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Theme Story - Fashion Meets Athletics Innovative Functional Materials Leads New Era of Sportswear
Get PDFThe 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close, and it has been dubbed the most fashionable Olympics ever with team kits of Mongolia, France and other countries creating quite a buzz online.The eye-catching element of sports attire comes into play for visually attractive events such as gymnastics and synchronised swimming, but fashion has to meet function in the designing of these uniforms, so as to enhance and not impede the athletes’ performances. Take cycling as an example, a sport familiar to Hong Kong. The design of a competition uniform involves complex scientific calculations, emphasising functionality and safety. The materials used must be highly elastic, breathable and sweat absorbent to increase the athletes\u27 comfort. Designers also apply fluid dynamics principles to create streamlined designs and minimise protrusions, reducing friction between the athlete and the outfit to improve aerodynamic efficiency. These outfits undergo rigorous testing prior to competitions to ensure they can protect athletes and enhance performance under diverse conditions
A Review of the Pharmacological Effects of Solanum muricatum Fruit (Pepino Melon)
Get PDFSolanaceae, commonly known as nightshade, is a diverse family of flowering plants comprising around 90 genera and an estimated 3000–4000 species. Solanaceae spp. and its various fruits, including pepino (Solanum muricatum), commonly known as pepino melon, are widely recognized by the public for their nutritional value and pharmacological effects. Pepino melon, in particular, is often enjoyed as a fresh dessert or salad due to its juicy flesh. Given its beneficial properties, the potential of pepino melon to be developed as a functional food has been extensively studied. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the reported pharmacological effects of the active compounds found in pepino plant and melon. Among these compounds, polyphenols, notably quercetin, and vitamin C have demonstrated notable antioxidant properties such as scavenging free radicals, effectively protecting against free-radical damage. Moreover, these active ingredients provide pepino with anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and enzymes, thereby reducing nitric oxide production. Additionally, they have shown promise in selectively targeting cancer cells, exhibiting anti-cancer properties. Furthermore, the active compounds such as quercetin in pepino have been associated with anti-diabetic effects, improving insulin sensitivity and inhibiting insulin resistance. Overall, this review highlights the diverse and significant pharmacological effects of the active compounds found in pepino melon, emphasizing its potential as a valuable functional food
Enhancing Academic Performance and Psychological Well-being Through Sound Vibration Reading: An Experimental Study
Get PDFThis study investigates the development and application of monitoring equipment for sound vibration in neuroscience, focusing on its effects on high school students\u27 academic performance and psychological well-being. The premise of the research is based on the phenomenon where sound vibrations from speech induce vibrations in the cranial bones, which is hypothesized to improve cerebrospinal fluid circulation, thus enhancing nutrient exchange within brain tissues. This enhancement could potentially elevate cognitive capabilities, academic achievements, and reduce psychological stress among students.
To verify the effects of sound vibration on learning outcomes, controlled experiments were performed in schools located in Beijing and Henan, China. The study divided participants into groups based on their habit of reading aloud. In Beijing, an experimental group engaged in scheduled reading sessions was compared to a control group that did not practice reading aloud. The participants were students without a pre-existing habit of reading aloud, and the reading material covered subjects like language arts and English. The sessions were integrated into the school\u27s daily schedule. A novel, wearable head-mounted device developed in collaboration with Tsinghua University\u27s Architectural Acoustics Laboratory measured the sound vibration levels during these sessions.
The research findings reveal a significant correlation between the quantity of cranial vibration from reading aloud and improvements in students\u27 academic performances. The experimental group exhibited notable grade improvements, especially in the subjects included in the reading sessions. Furthermore, the study examined the relationship between sound vibration from reading aloud and psychological stress by assessing changes in saliva cortisol levels before and after the reading activities. Results demonstrated a negative correlation between sound vibration levels and cortisol levels, indicating that increased cranial vibration from reading aloud could potentially lower psychological stress.
In conclusion, the study provides evidence that sound vibration reading positively influences high school students\u27 academic achievements and reduces psychological stress. The development of a portable, head-mounted sound vibration monitoring device presents a new avenue for leveraging the benefits of sound vibration in educational and psychological interventions. This research contributes to the understanding of how physiological processes influenced by external physical stimuli, like sound vibration, can impact cognitive and psychological outcomes, offering a novel approach to improving student performance and well-being
Theme - Virtual Historia: A Treasure Hunt for Heritage Successors
Get PDFThe metaverse is set to play an important role in our digital future. However, what problems it solves and how it develops is still unclear, and real-world challenges such as population decline and disinterest in cultural heritage defy an easy digital fix. Regardless, Kameoka City in rural Japan is betting that the metaverse could help in tackling just these problems
Cover Story: Sarah Heller
Get PDFSarah Heller: Master of Wine
葡萄酒大師
As the new Honorary Advisor of the International Culinary Institute (ICI), Sarah Heller tells us about her start in the world of wine, and the careers available to budding oenophiles.
