Hypothesis of translocation

Phloem consists of living cells arranged end to end. Phloem vessels contain cytoplasm, and this goes through holes from one cell to the next.

Phloem transports sucrose up and down the plant. This is called translocation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk

Sugars produced in sources, such as leaves, need to be delivered to growing parts of the plant via the phloem in a process called translocation.

The sucrose from the source are usually translocated to the nearest sink (root) through the phloem sieve tube elements.

https://organismalbio.biosci.gatech.edu

The phloem tissue is the principal sugar conductive (傳導的) tissue in plants. Over 90 years ago, Ernest Münch (1930) proposed the now widely accepted mechanism for phloem transport. According to his theory, the mass flow in the phloem is driven by an osmotically generated pressure gradient. As the sieve pores interconnect the protoplasts (cells which have had their cell wall removed) of the sieve tubes, the transport in the sieve tube itself is a mass flow driven by a pressure gradient.

A dynamic version of Münch’s pressure flow model, the sugar (violet arrows) and water (blue arrows), and the relative proportion of sieve elements (SEs) and companion cells (CCs) in the respective phloem zones. Sugar is translocated via the phloem through essentially leaky instead of sealed pipes.

The solute concentration are controlled by release/retrieval mechanisms in the sieve element–companion cell complexes (SECCCs). Differential release/retrieval balances control the influx/efflux of sugars and water in the various phloem zones. In the collection phloem, the uptake or retrieval dominates; in the release phloem, the release dominates. In the transport phloem, having a dual task (nourishment of lateral and terminal sinks), the balance between release and retrieval varies with the requirements of the plant.

The gradual loss of solutes and corresponding amount of water towards the sink (root), where massive delivery of water and solutes takes place, has been attributed to the relative size reduction of CCs along the source to sink path, which may explain a decreasing retrieval capacity of the SECCCs in the direction of the sink.

https://academic.oup.com

Image: https://www.differencebetween.com

The Forbidden Forest

forbidden: not permitted or allowed

alibis: an excuse usually intended to avert blame or punishment

avert: to turn away or aside

feeble: markedly lacking in strength

creep: to move along with the body prone and close to the ground

cock: rooster

blundering: characterized by or prone to foolish or careless errors

sob: to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath

dread: to fear greatly

hourglass: an instrument for measuring time consisting of a glass vessel having two compartments from the upper of which a quantity of usually sand runs in an hour into the lower one

miserable: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness

swore: past tense of swear

meddle: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

sneak: to go stealthily or furtively

goblin: an ugly or grotesque sprite that is usually mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious

stride: to move with or as if with long steps

peer: to look narrowly or curiously

ajar: slightly open

give in: surrender

kindling: easily combustible material for starting a fire

troll: a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills

sack: dismiss

pock around: to look around or search through something

furore: an outburst of public excitement or indignation

deserve: to be worthy of

leer: to cast a sidelong glance

march: to make steady progress

sniff: to take air into the nose in short audible breaths

delighted: highly pleased

scud: to move or run swiftly especially as if driven forward

oaf: a stupid person

moan: a low prolonged sound of pain or of grief

werewolf: a person transformed into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form

clutch: to grasp or hold with or as if with the hand or claws usually strongly, tightly, or suddenly

lookout: a matter of care or concern

glee: exultant high-spirited joy

after all: in spite of considerations or expectations to the contrary

frown: to contract the brow in displeasure or concentration

take over: to assume control or possession of or responsibility for

nasty: physically repugnant

fierce: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament

growl: to utter a growl

breeze: a light gentle wind

summat: somewhat

stagger: to move on unsteadily

coward: one who shows disgraceful fear or timidity

now and then: from time to time

stump: the basal portion of a bodily part remaining after the rest is removed

hoist: raise

slither: to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface

squint: to look or peer with eyes partly closed

grim: fierce in disposition or action

faint: weak

gleam: to shine with or as if with subdued steady light or moderate brightness

chestnut: a grayish to reddish brown

centaur: any of a race of creatures fabled to be half human and half horse and to live in the mountains of Thessaly

sorrow: deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved

pat: to strike lightly with a flat instrument

timid: lacking in courage or self-confidence

fling: to move in a brusque or headlong manner

grumpy: moodily cross

hoof: a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw

undergrowth: low growth on the floor of a forest including seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbs

