Search

• Carbon cycling in the upper Changjiang River was investigated using major ions, δ13C DIC and Δ14C DIC. • Downstream changes in [DIC] and isotopes in the mainstem were driven by hydrochemical inputs from tributaries. • Low Δ14C DIC and high δ13C DIC were observed in high-elevation areas, and vice versa. • System openness is highly modulated by physiographic conditions (e.g. climate, hydrology, geology, land-use change). Export of dissolved carbon from rivers connects terrestrial and oceanic carbon cycling, and represents a key component of global carbon budgets. In this study, we measured the concentrations of major ions, the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate, and the stable (δ13C DIC) and radioactive (Δ14C DIC) isotopic composition of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the upper Changjiang (Yangtze) River, China. Their spatio-temporal variabilities give constrains on carbon cycling across catchments with diverse physiographic conditions (e.g. climate, hydrology, geology, land-use change). Daily DIC fluxes were modeled using a hydro-chemical approach and showed significant temporal variations agreeing with the measured data, and supporting a conservative mixing behavior in river channel, similar to variations in anions and cations concentrations. However, the modeled (δ13C DIC) were always higher (up to 3.1‰, and 0.8‰ on average) than the measured values. In addition, Δ14C DIC would suggest a much lower carbonate contribution (8 to 33%) than concentration mixing relationship (40 to 64%). From the chemical weathering reaction front to the riverine transport, DIC can be processed with little net change in concentration but isotopic exchange and it can also exchange with the soil and/or atmospheric CO 2 as an open system. The openness parameter (ψ) uses the Δ14C DIC to estimate the extent of such exchange, ranging from 0 (fully closed system) to 1 (fully open system) and varied from 0.26±0.10 to 0.86±0.06. ψ showed a strong relationship with drainage mean elevation, likely to represent the elevation-induced climate variation (i.e. precipitation and temperature) but also the proportion of cropland in the drainage area. All of these parameters are correlated and point toward a biological impact on ψ. In addition, modern DIC yield, estimated from Δ14C DIC , is positively correlated to ψ. This study demonstrates that Δ14C DIC measurements can greatly underestimate the contribution of carbonate-derived carbon because of exchange (estimated by ψ) especially in high biological-productivity areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing burden of childhood obesity, it is important to examine the changes in dietary habits and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Macao students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary and secondary school students in Macao, China in 2014–2015 with addition to data collected from 2008 to 2009 for comparison. The dietary behaviours, prevalence of obesity and dyslipidaemia were compared by study period. In 2014–2015, dietary assessment was conducted among 3635 students, physical assessment was conducted among 1427 school students. In 2008–2009, dietary assessment was conducted among 4271 students, physical assessment was conducted among 1700 school students. When compared with students in 2008, higher percentage of students from present study period consumed dairy products, crispy food and chocolate, while fewer students had fruits, vegetables and fried food at least once every day. Despite lower prevalence of elevated total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, the rate of general obesity, low high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and hyperglycaemia has increased significantly in 2014–2015. Students aged 12–14 consumed less fruits and vegetables and suffered from higher rate of general and abdominal obesity, as well as low high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated serum triglycerides in 2014–15. The students' diet had both favourable and unfavourable changes. The rate of obesity and dyslipidaemia rises, while the situation for students aged 12–14 is more concerning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the vulnerability of urban areas facing high temperatures, it is useful to develop methods to obtain the urban heat island (UHI) intensity. However, it is hard to equip all cities with extensive measurement networks and alternative UHI diagnostic methods are needed. Accordingly, in this paper we evaluate and revise the diagnostic equation designed by Theeuwes et al. (2017) and analyze its application for Xi'an (China), based on long-term summer meteorology data. The evaluation of the default diagnostic equation shows that limited accuracy for Xi'an is caused by the sum of morphological parameters being used outside the original range of calibration. Subsequently, we propose an extended equation, which adds the building fraction to express the morphology of additional spatial categories. This new equation is calibrated against a 3-year dataset and independently validated with data from another year. In addition, a class prediction with three spatial categories is proposed, and verified by independent data of 20 stations in Xi'an in 2018, which enables this formula to be applied in more cities. Altogether, the extended diagnostic equation is an effective method to evaluate the daily maximum UHI intensity (UHI max) on neighborhood-scale, which can be generalized for a whole city area and presents internal intensity differences with multi-points. Image 1 • A diagnostic equation for the maximum urban heat island is applied in Xi'an (China). • Building fraction is added to the diagnostic equation to represent morphology. • Sky-view factor and vegetation fraction are used for spatial categorization. • The extended equation is an effective method for UHI max evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Conflict is inevitable in public-private partnership (PPP) due to the long-term agreement and multiplicity of stakeholders with varying beliefs and interests. However, a thorough understanding of the root causes of conflict beforehand helps to minimize conflict occurrence, thereby ensuring a smooth PPP process. This paper aims to explore and evaluate the root causes of conflicts in PPPs through a comparative study between Ghana and China. Further, the most suitable conflict resolution mechanisms are explored from the Ghanaian and Chinese perspectives. Results show that causes of conflict ranked higher in Ghana directly relate to poor governance and contract arrangement, whereas causes related to poor risk management and communication are ranked higher in China. Further, arbitration and negotiation are the most suitable conflict resolution mechanisms for PPPs in Ghana and China respectively. The outputs of this study inform international private investors interested in PPPs in Africa and China of the possible sources of disputes and resolution mechanisms in PPPs. This will enable international investors to develop strategic measures before entering into the PPP markets of both regions. Highlights • Conflict is inevitable in public-private partnership arrangements • This paper explores the root causes of conflicts and conflict resolution mechanisms in PPPs • Causes of conflicts related to poor governance and contractual arrangements emerged as critical in Ghana, whereas causes related poor risk management and communication emerged as critical in China • Arbitration and Negotiations are the most suitable resolution mechanisms for conflicts in PPPs in Ghana and China respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization facilitated the development of international construction. Construction safety issues have become a global problem. International construction projects lead to complexities and difficulties in safety management given the involvement of participants from different countries and regions. This study takes case of Chinese international contractors to explore and evaluate the difficulties of implementing safety practices in international construction projects. Mixed methods include qualitative (i.e., document analysis and structured interview) and quantitative methods (i.e., Delphi survey) were adopted. The most important difficulties of implementing safety practices in international construction projects identified in this study were labor-only subcontracting and complex labor structure, low safety awareness of local workers, high turnover rates of frontline workers, and the failure of Chinese workers who work far from home to adapt to a boring lifestyle in overseas projects. Eliminating these major difficulties can facilitate the implementation of safety practices in international construction projects and further improve safety performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are prevalent in the older adult and are often accompanied by cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. However, the roles of WMHs in the periventricular white matter and deep white matter regions in the aging process remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the WMH burden across the adult lifespan and determine the interrelationships among age, WMH, and cognition. The present study included 312 healthy individuals aged 21–89 years who received structural magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessments. Periventricular WMH (PVWMH) and deep WMH (DWMH) volumes were computed and fitted using different regression models to evaluate the trajectory of WMH changes across the lifespan. Our findings support that the changes in WMH volume in the healthy population follow a nonlinear pattern with age, especially in PVWMH. With 2-mediator mediation analysis, we further suggest that the effect of age on the cognitive performance is mediated only by PVWMH. Conclusively, the increased PVWMH, but not DWMH, plays a major role in predicting cognitive aging in healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater shallow lake ecosystems provide valuable ecological services to human beings. However, these systems are subject to severe contamination from anthropogenic sources. