PM2.5

PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution)

PM₁₀ : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller

PM_2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

www.epa.gov

金宇澄《繁花》

「我以前一直認為，人等於一棵樹，以後曉得，其實，人只是一張樹葉子，到了秋天，就落下來了，一般就尋不到了。」

小思談物質快樂和個人主義

「我們呢？幾十年在這小島上，安頓無憂，成家立業，手中物一天一天多起來，名和利一年復一年把人纏得緊。我們擁抱著屬於自己的東西，我們的情只為個人牽繫，我們的淚只為個人得失而流。過於珍惜自己，人自然變得老謀心算，再沒有青春氣息。這樣，如何能挑動千斤擔？如何結得成隊向前行？」

Tea consumption and prostate cancer

Abstract

Objectives

Tea is supposed to have chemo-preventive effect against various cancers. However, the protective role of tea in prostate cancer is still controversial. The aim of this study is to elucidate (explain) the association between tea consumption and prostate cancer risk by meta-analysis.

Methods

A total of 21 published articles were retrieved via both computerized searches and review of references…

Results

No statistical significance was detected between tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in meta-analysis of all included studies...Only the case–control study subgroup demonstrated a borderline protective effect for tea consumption against prostate cancer...

Conclusion

Our analyses did not support the conclusion that tea consumption could reduce prostate cancer risk. Further epidemiology studies are needed.

Lin, Y. W. (2014). Tea consumption and prostate cancer: an updated meta-analysis. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 12, 38. doi1:0.1186/1477-7819-12-38

為讀者找書，為書找讀者

某天，有一位顧客想找關於教育的書。
我問她想找英文書還是中文書。
她說中英文都想看看。
我先介紹她看看有關教育的英文教科書。
然後，我再介紹她看看分類架上有關教育的英文書。
她問我有沒有中文的。
我那時可能是忙著收銀，只介紹她看看架上那本關於特殊教育的中文教科書。
我當時為何不請客人去看看在心理勵志分類架下關於教育的書?
也許我真的太累，做到頭昏腦脹，但就算忙都可以請同事幫助。
客人最後以為沒有關於教育的中文書。
客人還覺得很奇怪，為何中文大學書店沒有關於教育的中文書。
她還對我說港大的書店有關於教育的中文書，覺得很奇怪。

事實上，我們沒有太多關於教育的中文教科書。
有的多數是從台灣購入。
教育學系的用書多是英文。
中文大學以英文作為主要的教學語言，不是新鮮事。

在乎相遇

周保松︰「關心，總和『在乎』(care) 有關。一個人真的在乎一件事，和一個人偶然地喜歡一件事，總有分別。真正的在乎，總意味著投入，意味著投入的活動，和你的生命有所關聯，意味著你的生命和你所關心的事，連成一體。」

作者在此的語境是關心社會，甚至是在說認識祖國。板主在乎的就比較狹隘，是朋友的相遇，甚至是在說與一個人的相遇。

CHF

When the right ventricle starts to fail, fluid begins to collect in the feet and lower legs. Edema is a sign of right heart failure, especially if the edema is pitting edema.

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/congestive_heart_failure/article_em.htm

胡晴舫《無名者》

當我們討論城市，我們其實在討論愛情。最愛，不見得是第一個，也未必是現正居住的城市，如果我們夠幸福，也許我們能在心愛的城市終老，就像我們祈禱自己能尋得真愛，與子偕老。但，也許，對大多數人來說，最愛往往是我們時常想起的那個人，我們在人生的某個時刻遇見了，認識了這個人，形成了一種固定的想像，往後人生無論遇見多少人，我們都不斷回想此人的身影，並默默將新人與之比較。

三手煙

「三手煙」是指吸煙後殘留在衣服、牆壁、家具、地毯、靠墊，甚至頭髮和皮膚等的煙草殘餘化學物。

煙民就算在戶外吸煙，尼古丁還是會附著在吸煙者身上，當吸煙者回到室內，這些尼古丁物質便四處傳播。

那些凝結在物件表面的尼古丁有毒物質，可殘留數周甚至數月。煙民即使吸煙時開風扇和開窗，都無法消除「三手煙」的禍害。

http://www.smokefree.hk/tc/content/web.do?page=ThirdhandSmoking

The recurrence of H. pylori infection

The rate of H. pylori recurrence after eradication of the microorganism seems to be relatively low, at least in developed countries, where the mean annual reinfection rate is of approximately 3% per patient-year of follow-up, although the risk of reinfection in some developing regions is considerably higher. Several findings suggest that recrudescence (復發) rather than reinfection is likely to be responsible for most cases of recurrence: (i) the recurrences decrease with time and decline sharply after the first year, and (ii) studies using molecular fingerprinting techniques (polymerase chain reaction) confirm that the identified microorganisms (before and after therapy) are usually genetically identical. The lower the efficacy (功效) of an antibiotic therapy, the greater the likelihood that recurrence occur, again suggesting that in these cases temporary "clearance" has been achieved rather than true eradication... Some studies suggest that recurrence is relatively infrequent, even if the patient's spouse is H. pylori-positive, suggesting that the patient's partner does not act as a reservoir for the reinfection. However, other investigators achieve contrary (相反) results, although a common exogenous (外源性) source of H. pylori (for both partner's infection and patient's reinfection) cannot be ruled out. The oral cavity may be a potential source for recrudescence of gastric infection after successful therapy…

