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HKU biological scientist Professor Nagendra Shah wins International Dairy Foods Association (USA) award
Professor Nagendra Shah, Professor of Food Science and Technology of the HKU School of Biological Sciences, was earlier named the recipient for the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing in 2016 by the American Dairy Science Association. He has made outstanding contributions to the Australian and international dairy industries over the past 35 years. His team has also developed rapid and reliable techniques to detect and quantify pathogens in milk powder. A pioneering work by Professor Shah leading to this award has been on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing lactic acid bacteria. GABA is a non-protein amino acid that has shown anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) effect, but most high GABA producers are bacteria of plant origin, which are not able to grow in milk. Professor Shah's research team has shown that with the help of bacteria native to milk, bacteria of plant origin could synthesize GABA in milk. This groundbreaking work has great commercial significance in developing dairy foods with GABA for anti-hypertensive activity.
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Police Force and HKU Department of Computer Science organise Cyber Security Competition 2016
A total of 99 winners of the Cyber Security Competition 2016 were awarded for their participation in conveying the message of cyber security in the Cyber Security Competition 2016 organised by the Police Public Relations Branch and Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force and the HKU Department of Computer Science. The competition drew almost 5,600 participants from primary schools, secondary schools and universities. They participated in activities including online quiz, security defect analysis in a virtual computer system and presentation on topics related to cyber security.
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JC A-Connect study reveals over 90% of autism students in primary and secondary schools have adjustment problems
Supported by the JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network, the HKU Department of Psychology partnered with six non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to investigate how well 2,783 primary and secondary school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) adapted in schools. The students surveyed accounted for approximately 40% of the students identified with ASD studying in public sector mainstream schools, and this has been the largest ever study in Hong Kong on the support needs of students with ASD in mainstream schools. The research findings revealed over 90% of the students had obvious adjustment problems in social-emotional areas, and more than 80% of the students also had difficulty participating in learning. ASD students showed significant delay in their development of adaptive behaviours at all stages of schooling when compared to same-age peers. In light of the findings, the researchers have suggested that related professional support should be strengthened.
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HKU education research reveals "Reading Battle" e-quiz platform effective in motivating students to read
The e-quiz platform "Reading Battle" was released by the HKU Centre for Information Technology in Education in 2014 to motivate primary and kindergarten students to read more by engaging them in e-quizzes about the content and applying various game mechanics (points, e-badges, levels) in its design. More than 5,000 students in over 50 schools/libraries have used the platform. Students from Taiwan, Mainland China and the US also joined the scheme. Principal investigator Dr Samuel Chu said many students have seen their reading abilities improve quickly and easily. The top seven students read and answered about or over 300 books (one read over 400 books) and achieved an average score of 82 - 97 out of 100.
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Joint effort by HKU Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Facebook and social service organisations to prevent suicides
The HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) of HKU, Facebook, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Save the Children Hong Kong and the Samaritans jointly released a "Help a Friend" booklet to provide guidance and support to those emotionally distressed. CSRP Director Professor Paul Yip said it would require the whole community’s support to encourage those suffering from distressed to disclose their pain and seek help. According to the latest findings by the Centre on student suicide cases between September 2013 and April 2016, about 30 per cent of the deceased had been diagnosed with psychiatric problems and about 26 per cent had made suicide-related posts online or such searches, but less than 9 per cent of them were known to social services for their problems. A total of 5,000 pamphlets will be distributed in selected schools and street events. An online version is also available at all the partner organisations' websites.
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HKU study reveals endocrine disruptors in samples of 11 seafood species
HKU Faculty of Science conducted a study on endocrine disruptors including triphenyltin in the environment from 2010 to 2015. Seafood samples collected in local water and bought in wet markets, sea water samples from four marine parks and reserves and nearby wastewater treatment plants, and sea mud and marine animals were tested. Samples of all eleven seafood species originating in HK water tested positive for triphenyltin (TPT). The TPT level found in the sample of flatfish sole exceeded the safety standards. Mussels collected from marine parks also contained a number of endocrine disruptors including estrogen hormones used in contraceptives. According to Dr Kevin Ho, researcher of the HKU Swire Institute of Marine Science, the TPT content in flatfish sole was 3.5 times higher than Taiwan’s, TPT content in shellfish was 120 times that of Korea’s, indicating the seriousness of the water pollution problem here. Associate Dean of Science Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee said long term consumption of contaminated seafood could affect human endocrine and immunity systems and cause health problems.
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HKU Swire Institute of Marine Science presents exhibition "Corals: Our Underwater Living Treasures"
Conservation International Hong Kong, Hong Kong Maritime Museum and HKU Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) jointly present an exhibition, "Corals: Our Underwater Living Treasures", which will run from June 8 to September 18 at Hong Kong Maritime Museum – Central Pier No. 8. The exhibition aims to educate and inspire the public about the extraordinary wealth of corals in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific region, featuring the science and benefits of, threats to, and solutions facing corals in Hong Kong and the "Coral Triangle" in Southeast Asia. Hong Kong has 84 hard coral species and 26 soft coral species, more than the entire Caribbean Sea. This exhibition will include several samples of coral species. There will also be public lectures by coral experts and family workshops.
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