Scattering and Diffraction of elastic in-plane P-and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and ...Scattering and Diffraction of elastic in-plane P-and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and strong-motion seismologists for over forty years. The case of out-of-plane SH waves on the same elastic canyon that is semi-circular in shape on the half-space surface is the first such problem that was solved by analytic closed form solutions over forty years ago by Trifunac. The corresponding case of in-plane P-and SV-waves on the same circular canyon is a much more complicated problem because, the in-plane P-and SV-scattered waves have different wave speeds and together they must have zero normal and shear stresses at the half-space surface. It is not until recently in 2014 that analytic solution for such problem is found by the author in the work of Lee and Liu. This paper uses the technique of Lee and Liu of defining these stress-free scattered waves to solve the problem of the scattered and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost-circular surface canyon that is arbitrary in shape.展开更多
Background: The nutritional support after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well established due to the scarcity of clinical trials. To conduct international clinical trials in Asia, we perfo...Background: The nutritional support after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well established due to the scarcity of clinical trials. To conduct international clinical trials in Asia, we performed the questionnaire survey to investigate the current standard of nutritional support after HSCT. Method: We sent the questionnaire to the physicians nominated by the Asia Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation (APBMT) members of each country/ region. Result: We received 15 responses from 7 different countries/regions. The target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × basal energy expenditure (BEE) in 11 institutes when partial parenteral nutrition is used. When total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is used, the target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × BEE in 9 institutes and 1.3 - 1.5 × BEE in 4 institutes. Lipid emulsion is routinely used in 12 institutes. Multivitamins and trace elements are routinely added to TPN used in most institutes. It is still uncommon to use the immunonutrition. Blood glucose levels are routinely monitored in all institutes, but the target range varies (<110 in 2 institutes, <150 in 4 institutes, and <200 in 8 institutes). Conclusions: Basic nutritional support is similar in participating institutes. However, the target glucose level varies and the use of immunonutrition is rather rare. These points can be the theme of future clinical trials.展开更多
Scattering and diffraction of elastic in-plane P- and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and...Scattering and diffraction of elastic in-plane P- and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and strong motion seismologists for over forty years. The case of out-of- plane SH-waves on the same elastic canyon that is semicircular in shape on the half-space surface is the first such problem that was solved by analytic closed-form solutions over forty years ago by Trifunac. The corresponding case of in-plane P- and SV- waves on the same circular canyon is a much more complicated problem because the in-plane P- and SV- scattered waves have different wave speeds and together they must have zero normal and shear stresses at the half-space surface. It is not until recently in 2014 that analytic solution for such problem is found by Lee and Liu. This paper uses their technique of defining these stress-free scattered waves, which Brandow and Lee previously used to solve the problem of the scattering and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost-circular surface canyon that is arbitrary in shape, to the study of the scattering and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost circular arbitrary-shaped alluvial valley.展开更多
A closed-form wave equation analytic solution of two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of outof-plane（SH） waves by an almost semi-circular shallow cylindrical hill on a flat, elastic and homogeneous half space ...A closed-form wave equation analytic solution of two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of outof-plane（SH） waves by an almost semi-circular shallow cylindrical hill on a flat, elastic and homogeneous half space is proposed by applying the discrete Fourier series expansions of sine and cosine functions. The semi-circular hill problem is discussed as a special case for the new formulated equation.Compared with the previous semi-circular cases solutions, the present method can give surface displacement amplitudes which agrees well with previous results. Although the proposed equation can only solve the problem of SH-waves diffracted by almost semi-circular shallow hills, the stress and displacement residual amplitudes are numerical insignificantly everywhere. Moreover, the influences of the depth-towidth ratio（a parameter defined in this paper to evaluate the shallowness of the topography of hills） on ground motions are presented and summarized. The limitations and errors of truncation from Graf’s addition theorem and Fourier series equations in the present paper are also discussed.展开更多
Today eMarketplaces play a significant role in contemporary life by providing a lot of income and business opportunities to people and organizations throughout the world. Despite innovations in the field of IT, many o...Today eMarketplaces play a significant role in contemporary life by providing a lot of income and business opportunities to people and organizations throughout the world. Despite innovations in the field of IT, many of eMarketplaces lack the ability to provide appropriate services for people with special needs, especially the blind.? Therefore, this paper is focused on incorporating an interface for blind people to participate in the business of eMarketplaces. A proposed model of a voice-based eMarketplace has been introduced using voice recognition technology. Specific blind users of the system are uniquely identified using voice recognition technology to enable them to access the eMarketplace in a secure manner. Further work of this project involves building such as module on an existing eMarketplace.展开更多
