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Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-joo-10.1177_14653125231181603 for Decision-making patterns among expert and novice orthodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons in the management of adults with Class III malocclusions and moderate degree of skeletal discrepancies by Karen Kai Rou Voon, Asher Ah Tong Lim, Hung Chew Wong, Yu Fan Sim and Kelvin Weng Chiong Foong in Journal of Orthodontics

Additional file 1. Basic characteristics of respondents in focus group interviews. This table presents the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents in each of the focus group interviews.

We propose concurrent hardware architecture for real-time audio steganography.We implement and test the proposed hardware on Xilinx XC6SLX16 FPGA board.The implemented hardware requires only 97 slices and consumes less than 148mW.The implemented hardware processes data simultaneously with frequency up to 58.82.Full data retrieval at embedding rate of 25% of the cover audio size. Recently, audio steganography has become an important covert communications technology. This technology hides secret data in a cover audio without perceptual modification of the cover audio. Most of the existing audio steganography techniques are unsuitable for real-time communication. Although field programmable logic array (FPGA) technologies offer parallel processing in hardware that can improve the speed of steganographic systems, the research activities in this area are very limited. This paper presents a parallel hardware-architecture for dual-mode audio steganography (DMAS) based FPGA technology. The proposed DMAS reconfigures the same hardware blocks in both hiding and recovery modes to reduce the hardware requirements. It has been successfully implemented on a Xilinx XC6SLX16 FPGA board to occupy only 97 slices. Furthermore, it processes data simultaneously at an operating frequency of up to 58.82MHz and accomplishes full message retrieval at an embedding rate of 25% with an audio quality above 45dB in terms of signal to noise ratio.

In this study, a novel and high embedding capacity audio steganography scheme based on Lifting Wavelet Transform (LWT) and adaptive embedding positions is proposed. Specifically, the message data is inserted in the imperceptible positions that chosen from the coefficients of detail sub-bands taking advantage of our proposed Weighted Block Matching (WBM). The WBM is preceded by preparing the cover audio in order to select the bits- positions that can possibly be used for embedding from each detail coefficient based on coefficient amplitude then copy the contents of the selected bits-positions and arrange them in blocks of bits. Also, the message data is arranged in blocks of bits after preprocessed and encrypted. The WBM computes the matching between each message block and whole extracted cover blocks to find the similarity between them. This process help to provide optimal locations to hide the message blocks. These locations are considered as a stego-key that is ciphered and hided within the final detail sub-band which is specified for this purpose. The proposed approach attains higher security than other fixed embedding positions approaches because the random positions for the embedded message blocks based on adaptive selection for embedding positions. Experimental results show that the proposed technique is not only has very high embedding capacity (exceed 300 kbps) with excellent transparency (above 35 dB for the cover to noise ratio), but also achieve lossless massage retrieved. Comparisons with the related audio steganography algorithms also show that our proposed scheme outperforms all the selected algorithms.

Aim: To find associations between types of activity participated in by healthy Asian retirees and 7 quality of life (QOL) domains. Methods: Fiftyfour retireeswere recruited. An inventory of 16 types of activity was used. Satisfaction levels on QOL domains were measured using modified Comprehensive QOL Scale Adult questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Socialactivities had positive impact on material well-being, health, productivity, and safety satisfaction. Participation in fine art and travel activities also reportedhigher satisfaction in QOL domains. Conclusion: Social engagement is crucial inenhancing QOL. Artistic and travel activities help retirees build closer relationships with others.

This paper reviews results of different researches on Hong Kong's poverty problem in the 1990s and suggests the level of benefit of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (CSSA) is not adequate to raise the poor out of poverty but creates and maintains a poverty trap for the recipients. The paper argues that the residual approach of the government's welfare philosophy is a failure rather than a success in fighting against poverty.

Down's syndrome females generally have non‐standard body features. A database of dimensions is established for 200 Down's syndrome females in Hong Kong aged 15 years and over; the effect of mental retardation upon their ability to dress/undress and deal successfully with a range of fastenings is investigated; studies of posture and ergonomic factors were undertaken. From the information collected it has been possible to establish mannequins and size tables. Important outer garment types have been identified and pattern construction rules developed for five major garment categories: skirt; culottes; slacks; blouses and casual jackets. Recommendations for future development work are made.

The new Bintulu water supply was built in the early 1980s to serve a major development of the town of Bintulu in Sarawak, East Malaysia, arising from the extraction of natural gas from the South China Sea. The water supply was designed to supply 78 Ml/d. The works comprise earth dams forming a pumped storage reservoir, a river intake, pumping stations, pipelines, a water-treatment works, treated water storage and a distribution system. The treatment works and distribution system are being built in two phases. The first phase was completed in 1983, and the second phase is to be constructed in 1990–91. The paper describes the initial planning of the scheme, including water-demand forecasts, the design and construction of the Phase I works, and problems encountered during its operation. It also highlights the exceptionally rapid implementation programme and stability problems at the main earth dam.

Objective: To study the evolution of coronary arterial lesions during the acute and subacute phases of Kawasaki disease by echocardiography. Method: The study was done retrospectively from 1st July 1994 to 30th June 2000. In our protocol, echocardiography is done for acute cases at presentation, on Day 14 (2 weeks), Day 28 (4 weeks) and Day 56 (8 weeks) of fever. Only cases that presented early, within 10 days of fever, were included. The echocardiographic findings throughout the first 8 weeks of the disease were reviewed to study the evolution of coronary arterial lesions. Those with positive coronary lesions were divided into 2 groups, one with early lesions detected at presentation and the other with lesions appearing at or after 2 weeks from the onset. Their demographics and clinical course were compared. Results: A total of 611 patients, mostly Chinese, aged 1.2 months to 15.4 years were identified. The majority of patients (90.2%) had received intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG) within 10 days. Coronary arterial lesions in form of ectasia or aneurysms have been found in 112 patients (18.3%). Only 4.4% of patients had coronary lesions at presentation. Most new lesions (12.9%) were detected at 2-week echo follow-up. New lesions were rare after 4 weeks. Coronary lesions began to regress since 2 weeks from onset and continued to regress at similar rate (37-41%) at each 2-week follow-up. By the end of 8 weeks, 63.4% of all the lesions had regressed and only 6.9% of patients continued to have them. The group with early coronary arterial lesions had more male patients, required more doses of IVGG while the one with later lesions had more cases not requiring IVGG. However, their age distribution, duration of fever, frequency of atypical presentation and severity of coronary lesions were similar. These data may guide our future management plan.