4,094 research outputs found
3D Scene Annotation for Efficient Rendering on Mobile Devices
This paper presents a new approach for efficient 3D rendering on mobile devices, where selective rendering can be achieved with the help of 3D scene annotation. By taking advantage of first person environments in most 3D applications, we are able to annotate the flooring details of the 3D space. This allows 3D environments to be interfaced using a higher level view of objects. With the higher level of scene understanding, it is possible to determine which 3D objects are not required for loading or rendering based on the viewer’s location and its surrounding constraints
CONSTRUCTING THE LANGUAGE IDENTITY OF A HONG KONG CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHER: A NARRATIVE SELF-STUDY
This study examines the development of second language (L2) identity based on the author's personal experiences as a citizen of Hong Kong. Employing a narrative self-study method, the author explores how Hongkongers' perceptions of their language identities evolve over time. The study reveals that the author's own perception of L2 identities has changed due to shifting political and social contexts as she has taken on various roles throughout her life, including daughter, granddaughter, student, and teacher. By using Mandarin and English at different times, the author has gained a unique understanding of her language identity as a Hong Kong citizen. This research demonstrates that L2 identity is fluid and constantly evolving, adapting to roles and experiences, which in turn influence teaching practices.本研究透過探索香港教師的個人經歷,研究第二語言身份的發展和演變。透過自我敘說研究法,探討香港人如何隨著時間推移感知他們的語言身份的變化和連續性。研究亦探討個人的第二語言身份認同如何隨著生活角色轉換以及政治和社會環境的變化而改變,以及如何影響其教學實踐 Article visualizations
The Fee Sensitive Risk Exposures of Project Authorized Person in Hong Kong
Authorized Persons (AP) play a critical role in the design and construction of building works in Hong Kong. Under the Building Ordinance, design and construction of building works need to be coordinated and monitored by an AP registered with the Buildings Department. Professionally qualified Architects, Engineers and Surveyors are eligible to register as AP after completing the prescribed assessment. In addition, the project AP is often appointed by the project owner to be the project team leader. In these capacities, a project AP is exposed to various risks. This paper seeks to identify the fee sensitive risk exposures of project APs. Through an ANOVA study, these risks exposures are those due to liabilities under the Building Ordinance at the construction stage, those towards the third parties and the clients
Webtrust Sm (Version 3.0): Evidence On Consumers Demand For Assurance Services And CPAs Comparative Advantage
Modifications to Web Trust in version 3.0 allowing practitioners to issue an opinion on individual principles (e.g., privacy and security) enables WebTrust to compete directly against other assurance services. The success of the new strategy depends upon: (1) differences in assurance demand for the individual principles, and (2) perceptions that CPAs are the most trusted assurance provider. This study finds: (1) the need for assurance differs across individual WebTrust principles and depends upon transaction type, and (2) CPAs are not perceived to be the most trusted provider
The Moderating Effect of Third-Party Assurance on the Relationship Between CSR Disclosure and Investor Judgments
Abstract:
Using a survey-based experiment, we investigate whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures can influence perceptions of corporate reputation and if these perceptions affect investors’ assessment of firms as attractive investments. After viewing CSR disclosures, participants were asked how they perceived the subject firm as a potential investment, and also how they assessed the firm’s reputation. Specifically, the subject firm’s CSR disclosure was manipulated to include either all-positive performance information or mixed information reporting that some CSR goals are not being achieved. A second manipulation divided disclosures into those that were based on information assured by a third-party and those that were not assured. Current MBA alumni and MBA students from an AACSB-accredited university were surveyed. The results supported the usefulness of assurance in promoting a positive firm image, particularly when only positive CSR performance information is reported. The effect of perceived corporate reputation on investment attractiveness was also found to be significant. Together, the findings suggest that when CSR disclosures are assured, they can positively influence investors’ assessments of corporate reputation, which in turn leads to greater investment attractiveness.
Key Words: Corporate social responsibility, sustainability, voluntary disclosure, corporate reputation, investor judgements, assurance, Global Reporting Initiative
NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ARTOCARPUS LAKOOCHA EXTRACT AND OXYRESVERATROL AGAINST HYDROGEN PEROXIDE-INDUCED TOXICITY IN SH-SY5Y CELLS
Objective: Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. is a traditional medical plant native to Southeast Asia and used as a dried aqueous extract so-called puag haad. Its role (and its major ingredient, oxyresveratrol) as an antioxidant neuroprotectant were explored.Methods: Differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in 96-well plates were challenged with 200 µM H2O2 for 4 h and either Trolox (100 µM), oxyresveratrol (5-100 µM), or puag haad (1.2-25 µg/ml) applied 2 h before H2O2 or for 20 h after H2O2 washout. Cell viability, mitochondrial function, intracellular ROS, and lipid peroxidation were assessed.Results: Continuous presence of both H2O2 and antioxidant reduced mitochondrial function by ~50% but only by 30% with antioxidant. Sustained 24 h H2O2 showed no recoveries with antioxidants. Cell viability was modestly restored when antioxidants accompanied H2O2 for 4 h and both washed for another 20 h, but little recovery of mitochondrial function even though antioxidants removed ROS and prevent lipid peroxidation. Antioxidants added for 20 h after H2O2 marginally improve mitochondria and modestly restore cell viability, but lipid peroxidation was completely reversed.Conclusion: These results show that mitochondrial protection was illusive, yet both tested compounds, puag haad and oxyresveratrol, improved cell viability and especially ROS levels and lipid peroxidation. The potency oxyresveratrol on the redox-sensitive expression of antioxidant enzymes and its pharmacokinetics suggests that oral puag haad could provide effective protection in transient neurodegenerative disease.Â
Suppression of the postoperative neutrophil leucocytosis following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer and implications for surgical morbidity
Objective: The extent to which neoadjuvant chemoradio-
therapy for rectal cancer influences postoperative morbid-
ity is controversial. This study investigated whether this
treatment suppresses the normal perioperative inflamma-
tory response and explored the clinical implications.
