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Mentalizing, or theory of mind (ToM), impairments and self-referential hypermentalizing bias are well-evident in schizophrenia. However, findings compared to individuals with at-risk mental states (ARMS) are inconsistent, and investigations into the relationship between social cognitive impairments and social anxiety in the two populations are scarce. This study aimed to examine and compare these deficits in first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (FES) and ARMS, and to explore potential specific associations with neurocognition and symptomatology. Forty patients with FES, 40 individuals with ARMS, and 40 healthy controls (HC) completed clinical assessments, a battery of neurocognitive tasks, and three social cognitive tasks. The comic strip and hinting tasks were used to measure non-verbal and verbal mentalizing abilities, and the gaze perception task was employed to assess self-referential hypermentalizing bias. FES and ARMS showed comparable mentalizing impairments and self-referential hypermentalizing bias compared to HC. However, only ambiguous self-referential gaze perception (SRGP) bias remained significantly different between three groups after controlling for covariates. Findings suggested that self-referential hypermentalizing bias could be a specific deficit and may be considered a potential behavioral indicator in early-stage and prodromal psychosis. Moreover, working memory and social anxiety were related to the social cognitive impairments in ARMS, whereas higher-order executive functions and positive symptoms were associated with the impairments in FES. The current study indicates the presence of stage-specific mechanisms of mentalizing impairments and self-referential hypermentalizing bias, providing insights into the importance of personalized interventions to improve specific neurocognitive domains, social cognition, and clinical outcomes for FES and ARMS.

Mentalizing impairment is one of the core features of schizophrenia, and bias judgement of others’ gaze as self-directing is common to schizophrenia patients. In this case–control study, 30 patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and 30 matched healthy controls were assigned gaze perception tasks with variable stimulus presentation times (300 ms and no time limit) to determine the presence of self-referential gaze perception (SRGP) bias. The eye movement pattern during the task were tracked and data were analysed using hidden Markov models (HMMs). The SRGP involves reporting of others’ gaze intent and was used as a measurement of explicit mentalizing process. Eye movement measurement represents automated visual attention pattern and was considered as a measurement of implicit mentalizing process. The patients with FES had significantly more SRGP bias than the controls in the 300 ms condition but not in the no-time-limit condition. Social cognitive function was related to SRGP bias in the patient group. Two distinct eye movement patterns were identified: eye-focused and nose-focused. Significant group differences in eye movement patterns in the 300 ms condition were found with more controls had eye-focused pattern. Social anxiety symptoms were related to the nose-focused pattern, positive psychotic symptoms were related to the eye-focused pattern, and depressive symptoms were related to less consistent eye movement patterns. No significant relationship was found between SRGP bias and eye movement patterns. The dissociation between explicit and implicit mentalizing processes with different cognitive and symptom dimensions associated with the two processes suggests the presence of different mechanisms. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

ObjectiveApproximately, 50-60% of patients with sleep apnea have hypertension. To explore a mechanism of this relationship, we compared its prevalence in a hypertensive population with and without hyperaldosteronism.MethodsUsing the Kaiser Permanente Southern California database, hypertensive individuals who had plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity measured between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007 were evaluated. Hyperaldosteronism was defined as an aldosterone : renin ratio more than 30 and plasma aldosterone more than 20 ng/dl or an aldosterone : renin ratio more than 50 (ng/dl : ng/ml per h). Hypertension was identified by International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding and sleep apnea was defined by ICD-9 coding or procedural coding for dispensation of positive airway devices.ResultsOf 3428 hypertensive patients, 575 (17%) had hyperaldosteronism. Sleep apnea was present in 18% (105) with hyperaldosteronism vs. 9% (251) without hyperaldosteronism (P < 0.001). Odds ratio for sleep apnea in patients with hyperaldosteronism was 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.3-2.6) after controlling for other sleep apnea risk factors. No ethnic group was at greater risk for sleep apnea.ConclusionThe prevalence of sleep apnea in a diverse hypertensive population is increased in patients with hyperaldosteronism, even when controlling for other sleep apnea risk factors.