rustle: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

crunch: to chew or press with a crushing noise

fume: to utter while in a state of excited irritation or anger

racket: a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity

idiot: a foolish or stupid person

splash: splashed liquid or semiliquid substance

thrashing: a severe beating or flogging

flog: to beat with or as if with a rod or whip

tangled: exceedingly complex

stick out: project

mane: long and heavy hair growing about the neck and head of some mammals (such as horses and lions)

pearly: resembling, containing, or adorned with pearls or mother-of-pearl

quiver: to shake or move with a slight trembling motion

hood: a flexible covering for the head and neck

crawl: to move on one's hands and knees

stalk: to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry

transfix: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing

bolt: to move suddenly or nervously

swiftly: with speed

stagger: to move on unsteadily

galloping: progressing, developing, or increasing rapidly

blond: of a flaxen, golden, light auburn, or pale yellowish-brown color

palomino: a horse that is pale cream to gold in color and has a flaxen or white mane and tail

sapphire: a gem variety of corundum in transparent or translucent crystals of a color other than red, especially one of a transparent rich blue

linger: to remain existent although often waning in strength, importance, or influence

livid: black and blue

clamber: to climb awkwardly or with effort especially by using both the hands and the feet

awkward: lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands)

flank: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip

heave: to rise and fall rhythmically

mule: a hybrid between a horse and a donkey

paw: to touch or strike at with a paw

paw: the foot of a quadruped (such as a lion or dog) that has claws

foretell: to tell beforehand

stray: a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost

rear: to cause (a horse) to rise up on the hind legs

bellow: to make the loud deep hollow sound characteristic of a bull

lurk: to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose

alongside: at the side: close by

whisk: a quick light brushing or whipping motion

plunge: to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly into something

startle: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously

monstrous: horrible

slay: to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers

slain: kill

curse: a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one

dapple: any of numerous usually cloudy and rounded spots or patches of a color or shade different from their background

desperate: having lost hope

cling: to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously

clench: to hold fast

codswallop: words or ideas that are foolish or untrue

croak: to make a deep harsh sound

canter: lope

pace: to walk with often slow or measured tread

hiss: to make a sharp sibilant sound

sibilant: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash

feverish: marked by intense emotion, activity, or instability

fortune-teller: one that professes to foretell future events

neat: free from dirt and disorder

Online dictionary used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

溶腩酵素

酵素可以減肥，無知婦孺才會受騙。首先要明白什麼是酵素 (Enzyme)︰

存於生物體內的蛋白質性觸媒，持有特定基質的作用。則是在生物體內，物理性條件（濃度、溫度與pH值等）之下，進行化學反應，有助於消化器官，或組織內營養素的分解，和進行各種代謝作用。

https://terms.naer.edu.tw

An enzyme is a substance that acts as a catalyst (催化劑) in living organisms, regulating the rate at which chemical reactions proceed without itself being altered in the process. The biological processes that occur within all living organisms are chemical reactions, and most are regulated by enzymes.

https://www.britannica.com

既然酵素能夠有助分解食物，便可以加速吸收，人會得到更多營養，理論上只會導致肥胖。

延伸閱讀︰

Key and lock hypothesis (假設) of enzyme

Enzymes are folded into complex 3D shapes that allow smaller molecules to fit into them. The place where these molecules fit is called the active site.

In the lock and key hypothesis, the shape of the active site matches the shape of its substrate (基質) molecules. This makes enzymes highly specific. Each type of enzyme can usually catalyst only one type of reaction.

Chitosan (甲殼素) 無效

This article aims to determine whether chitosan, a popular, over-the-counter, weight loss supplement, is an effective treatment for overweight and obesity.

Results obtained from high-quality trials indicate that the effect of chitosan on body weight is minimal and unlikely to be of clinical significance.

Mhurchu, C. N. (2005). Effect of chitosan on weight loss in overweight and obese individuals: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews, 6(1), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00158.x

White Kidney Bean (白腎豆) 有效

In summary, after analysis of the various effective parameters, our results clearly revealed that intake of dietary 2,400 mg Phaseolus vulgaris extract (PVE) capsules daily by obese human subjects is more effective at reducing body weight and body fat mass compared to daily intake of placebo in a short time period. In our experiments, no clinically significant changes and adverse events occurred or felt due to the active product during the trial period. PVE has the potential to induce weight loss and reduce fat mass caused by carbohydrates through its alpha‐amylase inhibiting activity. This work provides the detail information for the depth study and wide applications of PVE in the future work.