Gisbert, J.P. (2005) The recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection: incidence and variables influencing it. A critical review. Am J Gastroenterol. 100(9):2083-99. DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.50043.x

Photo source: justinhealth.com

Liberalism

古典自由主義通常預設原子式個人主義，主張社會是由眾多「原子」個體構成，並且，每個個體都是獨一無二、理性與自利。基於這種人性的假設，古典自由主義在社會制度上的基本信條：「管得最少的政府是最好的政府。」在經濟上，自由市場擁有一雙「看不見的無形之手」作自我修正，不需要政府干涉。在非經濟上，政府也不應該干涉宗教信仰、言論與出版自由等。

現代自由主義同樣接受古典自由主義對人性的預設，也認同政府不應該干擾人們的私人生活；但是，它卻反對自由市場可以自我約束。這類自由主義者通常認為市場是不完備的，它會導致壟斷與貧困。在經濟不平等的情況下，貧窮者也會失去自由選擇的機會。所以，這類自由主義主張：為了維護人們的自由免於受到若干限制（i.e.保障消極自由），政府應該對市場進行適當的干預。現代自由主義與社會民主主義的關係非常密切，後者通常被認為在（捍衛資本主義的）古典自由主義與馬克思主義中間尋找第三條的修正道路。

新自由主義是近代重要的政治理論。新自由主義繼承了古典自由主義大部分內容，他們比古典自由主義更信奉市場的威力，主張國家應該放棄對經濟事務的任何干預，具體政策包括削減公共開支、產業私有化、放寬企業管制、放棄任何貿易保護措施等等。另一方面，新自由主義有時比較像政治經濟學理論多於是意識形態（i.e.包含理想與改革的理論思想），它主要把國際的政治制度與經濟結構作為經驗的研究對象，分析國際的政治經濟現象。

https://hk.thenewslens.com/article/50045

causes of cervical cancer

Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer...It isn't clear what causes cervical cancer, but it's certain that HPV plays a role. HPV is very common, and most women with the virus never develop cervical cancer. This means other factors — such as your environment or your lifestyle choices — also determine whether you'll develop cervical cancer.

www.mayoclinic.org

Metaphysics

簡而言之，「形而上」指的是無形，無形是因為形而上之物超出了人類經驗可感的範疇，例如宗教的神、靈魂等一類人們常說的超自然事物就屬於「形而上」的事物。

philosophy.hk01.com

科幻識條鐵

板主不是星戰迷，只是偶然在明珠看看。
甚麼 Galactic Republic, Galactic Empire 都分不清楚。
只覺得 Millennium Falcon 很酷。

如果 Lightsaber 是激光劍，為什麼可以劍碰劍?
以常人理解，兩道激光相遇應該不會彼此影響，而且激光不會那麼短。
有人強說它是 plasma, 但已超出筆者的知識範圍內。

windbreaker

張美賢︰「夜長還是有星光。」
十方︰「穿上風衣我推門出去，找尋星星。」

shoe size and caesarean section

A total of 351 women who gave birth in the Paddington (英國帕丁頓) and North Kensington (北肯辛頓) Health District were studied in order to establish a factual basis for recording height and shoe size as indicators of pelvic adequacy. Because only 19 women had radiological pelvimetry assessment, type of delivery and length of labor were used as proxy (a figure that can be used to represent the value of something in a calculation) measures of disproportion (unbalance). Of the 57 women with a shoe size less than 4.5, 21% were delivered by caesarean section compared with 10% of the group with shoe size between 4.5 and 6 and only 1% of the group with shoe size greater than or equal to 6.5. Similar relations with height were not generally found. The data were further examined using logistic regression models of the expected percentages of mothers having an adverse delivery. The models confirmed and extended the more simple analysis.

Frame, S., & Moore J. (1985) Maternal height and shoe size as predictors of pelvic disproportion: an assessment. Br J Obstet Gynaecol ,92(12):1239-45. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4084467

吶喊

「然而幾個人既然起來，你不能說決沒有毀壞這鐵屋的希望。」

intonation

respiration
[͵respəˋreiʃən]

respiratory
[risˋpaiərətəri]

infection control 感染控制

Gloves can protect ambulanceman. If gloves are not changed in between patients and alcohol handrub is not performed before donning new gloves, it's harmful to client. Urgency is not an excuse.
手套可以保護救護員。但是，如果幫助不同病人而不換手套，穿新手套又不用酒精搓手，會對病人構成危機。緊急救人也不是一個藉口。