ObjectiveApproximately, 50-60% of patients with sleep apnea have hypertension. To explore a mechanism of this relationship, we compared its prevalence in a hypertensive population with and without hyperaldosteronism.MethodsUsing the Kaiser Permanente Southern California database, hypertensive individuals who had plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity measured between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007 were evaluated. Hyperaldosteronism was defined as an aldosterone : renin ratio more than 30 and plasma aldosterone more than 20 ng/dl or an aldosterone : renin ratio more than 50 (ng/dl : ng/ml per h). Hypertension was identified by International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding and sleep apnea was defined by ICD-9 coding or procedural coding for dispensation of positive airway devices.ResultsOf 3428 hypertensive patients, 575 (17%) had hyperaldosteronism. Sleep apnea was present in 18% (105) with hyperaldosteronism vs. 9% (251) without hyperaldosteronism (P < 0.001). Odds ratio for sleep apnea in patients with hyperaldosteronism was 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.3-2.6) after controlling for other sleep apnea risk factors. No ethnic group was at greater risk for sleep apnea.ConclusionThe prevalence of sleep apnea in a diverse hypertensive population is increased in patients with hyperaldosteronism, even when controlling for other sleep apnea risk factors.

Background There is concern that recommending protein-enriched meal replacements as part of a weight management program could lead to changes in biomarkers of liver or renal function and reductions in bone density. This study was designed as a placebo-controlled clinical trial utilizing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing either a high protein-enriched (HP) or a standard protein (SP) meal replacement in an outpatient weight loss program. Subjects/methods 100 obese men and women over 30 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 to 40 kg/m2 were randomized to one of two isocaloric weight loss meal plans 1). HP group: providing 2.2 g protein/kg of lean body mass (LBM)/day or 2). SP group: providing 1.1 g protein/kg LBM/day. Meal replacement (MR) was used twice daily (one meal, one snack) for 3 months and then once a day for 9 months. Body weight, lipid profiles, liver function, renal function and bone density were measured at baseline and 12 months. Results Seventy subjects completed the study. Both groups lost weight (HP -4.29 ± 5.90 kg vs. SP -4.66 ± 6.91 kg, p < 0.01) and there was no difference in weight loss observed between the groups at one year. There was no significant change noted in liver function [AST (HP -2.07 ± 10.32 U/L, p = 0.28; SP 0.27 ± 6.67 U/L, p = 0.820), ALT (HP -1.03 ± 10.08 U/L, p = 0.34; SP -2.6 ± 12.51 U/L, p = 0.24), bilirubin (HP 0.007 ± 0.33, U/L, p = 0.91; SP 0.07 ± 0.24 U/L, p = 0.120), alkaline phosphatase (HP 2.00 ± 9.07 U/L, p = 0.240; SP -2.12 ± 11.01 U/L, p = 0.280)], renal function [serum creatinine (HP 0.31 ± 1.89 mg/dL, p = 0.380; SP -0.05 ± 0.15 mg/dL, p = 0.060), urea nitrogen (HP 1.33 ± 4.68 mg/dL, p = 0.130; SP -0.24 ± 3.03 mg/dL, p = 0.650), 24 hour urine creatinine clearance (HP -0.02 ± 0.16 mL/min, p = 0.480; SP 1.18 ± 7.53 mL/min, p = 0.400), and calcium excretion (HP -0.41 ± 9.48 mg/24 hours, p = 0.830; SP -0.007 ± 6.76 mg/24 hours, p = 0.990)] or in bone mineral density by DEXA (HP 0.04 ± 0.19 g/c

Background There is concern that recommending protein-enriched meal replacements as part of a weight management program could lead to changes in biomarkers of liver or renal function and reductions in bone density. This study was designed as a placebo-controlled clinical trial utilizing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing either a high protein-enriched (HP) or a standard protein (SP) meal replacement in an outpatient weight loss program. Subjects/methods 100 obese men and women over 30 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 to 40 kg/m2 were randomized to one of two isocaloric weight loss meal plans 1). HP group: providing 2.2 g protein/kg of lean body mass (LBM)/day or 2). SP group: providing 1.1 g protein/kg LBM/day. Meal replacement (MR) was used twice daily (one meal, one snack) for 3 months and then once a day for 9 months. Body weight, lipid profiles, liver function, renal function and bone density were measured at baseline and 12 months. Results Seventy subjects completed the study. Both groups lost weight (HP -4.29 ± 5.90 kg vs. SP -4.66 ± 6.91 kg, p < 0.01) and there was no difference in weight loss observed between the groups at one year. There was no significant change noted in liver function [AST (HP -2.07 ± 10.32 U/L, p = 0.28; SP 0.27 ± 6.67 U/L, p = 0.820), ALT (HP -1.03 ± 10.08 U/L, p = 0.34; SP -2.6 ± 12.51 U/L, p = 0.24), bilirubin (HP 0.007 ± 0.33, U/L, p = 0.91; SP 0.07 ± 0.24 U/L, p = 0.120), alkaline phosphatase (HP 2.00 ± 9.07 U/L, p = 0.240; SP -2.12 ± 11.01 U/L, p = 0.280)], renal function [serum creatinine (HP 0.31 ± 1.89 mg/dL, p = 0.380; SP -0.05 ± 0.15 mg/dL, p = 0.060), urea nitrogen (HP 1.33 ± 4.68 mg/dL, p = 0.130; SP -0.24 ± 3.03 mg/dL, p = 0.650), 24 hour urine creatinine clearance (HP -0.02 ± 0.16 mL/min, p = 0.480; SP 1.18 ± 7.53 mL/min, p = 0.400), and calcium excretion (HP -0.41 ± 9.48 mg/24 hours, p = 0.830; SP -0.007 ± 6.76 mg/24 hours, p = 0.990)] or in bone mineral density by DEXA (HP 0.04 ± 0.19 g/c