國際廚藝學院的新任榮譽顧問 Sarah Heller分享她開展葡萄酒世界的旅程，以及新晉葡萄酒愛好者的職業路
A preliminary study on bamboo–timber composite columns under axial compression
No full textBamboo–timber composite columns hold significant promise as bio-based structural elements. However, research in this area remains limited, especially concerning modern buckling analysis methods that incorporate bio-based constitutive models of engineered bamboo and timber materials. This study aims to address this gap by proposing a proof-of-concept analytical framework based on component-based strategy for buckling analysis, utilising piecewise bio-based material constitutive models as the guide rail for its strain-stage-based component split-up. Preliminary experimental validation was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using component-based analysis to estimate the overall buckling resistance of both composite and non-composite bamboo and timber columns. This initial study offers an alternative analytical approach for estimating the buckling resistance of bio-composite columns and establishes a set of conceptual guidelines and indicative parameters for the experimental design of future research
Environmental, Social and Governance Awareness and Organisational Risk Perception Amongst Accountants
Get PDFThe relationships between accountants’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and their perceptions of organisational risk are examined in this study. The emphasis is on the operational, strategic, financial and compliance risks of business organisations. A total of 462 accountants in Hong Kong were included via stratified random sampling and snowball sampling to ensure population diversity. A stratified random approach was used to include factors such as age, gender, income and experience, and snowball sampling amongst professional networks was used to ensure representativeness. A significant positive relationship exists between ESG awareness and risk perception, with environmental and governance factors emerging as the strongest predictors. Accountants with deep ESG awareness, especially in the aforementioned areas, can successfully identify and manage nontraditional risks such as regulatory changes and environmental threats. The findings highlight the need for institutionalising ESG-focused education in accounting and corporate governance to improve risk management capabilities. Increased ESG awareness can ensure responsible and sustainable business behaviour. Future research can expand the sample of accountants to executives and use longitudinal designs to capture the dynamic nature of ESG awareness and risk perception
Garment Fit Evaluation via Customer Feedback on Daily Wear
Get PDFThe apparel manufacturing sector is progressively employing virtual prototype demos to optimize the pre-production phase and augment correspondence with relevant parties. Connecting consumer demands with accessible sizes is still difficult, though. This paper suggests a methodology that uses natural language programming to understand customers\u27 practical requirements through customer interactions. Customer perceptions can be incorporated into the research process to obtain important insights into the preferences of the target audience and guarantee that the clothing fulfils their expectations. This methodology facilitates precise evaluation of clothing fit, enhances client contentment, and pinpoints opportunities for enhancement. Customers\u27 participation in research also fosters inclusivity and diversity in terms of body shapes and preferences. Through the integration of client feedback, brands can develop customized products that cultivate brand loyalty and enduring partnerships. The study used sentiment analysis and self-observation to gather extensive data for a virtual model of predicted clothing fit. The results emphasize the value of body positivity, self-acceptance, and a broad definition of beauty. Brands may challenge conventional beauty norms and increase customer happiness and confidence by providing a variety of sizes and styles. The study gathered information on factors pertaining to self-perception, personal preferences, and the assessment of garment fit. Correlations between the perception of body form and size and the choice of clothing were found using a logistic regression model. The findings offer insightful information that helps companies customize their offerings and marketing plans, outperform rivals, and retain a devoted clientele
Diffuse correlation tomography: a technique to characterize tissue blood flow abnormalities in benign and malignant breast lesions
Get PDFAccurate assessment and quantification of neoangiogenesis associated with breast cancer could be potentially used to improve the sensitivity and specificity of non-invasive diagnosis, as well as predict outcomes and monitor treatment effects. In this study, we adapted an emerging technology, namely diffuse correlation tomography (DCT), to image microvascular blood flow in breast tissues and evaluate the potential for discriminating between benign and malignant lesions. A custom-made DCT system was designed for breast blood flow imaging, with both the source-detector array and reconstruction algorithm optimized to ensure precise imaging of breast blood flow. The global features and local features of three-dimensional blood flow images were extracted from the relative blood flow index (rBFI), which was obtained from most of the breasts targeted to the lesion. A total of 37 women with 19 benign and 18 malignant lesions were included in the study. Significant differences between malignant and benign groups were found in 12 image features. Moreover, when selecting the lesion mean relative blood flow index (MrBFI) as a single indicator, the malignant and benign tumors were discriminated with an accuracy of 89.2%. The blood flow features were found to successfully identify malignant and benign tumors, suggesting that DCT, as an alternate functional imaging modality, has the potential to be translated into clinical practice for diagnosis and assessment of breast cancers. There is potential to reduce the need for biopsy of benign lesions by improving the specificity of diagnostic imaging, as well as monitoring response to breast cancer treatment