and frequent cancers of lung and liver in two subsequent generations of mice. Transgenerational effects were transplantable using diet-associated bacteria communities alone. Consequently, feeding of beneficial microbes was sufficient to lower transgenerational risk for cancer and obesity regardless of diet history. Targeting microbes may be a highly effective population-based approach to lower risk for cancer.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (RO1CA108854)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (U01 CA164337)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (P30-ES002109

Urban Needle Locator Mark I

The Urban Needle locator Mark I is a mapping and tracking system which detects syringes discarded in an environment and stores their unique-ID, GPS coordinates, and time-stamped data. Dirty needle refuse represents a modern problem and requires a modern solution. By using a combination of passive RFID tags, mobile antenna system and GPS sensors, the Mark I will produce a map of current needle refuse to be referenced by cleanup crews. Due to the immense scope of the problem (PHS mobile needle exchange estimates they retrieved 1.6 million used syringes in 2012 alone in Vancouver) - even small efficiency increases can produce large reductions in time spent on cleanup. For these reasons, it is critical that the Mark I is able to accurately locate syringes and produce reliable data that workers can use effectively. Additionally, as the Mark I is an engineered product operating in an urban environment, it is essential that it conforms to safety and engineering standards mandated by local governments. The following document quantitatively outlines all of the necessary requirements for the system to operate successfully in Canada

Refined system parameters and TTV study of transiting exoplanetary system HAT-P-20

This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China through grants No. U1531121, No. 10873031 and No. 11473066.We report new photometric observations of the transiting exoplanetary system HAT-P-20, obtained using CCD cameras at Yunnan Observatories and Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre, China, from 2010 to 2013, and Observatori Ca l'Ou, Sant Marti Sesgueioles, Spain, from 2013 to 2015. The observed data are corrected for systematic errors according to the coarse de-correlation and SYSREM algorithms, so as to enhance the signal of the transit events. In order to consistently model the star spots and transits of this exoplanetary system, we develop a highly efficient tool STMT based on the analytic models of Mandel & Agol and Montalto et al. The physical parameters of HAT-P-20 are refined by homogeneously analyzing our new data, the radial velocity data, and the earlier photometric data in the literature with the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. New radii and masses of both host star and planet are larger than those in the discovery paper due to the discrepancy of the radius among K-dwarfs between predicted values by standard stellar models and empirical calibration from observations. Through the analysis of all available mid-transit times calculated with the normal model and spotted model, we conclude that the periodic transit timing variations in these transit events revealed by employing the normal model are probably induced by spot crossing events. From the analysis of the distribution of occulted spots by HAT-P-20b, we constrain the misaligned architecture between the planetary orbit and the spin of the host star.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Monitor unit calculations for external photon and electron beams: Report of the AAPM Therapy Physics Committee Task Group No. 71

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134882/1/mp4244.pd

Hong Kong Chinese school children with elevated urine melamine levels: A prospective follow up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2008, the outbreak of kidney stones in children fed by melamine-tainted milk products in Mainland China has caused major public concern of food safety. We identified Hong Kong school children with elevated urine melamine level from a community-based school survey in 2007-08 and reviewed their clinical status in 2009.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2007-08, 2119 school children participated in a primary and secondary school survey in Hong Kong using a cluster sampling method. Urine aliquots from 502 subjects were assayed for melamine level. High urine melamine level was defined as urine melamine/creatinine ratio >7.1 μg/mmol. Subjects with high urine melamine level were invited for clinical evaluation in 2009 including urinalysis and ultrasound imaging of the urinary system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The age range of this subcohort was 6 - 20 years with 67% girls (335 female and 167 male subjects). The spot urine melamine/creatinine ratio of the 502 urine aliquots ranged from undetectable to 1467 μg/mmol (median 0.8 μg/mmol). Of these, 213 subjects had undetectable level (42%). We invited 47 (9%) subjects with high urine melamine level for re-evaluation and one subject declined. The median duration of follow-up was 23.5 months (interquartile range: 19.8 - 30.6 months). None of the 46 subjects (28% boys, mean age 13.9 ± 2.9 years) had any abnormality detected on ultrasound study of the urinary system. All subjects had stable renal function with a median urine albumin-creatinine ratio of 0.70 mg/mmol (interquartile range: 0.00 - 2.55 mg/mmol).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hong Kong Chinese school children with high urine melamine levels appeared to have benign clinical course in the short term although a long term follow-up study is advisable in those with persistently high urine melamine level.</p