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), are among the contaminants that have received substantial attention, primarily due to abundant applications, environment persistence, and potential threats to ecological and human health. Understanding the environmental behavior of these contaminants in shallow freshwater lake environments using a modeling approach is therefore critical. Here, we characterize the fate, transport and transformation of both PFOA and PFOS in the fifth largest freshwater lake in China (Chaohu) during a two-year period (2013–2015) using a fugacity-based multimedia fate model. A reasonable agreement between the measured and modeled concentrations in various compartments confirms the model's reliability. The model successfully quantifies the environmental processes and identifies the major sources and input pathways of PFOA and PFOS to the Chaohu water body. Sensitivity analysis reveals the critical role of nonlinear Freundlich sorption, which contributes to a variable fraction of the model true uncertainty in different compartments (8.1%–93.6%). Through additional model scenario analyses, we further elucidate the importance of nonlinear Freundlich sorption that is essential for the reliable model performance. We also reveal the distinct composition of emission sources for the two contaminants, as the major sources are indirect soil volatilization and direct release from human activities for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. The present study is expected to provide implications for local management of PFASs pollution in Lake Chaohu and to contribute to developing a general model framework for the evaluation of PFASs in shallow lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We provide the first household survey-based evidence on the impact of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on the welfare of rural households. Asset and income losses were substantial, especially in seriously affected areas. Our main finding is that there was an overwhelming government response to the disaster. Subsidies provided to households in 2008 were so large that mean income per capita was 17.5% higher in 2008 than in 2007 and the poverty rate actually declined from 34% to 19%. Using distance from the epicenter as an instrument for earthquake damage, we find a strong positive statistical relationship between lost value of housing and other assets due to the earthquake and increases in income per capita and government transfers received, and much weaker responsiveness of private transfers, wage labor supply, and borrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Te-rich epithermal systems are associated with calc-alkaline magmatism in NE China. • Au, Ag, and Te were likely derived from deep intermediate-basic intrusions. • Productive high-grade Au-Ag-telluride ores formed under the influence of magmatic fluids. • The north Heilongjiang Belt has exploration potential for additional Te-bearing Au-Ag deposits. Tellurium-bearing low-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposits are significant producers of gold, silver, and potentially strategic elements if mineral processing methods are optimized for recovery. Although these deposits are generally related to alkaline magmatism, our study documents an unusual occurrence of Te-rich low-sulfidation epithermal systems in the North Heilongjiang Belt in northeast China that is spatially and temporally associated with calc-alkaline magmatism and tectonic extension in a continental arc‐setting. In the North Heilongjiang Belt, Te-bearing Au-Ag deposits are usually sited in dilatant zones, mostly along extensional NW structures or at their intersections with deep‐seated NE-striking faults such as the Nenjiang-Heihe and Jiayin-Mudanjiang lineaments. Of these deposits, Sandaowanzi is well‐known for its bonanza gold grades. These faults localized andesitic to rhyolitic volcano-plutonic centers that evolved from mantle‐derived mafic melts to intermediate compositions due to differentiation and crustal assimilation as documented by their mineralogy and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope compositions. During assimilation of country rocks, fluids containing 3He and other volatiles derived from mantle magmas displaced or mixed with external groundwater containing radiogenic 4He derived from country rocks. In this belt, the bulk metal content of Au, Ag and Te was probably introduced by deep mantle‐derived mafic‐intermediate calc‐alkaline intrusions. However, our study does not exclude input of metals leached from underlying metasedimentary rocks and older Te‐bearing Au mineralization. The noble gas, hydrogen, oxygen and lead isotope compositions of fluid inclusions and ore minerals suggest that the deposits formed by mixing between magmatic fluids and convecting meteoric ground waters containing lead leached from surrounding country rocks. At deeper levels, isotopic evidence suggests that Au-Ag-Te (Bi) precipitated with pyrite, quartz, sericite, and carbonate minerals due to mixing with Te-rich fluids. At shallower levels, Au and Ag precipitated contemporaneously with base‐metal sulfides, hydrothermal quartz and sericite during episodic boiling as evidenced by silica morphology and mineral textures. The relatively uniform spacing of epithermal systems along NW- and NE-trending structures in the North Heilongjiang Belt was used to identify unexplored spaces within this mineral belt that are prospective for concealed low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. Although some of the Au-Ag deposits in this belt are enriched in Te, there is a lack of coeval alkaline igneous rocks that are commonly associated with Te-bearing gold deposits elsewhere in the world (e.g., Cripple Creek, Emperor, and Lihir Island). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of urban parks to contribute to soundscape restorativeness, understood here as contributions to people's recovery from attentional fatigue and reflection on life issues, is receiving increased interest in research and policy. However, scientific understanding of the influential mechanism of perceived soundscape restorativeness is still not clear. This paper aims to explore the effects of audio-visual interaction on perceived soundscape restorativeness (PSR) of urban parks, considering visitors of different social and demographic characteristics. The research design comprises a survey of 419 visitors to five urban parks in Fuzhou, China, general structure equation modeling, and multi-group model analysis. The results show a substantial dependence of visitors' PSR values on respective perceptions of soundscape pleasantness and eventfulness, especially soundscape pleasantness. Visual landscape characteristics showed mediating effects on the influence of soundscape pleasantness and eventfulness on the perceived soundscape restorativeness (19.3 % and 28.3 % of the total effect, respectively). Age was the most influential social and demographic characteristic affecting the PSR, followed by gender, while occupation and educational background showed only limited effects. Future development of urban parks should strongly integrate soundscape design considerations to enhance positive PSR effects for visitors. [Display omitted] • The mechanism of audio-visual interaction could affect the perceived soundscape restorativeness (PSR) in urban parks. • Soundscape pleasantness showed more effects on the PSR than soundscape eventfulness. • Visual landscape played a mediating role in the process of soundscape perception affecting the PSR. • Age showed the most significant effects on the