Tsui, Sing Yan Eric., Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008., Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-145)., s in English and Chinese., Chapter Chapter 1. --- Concern on State-Business Relations, Introduction: Political Debates on State-Business Relations, Theorietical Debates on State-Business Relations, Cipher State Models, Guardian State Models, Partisan State Models, Theories on Hong Kong´ةs Situation, Synarchy and Administrative Absorption, Boundary Politics and Bureaucratic Politics, Overview, Chapter Chapter 2. --- Power and Network, The Problem of Power, Dahl and his Critics, Power and Networks, "Power, Brokerage and Closure", Centrality and Power, Lessons from Social Capital Studies, Brokerage and Closure as Indicators of Power, Conclusions, Chapter Chapter 3. --- Methodology and Research Design, Concepts of the Study, Data Collection and Research Design, Executive Council as Decision Making Network, Measuring Social Linkages, "Measuring Brokerage, Closure and Power", Assessing the Business Community, Comparing State and Business Power, Chapter Chapter 4. --- Research Findings, The Network of Executive Councilors, The Network of HSIC firms, HSIC firms´ةs representative in Executive Council, Comparing the Power of the State and Prominent Business, Summary of Findings, Chapter Chapter 5. --- State-Business Relations from 1982 to 1988: On the Edge of Transformations, Findings in the Period, Events in the Period, The Problem of Political Future, Beijing-Business Relations, Localization of the Business Community, Impacts of the Events, Impacts from the role of Sovereigns, Impacts from Localization of the Business Sector, Summary, Chapter Chapter 6. --- State-Business Relations from 1989 to 1996: Transition and Transformations, Changes in British Policy, The Strengthening of Beijing-Business Alliance, The Pushing Effect of London´ةs Policies, The Pulling and Fragmenting Effect by Beijing, Chapter Chapter 7. --- State Business Relations from 1997 to 2005: From Fragmentation to Disarticulation, Business Invasion and the Decline of the State, Principal Official Accountability System: The Heffalump Trap, Analysis of Findings and Events, Business Sector: A Disunited and Incompetent Ally, Administrative Officers: The Ultimate Survivor, Chapter Chapter 8. --- Prospects: State-Business Relations in Post-Tung Hong Kong, Dominance of Administrative Officers, Transformations Expected in the Future, Weakening of Bureaucratic Networks, Increasing Public Demands, The Path Towards Democracy, Prepare for the Future, Expansion of Political Appointments, Business Sector and Electoral Politics, State-Business Relations after Political Reform, Chapter Chapter 9. --- Conclusions, Conclusion of the Findings, Significance of the Study, Limitations of the Study, Prospects of Political Network Studies, "Appendix 1. Sociograms of Executive Councilors,1982-2005", "Appendix 2. Flow Betweenness, Brokerage, Closure and Power Index Score of Executive Councilors,1982-2005", Appendix 3. Sociograms of Firms with their stocks listed as Hang Seng Index Component, "Appendix 4. Flow Betweenness, Brokerage, Closure and Prominence of HSIC firms", Appendix 5. Representatives of HSIC firms in Executive Council, Appendix 6. Prominent HSIC firms and their Representatives in Executive Council, "Appendix 7. Social Linkages between Executive Councilors,1982-2005", Appendix 8. List of directors in the boards of HSIC firms, http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5896864, Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International” License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Yau Man Yan Eric = 鎂和氧化鋅反應製備氧化鎂納米棒 / 游文仁., Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004., Includes bibliographical references., Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese., Yau Man Yan Eric = Mei he yang hua xin fan ying zhi bei yang hua mei na mi bang / You Wenren., Acknowledgement --- p.i, p.ii, 摘要 --- p.iii, Table of contents --- p.iv, List of tables --- p.viii, List of figures --- p.ix, Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction, Chapter 1.1 --- Nanostructured materials --- p.1-1, Chapter 1.2 --- Application of nano-materials --- p.1-1, Chapter 1.3 --- Current development of nano-materials --- p.1-2, Chapter 1.4 --- Synthesis of nano-materials --- p.1-2, Chapter 1.4.1 --- Physical methods --- p.1-3, Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Physical vapor deposition --- p.1-3, Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Arc-discharge process --- p.1-3, Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- Laser