Importance:131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(131I-mIBG)has a significant targeted antitumor effect for neuroblastoma.However,currently there is a paucity of data for the use of 131I-mIBG as a"front-line"therapeut...Importance:131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(131I-mIBG)has a significant targeted antitumor effect for neuroblastoma.However,currently there is a paucity of data for the use of 131I-mIBG as a"front-line"therapeutic agent in those patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma as part of the conditioning regimen for myeloablative chemotherapy(MAC).Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.Methods:A retrospective,single-center study was conducted from 2003-2019 on newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma patients without progressive disease(PD)after the completion of induction therapy.They received 131I-mIBG infusion and MAC followed by HSCT.Results:A total of 24 high-risk neuroblastoma patients were enrolled with a median age of 3.0 years at diagnosis.After receiving this sequential consolidation treatment,3 of 13 patients who were in partial response(PR)before 131I-mIBG treatment achieved either complete response(CR)(n=1)or very good partial response(VGPR)(n=2)after HSCT.With a median follow-up duration of 13.0 months after 131I-mIBG therapy,the 5-year event-free survival and overall survival rates estimated were 29%and 38%for the entire cohort,and 53%and 67%for the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment.Interpretation:Upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and HSCT is feasible and tolerable in high-risk neuroblastoma patients,however the survival benefit of this 131I-mIBG regimen is only observed in the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment.展开更多
Importance: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) has gained great attention in western countries, however data on Hong Kong children receiving PPC are limited. There are gaps in knowledge about the PPC needs in local child...Importance: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) has gained great attention in western countries, however data on Hong Kong children receiving PPC are limited. There are gaps in knowledge about the PPC needs in local children with cancer. Objective: To assess the current situation of PPC service of Hong Kong children with cancer. Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective review in a tertiary pediatric oncology unit and studied the referral pattern, clinical characteristics and services provided. results: Totally 117 children were referred to PPC Team which constituted 65% deceased children within the study period. The commonest diagnoses were central nervous system tumour (32.5%), leukaemia (25.6%) and neuroblastoma (9.4%). Ninety-one percent of children were referred after the last relapse or stopping curative treatment. The median time of referral to death was 77 days (interquartile range (IQR): 35, 182)The median number of hospital admission after referral was 2 (IQR: 1, 5), with a median of 27 days total hospital stay (IQR: 10, 60). The reasons for admission were palliative chemotherapy (16.1%), pain control (12.1%) and platelet transfusion (11.2%). For the death episode, the median duration of hospital stay was 15 days (IQR: 2, 46). Most patients received oxygen (82.0%), intravenous fluid (81.2%) and intravenous analgesic (52.1%). A total of 111 (94.9%) children died in hospital, 15 had been admitted into intensive care unit (ICU) but only 5 (4.5%) died in ICU. Interpretation: Pain control and platelet transfusion were common reasons of readmission. Death in ICU and at home was uncommon in Hong Kong situation.展开更多
文摘Scattering and Diffraction of elastic in-plane P-and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and strong-motion seismologists for over forty years. The case of out-of-plane SH waves on the same elastic canyon that is semi-circular in shape on the half-space surface is the first such problem that was solved by analytic closed form solutions over forty years ago by Trifunac. The corresponding case of in-plane P-and SV-waves on the same circular canyon is a much more complicated problem because, the in-plane P-and SV-scattered waves have different wave speeds and together they must have zero normal and shear stresses at the half-space surface. It is not until recently in 2014 that analytic solution for such problem is found by the author in the work of Lee and Liu. This paper uses the technique of Lee and Liu of defining these stress-free scattered waves to solve the problem of the scattered and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost-circular surface canyon that is arbitrary in shape.
文摘Background: The nutritional support after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well established due to the scarcity of clinical trials. To conduct international clinical trials in Asia, we performed the questionnaire survey to investigate the current standard of nutritional support after HSCT. Method: We sent the questionnaire to the physicians nominated by the Asia Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation (APBMT) members of each country/ region. Result: We received 15 responses from 7 different countries/regions. The target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × basal energy expenditure (BEE) in 11 institutes when partial parenteral nutrition is used. When total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is used, the target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × BEE in 9 institutes and 1.3 - 1.5 × BEE in 4 institutes. Lipid emulsion is routinely used in 12 institutes. Multivitamins and trace elements are routinely added to TPN used in most institutes. It is still uncommon to use the immunonutrition. Blood glucose levels are routinely monitored in all institutes, but the target range varies (<110 in 2 institutes, <150 in 4 institutes, and <200 in 8 institutes). Conclusions: Basic nutritional support is similar in participating institutes. However, the target glucose level varies and the use of immunonutrition is rather rare. These points can be the theme of future clinical trials.