generation mechanism of the PSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tephra dispersed during the Millennium eruption (ME), Changbaishan Volcano, NE China provides one of the key stratigraphic links between Asia and Greenland for the synchronization of palaeoenvironmental records. However, controversy surrounds proximal-distal tephra correlations because (a) the proposed proximal correlatives of the distal ME tephra (i.e. B–Tm) lack an unequivocal chronostratigraphic context, and (b) the ME tephra deposits have not been chemically characterized for a full spectrum of element using grain-specific techniques. Here we present grain-specific glass chemistry, including for the first time, single grain trace element data, for a composite proximal sequence and a distal tephra from Lake Kushu, northern Japan (ca. 1100 km away from Changbaishan). We demonstrate a robust proximal-distal correlation and that the Kushu tephra is chemically associated with the ME/B–Tm. We propose that three of the proximal pyroclastic fall units were erupted as part of the ME. The radiocarbon chronology of the Kushu sedimentary record has been utilised to generate a Bayesian age-depth model, providing an age for the Kushu tephra which is consistent with high resolution ages determined for the eruption and therefore supports our geochemical correlation. Two further Bayesian age-depth models were independently constructed each incorporating one of two ice-core derived ages for the B–Tm tephra, providing Bayesian modelled ages of 933–949 and 944–947 cal AD (95.4%) for the Kushu tephra. The high resolution ice-core tephra ages imported into the deposition models help test and ultimately constrain the radiocarbon chronology in this interval of the Lake Kushu sedimentary record. The observed geochemical diversity between proximal and distal ME tephra deposits clearly evidences the interaction of two compositionally distinct magma batches during this caldera forming eruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2003, Mainland China has been promoting the public–private partnership (PPP) procurement model in the waste-to-energy incineration sector to reduce the waste burying rate and improve environmental quality. Five critical risk factors (CRFs) that affect the construction and operation of waste-to-energy incineration projects have been identified from real-life risk events of 14 PPP waste-to-energy incineration plants through content analysis. These risk factors are insufficient waste supply , disposal of non - licensed waste , environmental risk , payment risk , and lack of supporting infrastructure . A recently completed PPP waste-to-energy incineration plant, the Shanghai Tianma project, was investigated to learn from the effective management of CRFs. First-hand data about the Shanghai Tianma project was collected, with a focus on project negotiation and concession agreement. Lessons learned about risk management were acquired. This paper presents a detailed study of the contractual structure, risk sharing scheme, risk response measures to CRFs, and project transfer of a PPP project. The study results will provide governments with management implications to prepare equitable concession agreements and benefit private investors by effectively mitigating and managing risks in future PPP waste-to-energy incineration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphinganine and sphingosine, the two sphingoid base backbones of sphingolipids, are highly bioactive compounds that are of increasing interest to nutritionists because they occur in food and their metabolism can be altered by fungal toxins that contaminate some foods. Nonetheless, no studies of diet and sphinganine or sphingosine concentrations in serum have yet been reported. Here we describe a cross-sectional study of 265 residents of Linxian, People's Republic of China, which examines potential demographic, physiologic and dietary correlates of serum sphinganine and sphingosine in this population. Median concentrations of serum sphinganine and sphingosine were compared among strata for 29 different variables. For sphinganine, no significant differences were found. For sphingosine, significant differences were seen among strata of age, menstruation status, serum cholesterol, carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols, fresh and dried vegetable and fresh fruit consumption. Using multivariate linear regression with stepwise selection, we found that the significant predictors for serum sphingosine included total tocopherols, age, serum selenium and retinol, with a final R(2) = 0.22; for sphinganine, tooth loss was the sole correlate, with R(2) = 0.015. Analyses using ranked sphingolipid data or principal components analysis, to simplify the food variables, did not materially alter these results. This study represents the largest report of human serum sphingolipid concentrations to date and provides insight into potential explanatory variables that can be incorporated into future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green building, a significant sustainable practice to enhance the relationship between buildings and the environment, has received much attention worldwide. Although green buildings spread fast around the world, the efficiency of resources for green building construction has great potential to improve. Meanwhile, the spatial correlations of green building construction need to strengthen to benefit from the spillover effects. However, only few previous studies focused on efficiency problems in the green building promotion process and their spatial correlations. This study aims to propose a framework to examine green building promotion efficiency and investigate its spatial relationships between regions in different time slices. As a case study, data from 28 regions in China were collected. Data envelopment analysis and social network analysis were used to analyze the data. Results show that the overall green building promotion efficiency in China increased gradually, but significant efficiency gaps existed among regions. Regional collaborations made great contributions to efficiency enhancement, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta areas. Furthermore, only a small proportion of regions performed well in the efficiency and spatial correlations, mainly in southeast China. Most regions had low efficiency and weak correlations with the developed regions. This study contributes to the knowledge body of green buildings by presenting the first investigation into the green building promotion efficiency and the spatial correlations in green building development. The findings would enable researchers, policymakers and practitioners to develop efficient policies and strategies to promote the widespread implementation of green buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examines fatalities of repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition (RMAA) works which occurred in Hong Kong between January 2000 and October 2011. A total of 119 RMAA fatalities were recorded. Particular emphasis was placed on fall from height accidents as they accounted for the vast majority of RMAA fatal accidents for the period. A cluster analysis was conducted on fall from height fatal cases. The cluster analysis clearly identified three groups of fall from height fatalities: (1) bamboo scaffolders aged between 25 and 34 who fell from external wall/facade in the beginning of weekdays; (2) miscellaneous workers aged between 45 and 54 who fell from other/unknown places in the end of weekdays; and (3) manual labour aged between 35 and 44 who fell at floor level/from floor openings in weekends. Unsafe process and improper procedures were the main unsafe condition leading to fatalities whereas safety belt not properly used was the main unsafe action leading to fatalities. Specific safety interventions were recommended for each of these groups to help avoid these fatalities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper is an extension to a paper previously published in the journal Building and Environment. Having determined an optimal recovery time in a controlled climatic environment, this paper aims to investigate the real impact on construction rebar workers by replicating the clinical experimentation to a series of field studies. Field studies were conducted during the summer time in Hong Kong. Nineteen rebar workers performed tasks of fixing and bending steel reinforcement bars on two building construction sites until voluntary exhaustion and were allowed to recover on site until their physiological conditions returned to the pre-work level or lower. Physiological Strain Index (PSI) was used as a yardstick to determine the rate of recovery. A total of 411 sets of meteorological and physiological data collected over fourteen working days between July and August of 2011 were collated to derive the optimal recovery time. It was found that on average a rebar worker could achieve 94% recovery in 40 min; 93% in 35 min; 92% in 30 min; 88% in 25 min; 84% in 20 min; 78% in 15 min; 68% in 10 min; and 58% in 5 min. Curve estimation results showed that recovery time is a significant variable to predict the rate of recovery (R 2 = 0.99, P < 0.05). Additional rest times should be introduced between works in extreme hot weather to enable workers to recover from heat stress. Frequency and duration of each rest time should be agreed among different stakeholders based on the cumulative recovery curve. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study aims to determine an optimal recovery time after a participant has exercised to exhaustion in a controlled climatic condition. Ten males and four females volunteers were examined under hot (30°C) and humid (75% relative humidity) environment in a climatic chamber to simulate typical summer outdoor working conditions of construction workers in Hong Kong. The participants (age 31.3 ± 9.3 years; height 168.5 ± 9.8 cm; weight 62.5 ± 7.1 kg; and percentage body fat 22.9 ± 7.2%) performed graded upper body exercise at a target cadence of 70 rotation per minute (RPM) until exhaustion and were recovered inside the climatic chamber until their physiological conditions returned to the pre-exercise level or lower. Physiological Strain Index (PSI) was used as a yardstick to determine the rate of recovery. The physiological conditions of the participants were monitored by recording their ear temperature (to estimate core temperature), heart rate, oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE). It was found that on average a participant could achieve 97% energetic recovery in 40 min; 90% in 35 min; 82% in 30 min; 75% in 25 min; 68% in 20 min; 60% in 15 min; 53% in 10 min; and 46% in 5 min. Linear regression results showed that recovery time is a significant independent variable to determine the rate of recovery (R 2 = 0.95, P < 0.05). Depending on the level of recovery, an optimal recovery time after exhaustion in a hot and humid environment can be determined based on these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The prevention of fall from height accidents has long been a popular topic in the field of construction safety. Previous research has indicated one of the potential hazards was induced by the use of steel bracket as scaffold support. While researchers are focusing to improve the existing scaffolding system, this research introduces a newly developed device to minimize fall accidents. The working platform, namely Rapid Demountable Platform (RDP) can be applied across window frames without fixing anchor bolts. Emphasizing on the rapid installation/dismantling, the RDP provides another safer option for working at height. The development of the RDP has incorporated modular concept and aesthetic factor into the design, achieving a more user-friendly platform. Although the RDP is not intended to totally replace the traditional bamboo truss-out scaffold, it is designed to act as an alternative or a supplement to the existing bamboo truss-out scaffold. The RDP is the first of this kind to minimize fall from height accidents especially in cities similar to Hong Kong where external working at height is frequently encountered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background/Purpose: According to the US National Kidney Foundation K/DOQI Guidelines in 2000, under most circumstances, spot urine samples should be used to detect and monitor proteinuria in children and adults and timed collection is often unnecessary. However, its use is still not widely implemented in Hong Kong. We aimed to assess the correlation of spot urine protein-to-creatinine (Pr/Cr) ratio to 24-hour urine protein excretion in our local setting. Methods: This was a prospective study set in regional hospitals in Hong Kong. A total of 174 patients were recruited from 2007 to 2008. Spot urine Pr/Cr ratio and 24-hour urine protein measurements were determined. Linear regression model was used to fit and test the relationship between 24-hour urine protein excretion and the spot urine Pr/Cr ratio. Results: Spot urine Pr/Cr ratio correlated well with 24-hour urine protein excretion (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Spot urine Pr/Cr ratio is a convenient, user-friendly and reliable method to replace 24-hour urine protein measurement for the assessment of proteinuria. 背景: 根據 2000 年美國國家腎臟基金會的 K/DOQI 指引，對於偵測及監察成人及兒童的蛋白尿，在大多數情況下採用隨機單次尿液檢體即可，毋須講究尿液收集的時間。然而，此措施在香港並未被廣泛應用。本研究之目的，是在香港的區域醫院內，測量病人隨機單次尿液之蛋白-肌酸酐 (Pr/Cr) 比例、及 24 小時之尿蛋白排泄量，並調查兩者的相關性。 方法: 研究採取前瞻性的方式，在 2007 至 2008 年間共納入 174 位病人，分別測量隨機單次尿液 Pr/Cr 比例及 24 小時尿蛋白排泄量，並以線性回歸法進行數據的分析。 結果: 結果顯示，隨機單次尿液 Pr/Cr 比例與 24 小時尿蛋白排泄量呈現顯著的相關性 (r = 0.95、p < 0.0001)。 結論: 在蛋白尿的評估上，作為一個簡便而可靠的指標，隨機單次尿液 Pr/Cr 比例理應可取代 24 小時尿蛋白排泄量。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sorption/desorption characteristics of heavy metals onto/from soil particle surfaces are the primary factors controlling the success of the remediation of heavy-metal contaminated soils. These characteristics are pH-dependent, chemical-specific, and reversible; and can be modified by enhancement agents such as chelates and surfactants. In this study, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using citric acid industrial wastewater (CAIW) to desorb cadmium from a natural clay from Shanghai, China at different soil mixture pHs. It can be observed from the results that the proportion of cadmium desorbed from the soil using synthesized CAIW is generally satisfactory, i.e., >60%, when the soil mixture pH is lower than 6. However, the proportion of desorbed cadmium decreases significantly with increase in soil mixture pH. The dominant cadmium desorption mechanism using CAIW is the complexion of cadmium with citric acid and acetic acid in CAIW. It is concluded that CAIW can be a promising enhancement agent for the remediation of cadmium-contaminated natural soils when the environmental conditions are favorable. As a result, CAIW, a waste product itself, can be put into productive use in soil remediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper sheds an empirical light on port development patterns by discussing the structure and the development of the Yangtze River ports system. We argue that the Yangtze River system is going through a regionalization phase, mainly in relation to the port of Shanghai. This process started on the lower Yangtze but is now also moving upstream. The transition towards the port regionalization phase is typically a gradual and market-driven process that mirrors the increased focus of market players on logistics integration. This paper builds on the existing literature on port systems and adapts port development models to river ports. Furthermore, we employ some statistical techniques that are common to the analysis of port systems, and introduce some techniques that have not been used much by transport geographers in ports. This paper will address the dynamics in the Yangtze River ports system by analyzing the level of cargo concentration and the degree of inequality in operations of the container ports. The paper also assesses observed differences in development of ports in different areas along the river (upstream/downstream) and reflects on the role of ownership structures in shaping regional load centre networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This is the 9th Symposium on Electrokinetic Remediation. In Chinese, “9” is pronounced as “▪” which means longevity. As the first symposium of the series to be held on Chinese soil, it may be appropriate to follow the Chinese tradition so as to set the stage for the longevity of the symposium series. Therefore, it is time for us to recognize the milestone developments of past researchers, to clarify some of the myths, and to establish future research directions of electrokinetic remediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has implemented different safety initiatives to improve the safety performance of the construction industry over the past decades. The Pay for Safety Scheme (PFSS), which is one of the effective safety measures launched by the government in 1996, has been widely adopted in the public works contracts. Both the accident rate and fatality rate of public sector projects have decreased noticeably over this period. Method: This paper aims to review the current state of application of PFSS in Hong Kong, and attempts to identify and analyze the perceived benefits of PFSS in construction via an industry-wide empirical questionnaire survey. A total of 145 project participants who have gained abundant handson experience with the PFSS construction projects were requested to complete a survey questionnaire to indicate the relative importance of those benefits identified in relation to PFSS. The perceived benefits were measured and ranked from the perspectives of the