ablation --- p.1-4, Chapter 1.4.2 --- Chemical methods --- p.1-4, Chapter 1.4.2.1 --- Chemical vapor deposition --- p.1-4, Chapter 1.4.2.2 --- Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) --- p.1-4, Chapter 1.4.2.3 --- Solgel method --- p.1-5, Chapter 1.5 --- Study on growth mechanism of nano-materials --- p.1-5, Chapter 1.5.1 --- Vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism --- p.1-5, Chapter 1.5.2 --- Vapor-solid (VS) mechanism --- p.1-6, Chapter 1.6 --- Applications of Magnesium Oxide (MgO) materials --- p.1-7, Chapter 1.7 --- Previous works on MgO nanostructures --- p.1-8, Chapter 1.7.1 --- Network like MgO nanobelts --- p.1-8, Chapter 1.7.2 --- Decorated MgO crystalline fibers --- p.1-9, Chapter 1.7.3 --- Mg2Zn11 - MgO belt-like nanocables --- p.1-9, Chapter 1.7.4 --- MgO nanowires with uniform diameter distribution --- p.1-10, Chapter 1.7.5 --- Aligned MgO nanorods on MgO (100) substrates --- p.1-11, Chapter 1.8 --- Objectives and approaches of this project --- p.1-12, Chapter 1.8.1 --- Addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) --- p.1-13, Chapter 1.9 --- Thesis Layout --- p.1-13, Chapter 1.10 --- References --- p.1-15, Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methodology and Instrumentation, Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.2-1, Chapter 2.2 --- Powder Metallurgy --- p.2-1, Chapter 2.3 --- Sample fabrication --- p.2-1, Chapter 2.3.1 --- Starting materials --- p.2-1, Chapter 2.3.2 --- Cold pressing --- p.2-2, Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Single pellet method --- p.2-2, Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Double pellet method --- p.2-3, Chapter 2.3.3 --- Argon tube furnace sintering --- p.2-3, Chapter 2.4 --- Study of fabrication parameters --- p.2-4, Chapter 2.4.1 --- Heat treatment temperature --- p.2-4, Chapter 2.4.2 --- NaCl content in sample --- p.2-4, Chapter 2.4.3 --- Duration of heat treatment --- p.2-5, Chapter 2.5 --- Control Experiments --- p.2-5, Chapter 2.5.1 --- Effect of addition of NaCl --- p.2-5, Chapter 2.5.2 --- Effect of residual oxygen --- p.2-5, Chapter 2.5.3 --- Geometrical effect of experimental setup --- p.2-6, Chapter 2.5.3.1 --- Compressed double pellet method --- p.2-6, Chapter 2.5.3.2 --- Powder on Magnesium pellet method --- p.2-6, Chapter 2.5.3.3 --- Single pellet method --- p.2-7, Chapter 2.6 --- Characterization Methods --- p.2-7, Chapter 2.6.1 --- Thermal analysis - Differential thermal analyzer (DTA) --- p.2-7, Chapter 2.6.2 --- Structural analysis --- p.2-7, Chapter 2.6.2.1 --- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) --- p.2-7, Chapter 2.6.2.2 --- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) --- p.2-8, Chapter 2.6.3 --- Phases determination - X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) --- p.2-8, Chapter 2.7 --- References --- p.2-9, Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results of Mg-ZnO-NaCl System, Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1, Chapter 3.2 --- Results of thermal analysis --- p.3-1, Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemical reactions --- p.3-1, Chapter 3.2.2 --- DTA results --- p.3-2, Chapter 3.3 --- Variation of heat treatment temperature --- p.3-3, Chapter 3.3.1 --- XRD pattern --- p.3-3, Chapter 3.3.2 --- SEM images --- p.3-4, Chapter 3.4 --- Variation of NaCl content --- p.3-5, Chapter 3.4.1 --- TEM analysis --- p.3-5, Chapter 3.5 --- Variation of duration of heat treatment --- p.3-6, Chapter 3.6 --- Additional findings --- p.3-7, Chapter 3.7 --- Discussions --- p.3-7, Chapter 3.8 --- References --- p.3-10, Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results of Control Experiments, Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1, Chapter 4.2 --- The study of Mg-ZnO system --- p.4-1, Chapter 4.3 --- The study of residual oxygen effect --- p.4-2, Chapter 4.4 --- The study of geometrical effect of experiment setup --- p.4-2, Chapter 4.5 --- Discussions --- p.4-3, Chapter 4.5.1 --- Effect of addition of NaCl --- p.4-3, Chapter 4.5.2 --- Effect of residual oxygen --- p.4-3, Chapter 4.5.3 --- Role of ZnO --- p.4-4, Chapter 4.5.4 --- Growth model --- p.4-4, Chapter 4.6 --- References --- p.4-7, Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and Further Studies, Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.5-1, Chapter 5.2 --- Further studies --- p.5-2, Chapter 5.3 --- References --- p.5-3, http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5892021, Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International” License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