Wang, S. (2020). Regular intake of white kidney beans extract (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) induces weight loss compared to placebo in obese human subjects. Food Science and Nutrition, 8(3), 1315–1324. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1299

賣書者言

如果一個賣書者只是將書籍視之為一件普通的貨物，工作對於他或她來說會是非常枯燥乏味。

是非

「唯有沉默，才容得下更多。」

改自明川的文字

說話的規訓

「人的本性，本來就有某種野性，渴望說出不中聽的實話，傾向說出帶刺的和不馴的真話。」

改自《半蝕》

他人的痛苦

「明白他人的痛苦的人，自己大概也經歷過複雜、深層而龐大的痛苦，才能具備對痛苦的想像力。」

《半蝕》

不服

被驅不異犬與雞

一杯水

十多年前，我路過 M 記，在沒有買任何食物的情況下，向店員討了一杯水。爸爸對我說︰「如果俾內地人知道，就不得了。」今時今日，強國人貪婪的性格有否轉變，不得而知。在疫情緊張前，編者也很少往內地，對於國情可說是全無了解，只是在歷史博物館禮品店工作期間略見一二。他們買數千元貨品可以面不改容，多支付一元討多一個膠袋就不情願，卻不是為了環保。

喝一杯水，便可以知道一間食肆的優劣。只是煲過的水喉水，會有鐵鏽味，我一飲便會知道。十多年前，母親曾經做過濾水器傳銷，到今時今日家裡總會有一台濾水器。長期飲用下，我才有這種分辨的技能。蒸餾水也容易分辨，因為它是弱酸性。至於礦泉水，hard water，要分辨出來一點也不容易。爸爸說內地人普遍都會飲用瓶裝水，因為他們對自來水的信心近乎是零，但又衍生另一問題，塑化劑。

Articulation

鼻音重，改不了。

喉頭大，聲音沉，不能改變。

高中朗讀英文，班主任問其他同學︰「他說中文都是這樣嗎？」

同學們異口同聲道︰「對呀！」

AS-Level Use of English oral exam result: Fail

歌謠

雖說時光最能療創

雖說舊恨轉眼遺忘

舊時笑聲淚影

歷歷在我心上

They say that time heals all things

They say you can always forget

But the smiles and the tears across the years

They twist my heart-strings yet

Risk of hypothermia 體溫過低的風險

平時阿媽沖完涼，通常會滿頭大汗。兩天前，我見她的樣子好爽，便碰一碰她的前臂。我道︰「點解會凍冰冰？」她說︰「我沖完溫水再沖下凍水？」我解釋給她︰「這樣做可能會導致體溫過低。」以前中學上運動堂，老師提醒我們，剛跑完步或者做完劇烈運動不要立刻貼近冷氣機乘涼，道理都是一樣。

Vasodilation of arteriole 血管舒張

Vasoconstriction of arteriole 血管收縮

Arterioles contain smooth muscle, which can either relax and cause the vessel radius to increase (vasodilation) or contract and decrease the vessel radius (vasoconstriction).

Widmaier, E.P., & Raff, H. (2008). Vander’s Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

arteriole: any of the small terminal twigs of an artery that ends in capillaries

Dictionary used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

Eagle eye

鹰眼是動物界(animal kingdom)最强的眼睛，估計其視力是普通人的四至八倍。

Google Search Redirected to Wikipedia

灰甲治療

灰甲的治療方案取決於類型、牽涉指甲的數量和感染的嚴重程度。 口服治療通常受制於藥物相互作用和肝中毒的風險。如果不採用清創術，而只在灰甲表面使用抗真菌藥，則療效有限。 口服和甲面治療的結合通常是最佳選擇。

Treatment of onychomycosis depends on the clinical type, the number of involved nails and the severity of the infection. The disadvantages of therapies are that oral treatments are often limited by drug interactions and potential hepatotoxicity, while topical antifungals have a limited efficacy if used without nail plate debridement. A combination of both oral and systemic treatment is often the best choice.

Piraccini, B. M. (2015). Onychomycosis: A Review. Journal of Fungi, 1(1), 30-43. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof1010030

onychomycosis: a fungal disease of the nails

hepatotoxicity: a state of toxic damage to the liver

debridement: the usually surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue

Dictionary used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

Social Media

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Me We Miss Hong Kong Pageant

Which social media would be in your mind?