client and contractor for crosscomparison. Results: The survey findings suggested the most significant benefits derived from adopting PFSS were: (a) Increased safety training; (b) Enhanced safety awareness; (c) Encouragement of developing safety management system; and (d) Improved safety commitment. A wider application of PFSS should be advocated so as to achieve better safety performance within the construction industry. Impact on Industry: It is recommended that a similar scheme to the PFSS currently adopted in Hong Kong may be developed for implementation in other regions or countries for international comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study unveils causes of accidents in repair, maintenance, alteration and addition (RMAA) work. RMAA work is playing an increasingly important role in developed societies, including Hong Kong. Safety problems associated with RMAA work in Hong Kong has reached an alarming level. In view of rapid expansion of the RMAA sector and rising proportion of accidents in the construction industry, there is a pressing need to investigate causes of RMAA accidents. Structured interviews were conducted with RMAA contractors to explore causes of accidents in the RMAA sector. A two-round Delphi method with 13 safety experts was subsequently employed to verify the interview findings and rank the relative degree of importance for various causes of accidents. Accidents happen in RMAA work due to intersection of reasons. One of the root causes of accidents in RMAA works is low safety awareness of RMAA workers; however, wider organizational and industrial factors are not negligible. This study sheds light on why accidents happen in the RMAA sector. Only when the factors leading to accidents are identified can effective measures be made. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Research into partnering performance measures for building and construction projects becomes crucial because a growing trend of client organizations has been observed to adopt partnering approach to procure their projects worldwide over the past decade. Although there are some related research studies and papers documented on this research area, few, if any, comprehensive and systematic research studies focus on developing a comprehensive, objective, reliable and practical performance evaluation model for partnering projects in construction. A Partnering Performance Index (PPI), which is composed of seven weighted Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), has been developed to measure, monitor, improve, and benchmark the partnering performance of construction projects in Hong Kong. A set of Quantitative Indicators (QIs) and well-defined ranges of Quantitative Requirements (QRs) for each QI have been further established using the Delphi survey technique and Fuzzy Set Theory. Evaluation of partnering success can now be based on quantitative evidences, thus tackling the subjectivity of performance evaluation. By making use of the Internet and database technology, PPI can be monitored on-line, thus saving much time, cost and efforts on data collection and retrieval than if they are done manually. As such, an Internet-based computerized partnering monitoring and benchmarking tool, namely the Computerized Partnering Performance Index System (CPPIS) has been developed. The Internet-based CPPIS enables project participants to input data at any time and location and the project administrators could perform data analysis via the Internet. The CPPIS also enables project managers to measure, monitor, improve and benchmark their partnering performances against those already stored in the database. Graphical presentations of data and various performance measures are also built in to assist various end-users to identify problematic areas and critical success factors for achieving partnering excellence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present new anatomical information showing that Koutalisaurus kohlerorum, from the Maastrichtian of Lleida Province, northeastern Spain, is most probably the junior synonym of Pararhabdodon isonensis from the same region. Dentary and maxillary characters previously considered as autapomorphies of K. kohlerorum and P. isonensis, respectively, are shown to be synapomorphies uniting the latter with Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus from the Campanian of the Wangshi Group, Shandong Province, China. This study provided conclusive evidence of the presence of the Lambeosaurinae in Europe. Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus and Pararhabdodon isonensis were inferred to form a clade of basal lambeosaurines characterized by a maxilla with an elevated articular facet for the jugal (continuous with the ectopterygoid ridge) and an extremely medially projected symphyseal region of the dentary. This clade originated in Asia during the middle or late Campanian. Pararhabdodon isonensis or its ancestors migrated from Asia to the Iberian island of the European archipelago. Reconstruction of ancestral areas by Fitch parsimony attributes the European occurrence of P. isonensis to a single dispersal event from Asia no later than middle to late Campanian. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although sophisticated and technologically advanced, current quality control methods for Chinese medicines (syn. Chinese materia medica or CMM) lack comprehensiveness and practicability. They are more suited for analyzing single-chemical drugs or specific, known chemical components that have already been isolated. While these methods can fully satisfy the modern scientific requirements for identity, purity and quality in the assessment of chemical drugs, they are not suitable for handling the complex chemical nature of traditional CMM whose multifunctional components along with their inherent holistic activities are frequently unknown and thus are not adequately analyzed by these methods. In order to assess properly and meaningfully the identity and quality of complex CMM (also known as Chinese herbs and Chinese herbal medicines), additional measures that can retain the traditional aspect of CMM need to be included. This requires a basic understanding of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Rural ecological assessment index is developed. • Delphi Technique and Analytical Hierarchy Process methods are used. • A multi-level rural ecological assessment index is developed. • Ecological protection and construction are revealed as the highest priority areas. • Policymakers are encouraged to use a comprehensive rural ecological assessment index. Rapid rural development in China has put rural ecology at risk, which has raised questions about whether rural development is synonymous with rural ecological damage. In response to this, the Chinese government has proposed ecological revitalization as a critical strategy for the country's rural revitalization initiatives. A good rural ecological revitalization strategy can be formulated based on a comprehensive assessment of ecological health. However, attempts to develop a complete index for assessing rural ecology has yielded diverse and inadequate results. This study used the Delphi Technique and Analytical Hierarchy Process methods to develop a rural ecological assessment index, to address this gap. A literature review, combined with expert consultations and screening, resulted in a multi-level rural ecological assessment index. This index is comprised of three first-level indices, six second-level indices, and 21 third-level indicators. According to the pairwise comparison and the weightings of the experts' judgment, ecological protection and construction are the highest priority areas in rural ecological assessment. At the second level: living environment, direct drinking water quality, life prevention, greening construction, agricultural production control, and vegetation protection are priorities. We also discovered that all 21 indicators had considerably greater weightings and relevance than similar indicators found in the literature. Consistency testing revealed that the results are acceptable and free from logical errors. Based on the findings of this study, the government should embrace a comprehensive assessment of rural ecology and take into account priority areas when formulating a rural ecological revitalization strategy to conserve the rural ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A fast and cost-effective method using HPLC/UV has been developed for determination of acrylamide in deep-fried flour-based leaven dough foods available in Hong Kong. The samples were purified by a simple solid-phase extraction method which combined Oasis HLB and Bond Elut-Accucat cartridges. The aqueous sample solution was centrifuged at 14,500 ×g and 0 °C for 15 min to successfully remove the fat in the samples. A gradient elution program and a mobile phase of 4.0% v/v acetonitrile in water allowed sufficient retention and well resolved acrylamide from the food matrices in the sample extracts. Acrylamide was detected at UV wavelengths of 210 and 225 nm. The amounts of acrylamide in eight food samples were 27–198 μg/kg when 1-g samples were analyzed. The recoveries of acrylamide were larger than 78.0% and the precisions were 2.1–10.9% (n =3). Our proposed method is especially relevant for analyzing acrylamide in those oily food matrices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study looks at a paracentric inversion on chromosome 4 [inv(4)(q13;q25)] in members of a large schizophrenia kindred from Hong Kong, and the possibility of a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia at one of the inversion breakpoints. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with BAC and fosmid clones was used to determine the location of the 4q13 and 4q25 breakpoints, however bioinformatic analysis indicated that no known genes are directly disrupted by the breakpoints. We identified several putative genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from around the breakpoint regions, and have characterized them further in order to determine whether they may represent full-length mRNAs that are disrupted by the inversion. Overall, it appears that, while no known genes are disrupted, an as yet undiscovered gene, or indeed, a known gene, may be present near one of the breakpoints and may be disrupted by position effect. We hypothesized that either the 4q13 or 4q25 breakpoint region may contain a common susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. We genotyped 117 schizophrenia families for several short tandem repeat polymorphisms close to the breakpoints. Family based association testing showed no association at the 4q13 breakpoint region, but showed significant allelic association for marker D4S2989 at the 4q25 breakpoint region (p =0.016). This study suggests that the 4q breakpoint regions may harbour a gene that contributes to the illness in the large Hong Kong pedigree, and this 4q25 region should be examined further in other schizophrenia samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines the intersections of the past and present in the contemporary urban landscape of Shanghai. In particular, it examines on the glamorous history prior to communist liberation in 1949, which is museumized in the contemporary Shanghai landscape. The focus on urban regeneration efforts has seen the renovation of Shikumen Houses in Xintiandi, which demonstrates how contemporary spaces are imagined in ways that conjure up “Old Shanghai”. Through this process of creating trans-historical spaces, the original place meanings of Xintiandi are re-cast by its present stakeholders. By deploying iconography as a particular device of place promotion, the paper illuminates the fragments of history that have been fore grounded and muted by these strategies. Xintiandi is broadly conceived as a site of consumption that is reflective of emerging new spaces of consumption in Shanghai; as spaces that are set within the context of unequal power relations in urban planning and heritage conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Construction time has been acknowledged by construction researchers and industry practitioners over the past three decades as one of the most important performance criteria of many successful projects. This raises an increasing global concern about benchmarking best practice measures of construction time performance (CTP) for use by clients, consultants and contractors in the construction industry. Previously derived statistical time models were first reviewed in this paper. A questionnaire survey was then undertaken to identify a set of critical factors influencing construction durations of high-rise public housing projects in Hong Kong. Data were gleaned from a representative sample of 56 standard ‘Harmony’-type residential blocks via mailed standard questionnaires. Multiple regression exercises were performed to analyse the project data and establish a prediction model. The results suggested that the overall construction duration of such projects could be modelled on the basis of a set of scope factors, construction method and housing scheme chosen. Predicted durations calculated from the developed model were then compared and assessed against actual durations achieved on-site. The concept of CTP index, which represents the predicted durations of individual projects relative to their actual observed durations, was applied as a useful means for evaluating and benchmarking their CTP. Practical applications of the developed model were also explained. Another construction time prediction model is envisaged to be formulated for private sector housing blocks in Hong Kong for local and international comparisons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We analyze household and school survey data from poor counties in six Chinese provinces to examine the effects of poverty, intra-household decision-making, and school quality on educational investments (enrollment decisions) and learning outcomes (test scores and grade promotion). Unlike previous studies, we use direct measures of credit limits and women''s empowerment. Drawing a distinction between the effects of wealth (measured by expenditures per capita) and credit constraints, we find that the former improves learning while the latter reduces educational investments. We find evidence of a story of gender bias in which academically weak girls are more likely to drop out in primary school while most boys continue on to junior secondary school. Women''s empowerment reduces the likelihood of dropping out but does not affect other outcomes. Finally, our measures of school quality have some effect on the duration of primary school enrollment but not on learning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The building and construction industry is the major industry of Hong Kong as in many developed countries around the world. After the commissioning of a high-rise building or a large estate, substantial manpower, both inside the management centre under a standby manner, as well as surveillance for security purposes around the whole building, is required for daily operation to ensure a quality environment for the occupants. If the surveillance job can be done by robots, the efficiency can be highly enhanced, resulting in a great saving of manpower and the improved safety of the management staff as a by-product. Furthermore, if the robot can retrieve commands from the building management system via a local area network (LAN), further savings in manpower can be achieved in terms of first-line fault attendance by human management staff. This paper describes the development of a robot prototype here in Hong Kong, which can handle some daily routine maintenance works and surveillance responsibilities. The hardware structure of the robot and its on-board devices are described. Real-time images captured by a camera on the robot with pan/tilt/zoom functions can be transmitted back to the central management office via a local area network. The interface between the robot and the building automation system (BAS) of the building is discussed. This is the first key achievement of this project with a strong implication on reducing the number of human staff to manage a modern building. Teleoperation of the robot via the Internet or intranet is also possible, which is the second achievement of this project. Finally, the robot can identify its physical position inside the building by a landmark recognition method based on standard CAD drawings, which is the third achievement of this project. The main goal of this paper is not the description of some groundbreaking technology in robotic development. It is mainly intended to convince building designers and managers to incorporate robotic systems when they are managing modern buildings to save manpower and improve efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on a study which provided an early systematic analysis of Chinese microfinance programs using household survey data. Description of the rural financial landscape in China; Information on government poverty loans and microfinance; Examination of empirical propositions that underpin successful microfinance programs.

Compares the use of Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) and general practitioners (GP) in primary care of patients in Hong Kong. Reasons for not attending a private GP; Reasons why non-urgent patients did not choose public general out patient clinics; Reason for high-level utilization of A&E services; Problems of GP delivery.

Presents information on a study which analyzed the effectiveness of Chinese poor area development policy. Sources and uses of poverty funds in Shaanxi province; Growth in Shaanxi's poor counties; Modeling growth in Shaanxi province; Conclusions.