Method: Prospective databases were queried to identify
37 consecutive study patients undergoing definitive
surgery following 5-FU ⁄ capecitabine-based chemoradio-
therapy and 35 consecutive untreated control patients
operated upon for rectal or rectosigmoid cancer. Preop-
erative (< 10 days) and postoperative (< 24 h) neutrophil
counts, along with morbidity data, were confirmed
retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses
assessed the apparent effect of chemoradiotherapy on
change in neutrophil count. The latter’s association with
postoperative morbidity was then examined.
Results: Sufficient data were available for 34 study and
27 control patients. Repeated-measures ANCOVA
revealed significant differences between their periopera-
tive neutrophil counts (P = 0.02). Of the other charac-
teristics which differed between the groups, only age
and tumour location were prognostically significant
regarding perioperative change in neutrophil count.
Accounting for relevant covariates, chemoradiotherapy
was significantly associated with a suppressed perioper-
ative neutrophil leucocytosis. Local postoperative com-
plications affected 25 of 61 patients, who had lower
perioperative neutrophil increases than their counter-
parts (P = 0.016).
Conclusion: Chemoradiotherapy appears to suppress the
perioperative inflammatory response, thereby increasing
susceptibility to local postoperative complications
The effects of Rhizoma Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae extracts on bones
© 2007 Wong et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens
“Hidden youth”: a critical study of socially disengaged young people in Hong Kong and Scotland
There has been growing interest in academic literature about young people who
are marginalised and disengaged from society. This thesis focuses on young people in
Hong Kong and Scotland who physically shut themselves in the bedroom and do not go
outside for months and years on end. They are referred to as “hidden youth” in East
Asia, and it has emerged as a topical social issue across the region in the past ten years.
Previous research studying “hidden youth” (mainly in Japan and Hong Kong)
highlights that there are structural barriers in contemporary society which could lead to
young people becoming self-secluded. The young people are described as living reclusive
and solitary lives, as they are excluded from participation in the labour market and
education and disengaged from interactions with families and other communities,
especially friends and peer groups. Hence, they are considered as “withdrawn” from
society and disconnected from socialising.
This thesis critically reflects on “hidden” young people’s sense of connectedness
and “being social” based on their lived experience. It also draws on recent debates of the
construction of the “social”, particularly in digital sociology, to shed light on the
processes of socialising in the digital age. This study uncovered that how “hidden”
young people socialise may in fact be heterogeneous. Variability in how they engage in
interactions and participation in society was identified. There were also differences in
their levels of solitude and loneliness. Hence, describing how the young people are
“being social” could be more nuanced than previously thought. This also makes
analysing them as “socially withdrawn” particularly problematic.
This research uses a qualitative exploratory approach, looking comparatively
across two contexts; 32 interviews were conducted with “hidden youth” in Hong Kong
and Scotland. These two contexts are considered as instrumental examples, where social
disengagements are especially prominent but discussed differently. The participants
revealed various perceptions of hopelessness and lack of opportunities in work and
education on the hand. This significantly affected their motivations to participate in
employment and education; they could feel unable to fulfil their aspirations and become
de-motivated. On the other hand, they were more interconnected with different groups
of people in the digital world, and their interactions could be fluid. The space of the
bedroom was highlighted as an important site where interactions could occur. This adds
another dimension to consider how “hidden” young people interact, particularly with
communities such as peer groups, friends and families. Moreover, digital interactions
may also be important to how they socialise and experience a sense of connectedness.
This highlights that there may be tensions in how young people’s motivations, as well as
the opportunities they have, affect their engagements in digital and physical interactions.
Therefore, this thesis argues that “hidden youth” could feel a sense of
powerlessness towards hierarchical macro structures and meaninglessness towards
interactions and participation in society. Conversely, they are relying on emerging
digital social structures and networks to seek other forms of “being social”. Their high
levels of digital interactions could in fact be a reaction to their experiences of unfulfilment
in the labour market and in education. This thesis makes an important
contribution to understand “hidden youth” and adds a more nuanced perspective to this
emerging debate. In addition, it points to further aspects that should be taken into
account in future studies to fully comprehend the sociality of a young person and its
complexities in the digital age
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