HKALL and ILLIAD: The Search for Improved Interlibrary Loan

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Digital Library Consortia in the 21st Century: The Hong Kong JULAC Case

The article outlines the initiatives of the local consortia of the eight academic institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) of the Hong Kong SAR Government. The role and services that this consortium provides for its members, especially with respect to consortial electronic purchasing agreements and joint licensing, are examined. The paper addresses many of the problems, difficulties, and challenges within consortia when coping with their internal needs, facing the need to both cooperate and compete with other consortial members, and making individual and consortial decisions in an environment of increasing budgetary constraints and technological advances. Case studies are used to illustrate each of the challenges mentioned above.postprin

The effects of topical triptolide in an animal model of contact dermatitis

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Increased apoptotic blood neutrophils and macrophages and decreased clearance of apoptotic neutrophils in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Casimir forces on a silicon micromechanical chip

Quantum fluctuations give rise to van der Waals and Casimir forces that dominate the interaction between electrically neutral objects at sub-micron separations. Under the trend of miniaturization, such quantum electrodynamical effects are expected to play an important role in micro- and nano-mechanical devices. Nevertheless, utilization of Casimir forces on the chip level remains a major challenge because all experiments so far require an external object to be manually positioned close to the mechanical element. Here, by integrating a force-sensing micromechanical beam and an electrostatic actuator on a single chip, we demonstrate the Casimir effect between two micromachined silicon components on the same substrate. A high degree of parallelism between the two near-planar interacting surfaces can be achieved because they are defined in a single lithographic step. Apart from providing a compact platform for Casimir force measurements, this scheme also opens the possibility of tailoring the Casimir force using lithographically defined components of non-conventional shapes

The experimental study and numerical simulation of falling liquid film flow on horizontal tubes

This research is motivated by two observations: No report has been found so far in studies of water falling film up to 100 mm intertube spacing. No simulation analysis of film thickness under influence of intertube spacing in 3 dimensional models. Therefore, to the best of author’s knowledge, this research aims to illuminate the effects of intertube spacing between horizontal tubes on water falling film. An experimental investigation of water falling film temperature was conducted to explore the characteristics of heat transfer coefficients. In this study, the intertube spacing from smallest size of 8 mm and up to 100 mm were analyzed for Reynolds number range of 300 to 3300. The experimental data was extracted from calibrated test rig and the effect is investigated using numerical study. On the other hand, the effect of film thickness is numerically investigated for intertube spacing range of 10 mm to 40 mm. The numerical simulation was presented using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) technique where it is capable in determining temperatures and thickness of water falling film under influence of ambient factors. The experimental results reveal that intertube spacing of 133 mm produced the maximum heat transfer coefficient of 6 kW/m² K with percentage of error below 7%. The results of the numerical simulation indicate that the 40 mm intertube spacing presented the minimal average film thickness of 0.3 mm within ± 50% errors. Implications of the results and future research directions are also presented

Baseline values of canine tear production determined by schirmer tear and phenol red thread tests.

Although research on canine tear production and dry eye has been reported in temperate countries in different breeds, there is no Malaysian data. On the average, at least two new cases of dry eye are diagnosed weekly at the University Veterinary Hospital (UVH) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Currently in UVH the guidelines for the diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis (KCS) and monitoring of response to treatment are based on recommendations for temperate countries. Thus the objectives of this study were to determine the Malaysian baseline values for canine tear levels using Schirmer tear test (STT) and phenol red thread test (PRTT), the relationship between and diurnal effect on STT and PRTT in dogs. The average baseline values for canine tear production in healthy local dogs in Malaysia with normal tear film breakup time (TBUT) were within the range of average baseline values reported in temperate countries. The average STT value for both eyes was approximately 22 mm/min and the PRTT was approximately 26 mm/15 s. There was poor relationship between STT and PRTT. This might be due to the presence of one or more confounding factors. The red colour change in PRTT was more intense when STT was performed first followed by PRTT and vice versa. The intensity of red colour change in PRTT was even more when performed in KCS dogs. This is because the intensity of the colour change in the phenol red thread is due to increasing alkalinity. Thus, KCS dogs had more alkaline tears than normal dogs. The lowest tear level was in the afternoon when diurnal study was conducted. Hence, KCS tests should be performed in the afternoon in order to obtain a more accurate measurement of tear level. Tear levels fluctuate when normal dogs were exposed in clinic with air-conditioned environment. Therefore, KCS tests should be performed immediately when dogs arrived at the clinic