口紅

十多年前，家姐和我分享她在中國語文及文化科口試練習的一段話。那一試題是「口紅」。她對老師和同學說了一段頗有深度的話。她當天的說話我已忘記了一半，她大概說口紅、化妝能讓一位女士的外貌更吸引，但人總會有年華老去的一天，內涵的培養也十分重要。

站在男士的角度，我只是同意了一半。男人的天性是以貌取人，分別在於男人是看樣貌，還是看身材。我就比較貪心，個人喜歡漂亮的嘴臉和豐富的內涵，所以到了今天也沒有伴侶。

平反

舊版《魯迅全集》(一九五七)的註文，說葉靈鳳「抗日時期成為漢奸文人」，不能說它毫無「似是」的根據(連戴望舒在抗戰勝利後也被檢舉過曾經「附敵」呢)；而「文革」後新版的《魯迅全集》(一九八一)，註文中替他摘下了「漢奸文人」的帽子，就更不能說不是實事求是的平反了。

羅孚《南斗文星高》

Fluctuating

善良之心

和邪惡之心

每天都在對峙

豐子愷漫畫選繹

明川︰「多少年來，對這本小作，依然有一種難言的偏愛。何況，引出這些文字的是豐子愷先生的漫畫，仍然滲透永恆的純樸與溫厚，靜靜如一泓碧翠，反照日月，萬物關情。我深知今夜故人不來，但我仍風中佇立，因為——我確信愛它的故人仍在世間。」

醣與糖

Carbohydrates (醣) include but not limited to:

Glucose (葡萄糖, Monosaccharide)

Maltose (麥芽糖, Disaccharide, Glucose + Glucose)

Fructose (果糖, Monosaccharide)

Sucrose (蔗糖, Disaccharide, Glucose + Fructose)

Galactose (半乳糖, Monosaccharide)

Lactose (乳糖, Disaccharide, Glucose + Galactose)

Oligosaccharide: any carbohydrate of from three to six units of simple sugars (monosaccharides)

Starch (澱粉, Polysaccharide)

Cellulose (纖維素, Polysaccharide)

Headliner

YouTube HK

RTHK 頭條新聞

273 段片

遭刪除後

大概只剩餘 21 段

肌肉與運動

Exercise that is relatively low intensity but long duration (popularly called "aerobic exercise"), such as running or swimming, produces increases in the number of mitochondria in the fibers that are recruited in this type of activity. In addition, the number of capillaries around these fibers also increases. All these changes lead to an increase in the capacity for endurance activity with a minimum of fatigue. (Surprisingly, fiber diameter decreases slightly, and thus there is a small decrease in the maximal strength of muscles as a result of endurance training.) As we will see in later chapters, endurance exercise produces changes not only skeletal muscles but also in the respiratory and circulatory systems, changes that improve the delivery of oxygen and fuel molecules to the muscle.

The structure of actin and myosin filaments

Myofibrils

Image: https://www.britannica.com

In contrast, short-duration, high-intensity exercise (popularly called "strength training"), such as weight lifting, affects primarily the fast-glycolytic fibers, which are recruited during strong contractions. These fibers undergo an increase in fiber diameter (hypertrophy) due to increased synthesis of actin and myosin filaments, which form more myofibrils. In addition, glycolytic activity is increased by increasing the synthesis of glycolytic enzymes. The result of such high-intensity exercise is an increase in the strength of the muscle and bulging muscles of a conditioned weight lifter. Such muscles, although very powerful, have little capacity for endurance, and they fatigue rapidly.

Widmaier, E.P., & Raff, H. (2008). Vander’s Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Fast-glycolytic fibers have relatively fast contractions and primarily use anaerobic glycolysis.

bulging: swollen with contents

Enhancing cardiovascular fitness can lead to substantial health benefits. High-intensity interval training (HIT) is an efficient way to develop cardiovascular fitness, yet comparisons between this type of training and traditional endurance training are equivocal.

equivocal: uncertain as an indication or sign

Endurance training and HIT both elicit large improvements in the VO2max of healthy, young to middle-aged adults, with the gains in VO2max being greater following HIT when compared with endurance training.

VO2max: maximal oxygen consumption

Milanović, Z. (2015). Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIT) and Continuous Endurance Training for VO2max Improvements: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials. Springer Link, 45, 1469–1481.

Growth in cell numbers is limited to the prenatal and immediately postnatal period, with the animals and man being born with or soon reaching their full complement of muscle cells.