Drawing on the literature examining women intrapreneurship, Chinese guanx i and tourism, this article critically explores a theoretical framework for understanding guanxi influences on women intrapreneurship in a non-western and highly patriarchal destination. Through a qualitative analysis of women managers from twenty-four medium and large tourism firms in China, the study provides evidence of Guanxi as socially embedded personal relationships for the exchange of favors, enabling women managers to initiate specific types of women intrapreneurship initiatives in their organizations. The findings reveal how the women managers draw on three forms of guanxi (external, within and back-stage) to display intrapreneurial actions as well as the firm-specific factors that constitute important determinants of women intrapreneurship. The managerial implications for encouraging and supporting women intrapreneurs are critically examined. • Theorizes guanxi influences on women intrapreneurship in tourism firms. • Offers a gender perspective to understanding guanxi influences. • Three forms of guanxi influence Chinese women's career progression. • Uncovers illustrative types of women intrapreneurship initiatives in tourism firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing number of Urban Wetland Parks (UWPs) established in China, little scientific understanding exists regarding the most suitable design strategies and their respective benefits for nature and people. This paper aims to develop a framework of integrated design guidelines for Chinese UWPs which combines ecological issues and open space use. Our research design includes a literature review on UWP challenges, the development of a framework of design guidelines based on document analyses and 22 illustrative UWP case studies as well as an in-depth evaluation of six Chinese UWP cases. We have identified 13 key UWP challenges, for example for maintaining biodiversity. Our framework of guidelines consists of 17 integrated design strategies such as 'increasing floodplain space', which are operationalised by 57 design measures. The case study evaluation reveals that the positive effects of selected design measures are largely confirmed for six Chinese parks in terms of ecological and open space use issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinopyroxene is a common phase in a variety of hydrothermal ore deposits, notably in skarn deposits where it typically occurs as a major constituent. It commonly displays variations in texture and composition due to changing physicochemical conditions and contains relatively high concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), making it an important petrogenetic indicator. In this study, we integrate textural and geochemical investigations of clinopyroxene from the Baijian Fe skarn deposit (eastern China) to constrain the evolution of ore-forming fluids and provide significant new insights into partitioning of REEs between the clinopyroxene and hydrothermal fluids. In the Baijian Fe skarn, endoskarn clinopyroxene is typically zoned with homogeneous Fe-poor cores and oscillatory zoned Fe-rich rims. The rims are also enriched in Na, Co, Ni, and V and contain primary fluid inclusions with high salinities of 57.7–61.2 wt.% NaCl equiv. The compositional differences between the cores and rims reflect a transition from dilute, Fe-poor fluids to saline, Fe-rich components, likely a result of fluid boiling. In the exoskarn, early formed Fe-poor clinopyroxene is commonly replaced with Fe-rich clinopyroxene through fluid-assisted, coupled dissolution-reprecipitation processes. Overall, the textural features and compositional variations of clinopyroxene reflect a transition from early diffusive metasomatism by low-salinity fluids under low water/rock ratios to later advective metasomatism by high-salinity fluids under high water/rock ratios. When normalized to the modeled composition of the melt-equilibrated fluid, the log light REE and middle REE abundances in the clinopyroxene fit a linear function of the radius parameter (expressed as r 0 /2 × (r i − r 0)2 + 1/3×(r i − r 0)3) of the lattice strain model, indicating that crystal lattice strain has exerted a major control on REE clinopyroxene-fluid partitioning. Cores of zoned endoskarn clinopyroxenes show an upward increase in heavy REE (HREE) from Ho to Lu, likely caused by incorporation of those elements both into the eightfold M2 site and the sixfold M1 site of clinopyroxene. The increasing HREE compatibility coincides with elevated Mn contents in the cores of the clinopyroxene grains, implying that Mn has a significant effect on the accommodation of HREE into the sixfold M1 site of clinopyroxene, presumably due to the similar ionic radius between Mn2+ in sixfold coordination (Mn2+ = 0.83 Å) and the HREE (e.g., Lu3+ = 0.861 Å). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economists have long recognized the important role of formal schooling and cognitive skills on labor market participation and wages. More recently, increasing attention has turned to the role of personality traits, or noncognitive skills. This study is among the first to examine how both cognitive and noncognitive skills measured in childhood predict educational attainment and early labor market outcomes in a developing country setting. Analyzing longitudinal data on rural children from one of China’s poorest provinces, we find that both cognitive and noncognitive skills, measured when children are 9–12, 13–16, and 17–21 years old, are important predictors of whether they remain in school or enter the work force at age 17–21. The predictive power of specific skill variables differ between boys and girls. Conditioning on years of schooling, there is no strong evidence that skills measured in childhood predict wages in the early years of labor market participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs) are returned to the government once the contract term expires. Before the handover, a preparatory period, known as the "handover stage (HS)," is needed to determine whether the project is fit for handover. However, to date, no means to assess the performance status of the handover management has been established. This study addresses this practical demand by establishing a definition of handover success and identifying and evaluating criteria for the measurement of handover success, which contributes to a better understanding of HS management. • PPP handover success is defined as a hierarchical structure constituted by 12 key performance indicators. • 'Consecutive water production' emerges as the indicator with highest efficacy in assessing handover success of water PPPs. • Governments should be vigilant when dealing with handover stage due to the opportunistic tendency of private parties. • A process-based handover performance assessment mode comprising three evaluation nodes is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis remains an important public health issue, with a large number of cases reported across sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia and Latin America. China was once highly endemic, but has made substantial progress and is moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis. Meanwhile, despite long-term, repeated, school-based chemotherapy in many African countries, more than 90% of all schistosomiasis cases are concentrated in Africa, and hence, this continent constitutes the key challenge for schistosomiasis control. Opportunities and issues for international collaboration in the fight against schistosomiasis are outlined with a focus on China's experiences, including the role of public health authorities and intersectoral collaboration, use of new and effective snail control approaches and diagnostic tools adapted to the specific stage of control, as well as the strengthening of risk mapping and surveillance-response mechanisms. Training courses targeting African governmental officials and professionals, coupled with field visits of African scientists and control programme managers to China, and vice versa, are considered important for improved schistosomiasis control and elimination. The crucial question remains whether the Chinese experience can be translated and applied in African countries to improve the effectiveness of health interventions and scale-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been widely accepted that high land use intensity contributes to sandy desertification in Northern China. However, it is surprising that it is even not easy to find an explicit definition and proper indicator for the term “land use intensity” in the sandy desertification related literatures. To better understand the association between sandy desertification and its driving factors, especially in the context of the synergistic roles of both climatic and anthropogenic variables, an indicator for land use intensity was developed in this paper for quantifying the relative role of land use output on different kinds of vegetation cover. The results indicated land use intensity increased rapidly from 1980 to 1995, obviously decreased from 1995 to 2000, and increased slowly after 2000 as a result of the continued increase of socioeconomic pressures and the fluctuating changes in vegetative cover. An ARDL model was established and applied to analyze the correlation between the area of bare sand land and land use intensity with the influence of annual precipitation in temporal dimension. The area of bare sand land was significantly affected by land use intensity in the long run. However, in the short run, the area of bare sand land was mainly impacted by the auto-correlation effect of itself in temporal dimension and by the annual precipitation. The improvement of the sand dunes obviously reduced the risk of sandy desertification under the condition of specific land use intensity. Before analyzing the correlation between land use intensity and sandy desertification, specific skills were applied to improve the model, including data interpolation and regression verification, since there would be regression biases resulting from the acquisition and processing of time-series data of different sources. Results showed that the area of bare sand land ( S t )and the land use intensity ( LI t ) were time-independent. Lag terms of these two variables were added to improve original model. Changes in