Factors associated with medication adherence in school-aged children with asthma

Adherence to preventive asthma treatment is poor, particularly in children, yet the factors associated with adherence in this age group are not well understood. Adherence was monitored electronically over 6 months in school-aged children who attended a regional emergency department in New Zealand for an asthma exacerbation and were prescribed twice-daily inhaled corticosteroids. Participants completed questionnaires including assessment of family demographics, asthma responsibility and learning style. Multivariable analysis of factors associated with adherence was conducted. 101 children (mean (range) age 8.9 (6-15) years, 51% male) participated. Median (interquartile range) preventer adherence was 30% (17-48%) of prescribed. Four explanatory factors were identified: female sex (+12% adherence), Asian ethnicity (+19% adherence), living in a smaller household (-3.0% adherence per person in the household), and younger age at diagnosis (+2.7% for every younger year of diagnosis) (all p<0.02). In school-aged children attending the emergency department for asthma, males and non-Asian ethnic groups were at high risk for poor inhaled corticosteroid adherence and may benefit most from intervention. Four factors explained a small proportion of adherence behaviour indicating the difficulty in identifying adherence barriers. Further research is recommended in other similar populations

The physiological bases of hidden noise-induced hearing loss: protocol for a functional neuroimaging study

Background: Rodent studies indicate that noise exposure can cause permanent damage to synapses between inner hair cells and high-threshold auditory nerve fibers, without permanently altering threshold sensitivity. These demonstrations of what is commonly known as “hidden hearing loss” have been confirmed in several rodent species, but the implications for human hearing are unclear. Objective: Our Medical Research Council (MRC) funded programme aims to address this unanswered question, by investigating functional consequences of the damage to the human peripheral and central auditory nervous system that results from cumulative lifetime noise exposure. Behavioral and neuroimaging techniques are being used in a series of parallel studies aimed at detecting hidden hearing loss in humans. The planned neuroimaging study aims to (1) identify central auditory biomarkers associated with hidden hearing loss, (2) investigate if there are any additive contributions from tinnitus or diminished sound tolerance, which are often comorbid with hearing problems, and (3) explore the relation between subcortical functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measures and the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Methods: Individuals aged 25 to 40 years with pure tone hearing thresholds ≤ 20 dB HL over the range 500 Hz to 8 kHz and no contraindications for MRI or signs of ear disease will be recruited into the study. Lifetime noise exposure will be estimated using an in-depth structured interview. Auditory responses throughout the central auditory system will be recorded using ABR and fMRI. Analyses will focus predominantly on correlations between lifetime noise exposure and auditory response characteristics. Results: This article reports the study protocol. The programme grant was awarded in July 2013. Enrollment for the study described in this protocol commenced in February 2017 and was completed in December 2017. Results are expected in 2018. Conclusions: This challenging and comprehensive study will have the potential to impact diagnostic procedures for hidden hearing loss, enabling early identification of noise-induced auditory damage via the detection of changes in central auditory processing. Consequently, this will generate the opportunity to give personalized advice regarding provision of ear defense and monitoring of further damage, thus reducing the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss

Reduction of seafood processing wastewater using technologies enhanced by swim–bed technology

The increasing growth of the seafood processing industries considerably requires more industrial process activities and water consumption. It is estimated that approximately 10–40 m3 of wastewater is generated from those industries for processing one-tonne of raw materials. Due to limitations and regulations in natural resources utilization, a suitable and systematic wastewater treatment plant is very important to meet rigorous discharge standards. As a result of food waste biodegradability, the biological treatment and some extent of swim-bed technology, including a novel acryl-fibre (biofilm) material might be used effectively to meet the effluent discharge criteria. This chapter aims to develop understanding on current problems and production of the seafood wastewater regarding treatment efficiency and methods of treatment