文摘Scattering and diffraction of elastic in-plane P- and SV-waves by a surface topography such as an elastic canyon at the surface of a half-space is a classical problem which has been studied by earthquake engineers and strong motion seismologists for over forty years. The case of out-of- plane SH-waves on the same elastic canyon that is semicircular in shape on the half-space surface is the first such problem that was solved by analytic closed-form solutions over forty years ago by Trifunac. The corresponding case of in-plane P- and SV- waves on the same circular canyon is a much more complicated problem because the in-plane P- and SV- scattered waves have different wave speeds and together they must have zero normal and shear stresses at the half-space surface. It is not until recently in 2014 that analytic solution for such problem is found by Lee and Liu. This paper uses their technique of defining these stress-free scattered waves, which Brandow and Lee previously used to solve the problem of the scattering and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost-circular surface canyon that is arbitrary in shape, to the study of the scattering and diffraction of these in-plane waves on an almost circular arbitrary-shaped alluvial valley.
文摘A closed-form wave equation analytic solution of two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of outof-plane（SH） waves by an almost semi-circular shallow cylindrical hill on a flat, elastic and homogeneous half space is proposed by applying the discrete Fourier series expansions of sine and cosine functions. The semi-circular hill problem is discussed as a special case for the new formulated equation.Compared with the previous semi-circular cases solutions, the present method can give surface displacement amplitudes which agrees well with previous results. Although the proposed equation can only solve the problem of SH-waves diffracted by almost semi-circular shallow hills, the stress and displacement residual amplitudes are numerical insignificantly everywhere. Moreover, the influences of the depth-towidth ratio（a parameter defined in this paper to evaluate the shallowness of the topography of hills） on ground motions are presented and summarized. The limitations and errors of truncation from Graf’s addition theorem and Fourier series equations in the present paper are also discussed.
文摘Today eMarketplaces play a significant role in contemporary life by providing a lot of income and business opportunities to people and organizations throughout the world. Despite innovations in the field of IT, many of eMarketplaces lack the ability to provide appropriate services for people with special needs, especially the blind.? Therefore, this paper is focused on incorporating an interface for blind people to participate in the business of eMarketplaces. A proposed model of a voice-based eMarketplace has been introduced using voice recognition technology. Specific blind users of the system are uniquely identified using voice recognition technology to enable them to access the eMarketplace in a secure manner. Further work of this project involves building such as module on an existing eMarketplace.
文摘Importance:131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(131I-mIBG)has a significant targeted antitumor effect for neuroblastoma.However,currently there is a paucity of data for the use of 131I-mIBG as a"front-line"therapeutic agent in those patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma as part of the conditioning regimen for myeloablative chemotherapy(MAC).Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.Methods:A retrospective,single-center study was conducted from 2003-2019 on newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma patients without progressive disease(PD)after the completion of induction therapy.They received 131I-mIBG infusion and MAC followed by HSCT.Results:A total of 24 high-risk neuroblastoma patients were enrolled with a median age of 3.0 years at diagnosis.After receiving this sequential consolidation treatment,3 of 13 patients who were in partial response(PR)before 131I-mIBG treatment achieved either complete response(CR)(n=1)or very good partial response(VGPR)(n=2)after HSCT.With a median follow-up duration of 13.0 months after 131I-mIBG therapy,the 5-year event-free survival and overall survival rates estimated were 29%and 38%for the entire cohort,and 53%and 67%for the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment.Interpretation:Upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and HSCT is feasible and tolerable in high-risk neuroblastoma patients,however the survival benefit of this 131I-mIBG regimen is only observed in the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment.
文摘Importance: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) has gained great attention in western countries, however data on Hong Kong children receiving PPC are limited. There are gaps in knowledge about the PPC needs in local children with cancer. Objective: To assess the current situation of PPC service of Hong Kong children with cancer. Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective review in a tertiary pediatric oncology unit and studied the referral pattern, clinical characteristics and services provided. results: Totally 117 children were referred to PPC Team which constituted 65% deceased children within the study period. The commonest diagnoses were central nervous system tumour (32.5%), leukaemia (25.6%) and neuroblastoma (9.4%). Ninety-one percent of children were referred after the last relapse or stopping curative treatment. The median time of referral to death was 77 days (interquartile range (IQR): 35, 182)The median number of hospital admission after referral was 2 (IQR: 1, 5), with a median of 27 days total hospital stay (IQR: 10, 60). The reasons for admission were palliative chemotherapy (16.1%), pain control (12.1%) and platelet transfusion (11.2%). For the death episode, the median duration of hospital stay was 15 days (IQR: 2, 46). Most patients received oxygen (82.0%), intravenous fluid (81.2%) and intravenous analgesic (52.1%). A total of 111 (94.9%) children died in hospital, 15 had been admitted into intensive care unit (ICU) but only 5 (4.5%) died in ICU. Interpretation: Pain control and platelet transfusion were common reasons of readmission. Death in ICU and at home was uncommon in Hong Kong situation.