Pearson, A. M. (1990). Muscle growth and exercise. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 29(3), 167-196. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408399009527522

complement: the full quantity, number, or assortment needed or included

Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

Rhodesian ridgeback: any of an African breed of powerful long-bodied hunting dogs having a dense harsh short tan coat with a characteristic crest of reversed hair along the spine

The dog growled at the stranger.

stutter: to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech

nag: to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech

snap: to utter sharp biting words

forget-me-not: any of a genus (Myosotis) of small herbs of the borage family having usually bright blue or white flowers usually arranged in a curving spike

shuffle: to move about, back and forth, or from one place to another

outlaw: to make illegal

tame: to reduce from a wild to a domestic state

stifle: to be or become unable to breathe easily

frown: to contract the brow in displeasure or concentration

twitch: quiver

beam: to smile with joy

enchantment: a magic spell

fiddle: to move the hands or fingers restlessly

crouch: to lower the body stance especially by bending the legs

hatch: to emerge from an egg

stoke: to poke or stir up (a fire, flames, etc.) : supply with fuel

trowel: a scoop-shaped or flat-bladed garden tool for taking up and setting small plants

bate: decrease

scrape: to draw roughly or noisily over a surface

flop: to throw or move oneself in a heavy, clumsy, or relaxed manner

crumple: to press, bend, or crush out of shape

snout: a long projecting nose

bulging: swelling or thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface

fang: a long sharp tooth

bolt: to move suddenly or nervously

lurk: to persist in staying

misty: tearful

fortnight: two weeks

dump: to let (something) fall in or as if in a heap or mass

chime: to cause to sound musically by striking

crate: an open box of wooden slats or a usually wooden protective case or framework for shipping

hoarse: rough or harsh in sound

boarhound: a large dog used in hunting wild boars

rattle: to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises

sob: to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath

heave: lift

flare: to shine with a sudden light

tartan: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan

hairnet: a net worn over the hair to keep it in place

chuckle: to laugh inwardly or quietly

thrash: to beat soundly with or as if with a stick or whip

cheery: marked by cheerfulness or good spirits

harness: the equipment other than a yoke of a draft animal

buckle: to become fastened with a buckle

loom: to appear in an impressively great or exaggerated form

Dictionary used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

洛東

東山 Higashiyama

Kiyomizu Temple︰清水寺

Gion︰祇園

舞妓是日本藝妓在見習階段時名稱。

Maiko (Apprentice Geisha)

Another regional term for Geisha with a slightly different meaning is Geiko, a term used to describe Geisha in Western Japan, including Kyoto.

So Kon Po 掃桿埔

維園老樹幹有個樹洞聽你心事

聖馬利亞堂

St. Mary's Church

重建中的聖保祿醫院

基督君王小堂

Christ the King Chapel

中華基督教會聖光堂

香港大球場

Hong Kong Stadium

小思︰「一九四八年五四紀念，在香港的中國文化人，隱隱然已察覺中國大地快進入一個火紅的年代，千多人聚在孔聖堂裡，坐著站著，聽茅盾、郭沫若演講。」

保良局

Spurrier (2016) wrote, "This charitable group was originally founded in 1878 to stop the trade in mui tsai, or servant girls."

聖瑪加利大堂

St. Margaret's Church

維多利亞城界碑

City Boundary Stone

蓮花宮

管教問題

上次外甥女到公公婆婆屋企食飯，發生一段小插曲。當我返家時，大家已經吃完晚餐。公公婆婆前幾日睇中醫，餅乾罐有兩三筒山楂餅。我眼見地上有山楂餅包裝紙碎，便道︰「地上有紙屑，誰弄出來的？」正在吃山楂餅的外甥女沒有理會我，隔一會姐夫拾起紙屑放在臺面上，而不是直接掉進垃圾桶。

有次聽阿媽講︰「阿女、女婿和孫女番來吃飯，成日煮沙巴龍躉(按︰中價魚)都有點悶，有一次買了一尾游水黃花。阿女以為魚脊附近沒有魚骨，便夾給孫女吃。孫女食到有幼骨即吐，阿女、女婿不覺得有什麼問題。」如果我在場，應該會說一兩句。不理平貴，浪費食物，始終不對。

外甥女快六歲了，一直由印傭和任職保險的姐夫照顧，家姐在家工作那段期間才多了參與。我覺得，自理能力、禮貌有時比起上哪間名校、鋼琴彈奏得多動聽更加重要。