This paper presents an experimental study to assess the reliability of solder ball attachment to the bond pads of PBGA substrate for various plating schemes. The basic structure of the under bump metallisation is Cu/Ni/Au. Three different kinds of electroless plating solutions are used to deposit the Ni layer, namely, Ni-B, Ni-P (5 per cent), and Ni-P (10 per cent). Also, conventional electrolytic Ni/Au plating is performed to provide a benchmark. After solder ball attachment, mechanical tests are conducted to characterize the ball shear strength for comparison. Furthermore, some specimens are subjected to multiple reflows to investigate the thermal aging effect.

This paper presents an experimental study to assess the reliability of solder ball attachment to the bond pads of PBGA substrate for various plating schemes. The basic structure of the under bump metallisation is Cu/Ni/Au. Three different kinds of electroless plating solutions are used to deposit the Ni layer, namely, Ni-B, Ni-P (5 per cent), and Ni-P (10 per cent). Also, conventional electrolytic Ni/Au plating is performed to provide a benchmark. After solder ball attachment, mechanical tests are conducted to characterize the ball shear strength for comparison. Furthermore, some specimens are subjected to multiple reflows to investigate the thermal aging effect.

This paper presents an experimental study to assess the reliability of solder ball attachment to the bond pads of PBGA substrate for various plating schemes. The basic structure of the under bump metallisation is Cu/Ni/Au. Three different kinds of electroless plating solutions are used to deposit the Ni layer, namely, Ni-B, Ni-P (5 per cent), and Ni-P (10 per cent). Also, conventional electrolytic Ni/Au plating is performed to provide a benchmark. After solder ball attachment, mechanical tests are conducted to characterize the ball shear strength for comparison. Furthermore, some specimens are subjected to multiple reflows to investigate the thermal aging effect.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the solder ball shear strength of plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages. The emphasis is placed on showing the effect of room temperature aging on the degradation of solder ball shear strength. The specimens under investigation are standard commercial PBGA packages with 63Sn-37Pb eutectic solder balls. The specimens are subject to various lengths (up to 72 hours) of room temperature aging after the reflow. Afterwards, ball shear tests are performed to evaluate the solder ball shear strength. The experimental results show that the solder ball shear strength may drop up to 10 % within 3 days of room temperature aging. The outcome of the present study may give a general guideline for the meaningful comparison of solder ball shear strength.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the solder ball shear strength of plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages. The emphasis is placed on showing the effect of room temperature aging on the degradation of solder ball shear strength. The specimens under investigation are standard commercial PBGA packages with 63Sn-37Pb eutectic solder balls. The specimens are subject to various lengths (up to 72 hours) of room temperature aging after the reflow. Afterwards, ball shear tests are performed to evaluate the solder ball shear strength. The experimental results show that the solder ball shear strength may drop up to 10 % within 3 days of room temperature aging. The outcome of the present study may give a general guideline for the meaningful comparison of solder ball shear strength.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the solder ball shear strength of plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages. The emphasis is placed on showing the effect of room temperature aging on the degradation of solder ball shear strength. The specimens under investigation are standard commercial PBGA packages with 63Sn-37Pb eutectic solder balls. The specimens are subject to various lengths (up to 72 hours) of room temperature aging after the reflow. Afterwards, ball shear tests are performed to evaluate the solder ball shear strength. The experimental results show that the solder ball shear strength may drop up to 10 % within 3 days of room temperature aging. The outcome of the present study may give a general guideline for the meaningful comparison of solder ball shear strength.