socioeconomic pressures and ecological restoration projects had obvious influences on land use intensity. Along with the steady increase of socioecological pressures on land and the changes in vegetative cover resulting from various ecological protection strategies and ecological restoration projects, shifts in land use intensity followed a different trend with the population and the social-economic demands. Nonetheless, the continuous increase of socioeconomic demands will increase land use intensity in the long run, so that the risk of sandy desertification remains high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since 1996, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has introduced the Pay for Safety Scheme (PFSS) to the public works construction contracts to uplift their safety performance. However, the adoption of PFSS has also encountered some difficulties that merit considerable attention. This paper purports to provide a concise review of the prevailing application of PFSS in Hong Kong in general, and to explore the potential difficulties associated with PFSS in particular. By means of an empirical questionnaire survey geared towards industrial practitioners with extensive direct hands-on PFSS experience, their opinions were solicited, analyzed and compared between the client group and contractor group of respondents. The three most significant difficulties in implementing PFSS were found to be: (1) “Plenty of paperwork required for certifying payment to contractor”; (2) “Complicated contract documents and lengthy assessment process”; and (3) “Over-tight project schedule requiring rush jobs”. The output of this research study is particularly essential in assisting the contracting parties to mitigate the avoidable hindrances when embarking on PFSS. It has also generated valuable insights into developing effective recommendations for alleviating the barriers to PFSS success for future construction projects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, construction safety has been a hot topic in Hong Kong. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has launched different safety measures to improve the prevailing safety performance of the construction industry. The Pay for Safety Scheme (PFSS) has emerged as one of the major safety initiatives launched within the public sector construction industry since 1996. It aims to encourage the safety awareness by taking the contractor’s pricing for safety-related items out from the consideration of competitive bidding. The objective is to provide a concise review of the prevailing application of PFSS in Hong Kong in general, and to identify and analyse the key benefits of PFSS in construction through an industry-wide empirical questionnaire survey in particular. Altogether, 145 industrial practitioners who have derived extensive hands-on experience with the PFSS construction projects participated in the survey to indicate their levels of agreement to those 14 key benefits identified which were measured and analysed by factor analysis. The results of factor analysis indicated that the 14 individual benefits of implementing PFSS were consolidated under four underlying factors: (1) Enhancing safety climate and attitude; (2) Promoting effective safety-related communication; (3) Streamlining the safety procedures; and (4) Ensuring adequate safety training. A wider application of PFSS should be encouraged with a view to achieving better safety performance within the industry. It is recommended that a similar scheme to PFSS currently applied in Hong Kong may be developed for implementation in other regions or countries for international comparisons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: With the increased complexity and uncertainty in drug information, issuing medical prescriptions has become a vexing issue. As many as 240,000 medicines are available on the market, so this paper proposes a novel approach to the issuing of medical prescriptions. The proposed process will provide general practitioners (GPs) with medication advice and suggest a range of medicines for specific medical conditions by taking into consideration the collective pattern as well as the individual preferences of physicians’ prescription decisions. Methods and material: A hybrid approach is described that uses a combination of case-based reasoning (CBR) and Bayesian reasoning. In the CBR process, all the previous knowledge retrieved via similarity measures is made available for the reference of physicians as to what medicines have been prescribed (to a particular patient) in the past. After obtaining the results from CBR, Bayesian reasoning is then applied to model the prescription experience of all physicians within the organization. By comparing the two sets of results, more refined recommendations on a range of medicines are suggested along with the ranking for each recommendation. Results: To validate the proposed approach, a Hong Kong medical center was selected as a testing site. Through application of the hybrid approach in the medical center for a period of one month, the results demonstrated that the approach produced satisfactory performance in terms of user satisfaction, ease of use, flexibility and effectiveness. In addition, the proposed approach yields better results and a faster learning rate than when either CBR or Bayesian reasoning are applied alone. Conclusion: Even with the help of a decision support system, the current approach to anticipating what drugs are to be prescribed is not flexible enough to cater for individual preferences of GPs, and provides little support for managing complex and dynamic changes in drug information. Therefore, with the increase in the amount of information about drugs, it is extremely difficult for physicians to write a good prescription. By integrating CBR and Bayesian reasoning, the general practitioners’ prescription practices can be retrieved and compared with the collective prescription experience as modeled by probabilistic reasoning. As a result, physicians can select the drugs which are supported by informed evidential decisions. That is, they can take into consideration the pattern of decisions made by other physicians in similar cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Earlier research works on PPP showed that an objective, reliable, and practical risk assessment model for PPP projects is essential to the successful implementation of PPP projects. However, actual empirical research studies in this research area are rather limited. This paper reports the second stage of a funded research study, which aims to develop a fuzzy synthetic evaluation model for assessing the risk level of a particular critical risk group (CRG) and the overall risk level associated with PPP projects in China. At the first research stage, thirty-four risk factors were identified through a comprehensive literature review and 3 new risk factors were proposed during a two-round Delphi questionnaire survey. The most critical 17 risk factors were selected through the calculation of normalized values. The correlation of these 17 critical risk factors (CRFs) was further analyzed via factor analysis and 6 CRGs were formulated, namely: (1) Macroeconomic Risk; (2) Construction and Operation Risk; (3) Government Maturity Risk; (4) Market Environment Risk; (5) Economic Viability Risk; and (6) Government Intervention. On the basis of the research works conducted at the first research stage, the weightings for each of the 17 critical risk factors (CRFs) and 6 CRGs were determined through the two-round Delphi questionnaire survey. A set of knowledge-based fuzzy inference rules was then established to set up the membership function for the 17 CRFs and 6 CRGs. The empirical research findings showed that the overall risk level of PPP highway projects is between “moderate risk” and “high risk”. Hence it could be construed that investment in PPP highway projects in China may be considered as risky. In fact, the Delphi survey respondents perceived that “Government Intervention” is the most CRG; with “Government Maturity Risk” being the second; “Economic Viability Risk” the third; “Market Environment Risk” the fourth; “Construction and Operation Risk” the fifth; and “Macroeconomic Risk” the last. These findings revealed that government intervention and corruption may be the major hurdles to the success of PPP highway projects in China. These may be caused by inadequate law and supervision system and poor public decision-making process. Although the fuzzy synthetic evaluation model was primarily developed for PPP projects in general, the research method could be replicated in a specific type of PPP project, such as water treatment projects and hospital projects, to produce similar models for inter-type comparisons. By doing so, it provides an opportunity for practitioners to assess the risk level of different types of PPP projects based on objective evidence rather than subjective judgment. The most CRG for different types of PPP projects could be identified and both precautionary and remedial actions could be taken as soon as possible. Such an extension would provide a deeper understanding of managing different types of PPP projects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aerosol Raman lidar observations of particle extinction and backscatter coefficients at 532nm are combined with Sun photometer observations of the particle optical depth at six wavelengths from 381–1044nm to derive column-integrated microphysical properties of boundary-layer aerosol such as volume and surface concentrations, effective radius, refractive index, and single scattering albedo. The method is based on our well-tested lidar inversion algorithm and is applied to observations carried out in the heavily polluted Pearl River Delta (PRD), in South China. Different data sets consisting of six extinction coefficients and two backscatter coefficients (measured at 532nm, estimated at 381nm), and alternatively, of five extinction coefficients only are used in the inversion retrieval. The results are discussed and compared with ground-based in situ observations of aerosol microphysical properties. Volume concentration, effective radius, real and imaginary part of the refractive index of the particles are determined with a relative uncertainty of 30%, 40%, 10%, and 70%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]