University offers free online studies

Hong Kong University of Science and technology is offering free online education courses in partnership with some of the world’s top universities, such as Stanford and Princeton, from next year.

 

The courses are being offered through Coursera, an educational thechnology company that first began offering free, online education to a dozen Stanford engineering classes in 2008.

 

Andrew Ng, an associate professor of computer science at Stanford, cofounded Coursera along with (note 1) Daphne Koller, another Stanford professor.

 

Ng said Coursera partners with 33 universities form around the world and makes a few of its course available online free for a large audience. As of last month, around 1.7 million students from 196 countries had enrolled for (note 2) at least one course.

 

“I want to live in a world where everyone has access to hight-quality education,” Ng said. “Education is not just for the privileged (有特權的).

 

Ng, who grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore but left when he was eight, said he knew some students from relatively less developed countries, such as China and India, may not be able to afford higher education.

 

Coursera offers 199 courses spanning (包括) the humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science and many others.

 

Most videos use English as the medium of instruction (note 3).

 

But some have Chinese, Russian and French subtitle (字幕) that are prepared by student volunteers. Each course takes four to 10 weeks to complete. Certificates are given to successful students. HKUST is the first university in Hong Kong to offer Coursera online programs.

 

Pong Ting-chuen, computer science and engineering department professor at HKUST, said online education allows students to form a global community (note 4).

 

(note 1) along with 與…在一起together with

e.g. Barak Obama gave his victory speech along with family in his hometown Chicago.

 

(note 2) enrolled for =參加

 

(note 3) medium of instruction=教學語言

 

(note 4) a global community=世界共同體

Dental clinic sorry for infection (感染) scare

The University of Hong Kong has apologized to 250 students, teachers and their families treated with dental equipment not properly sterilized (消毒) for four days in row (note1).

 

University Council chairman Leong Che-hung said failing to (note 2) sterilize medical instruments is a serious matter (note 3) and he hopes the dental clinic will learn its lesson (note 4) and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

 

According to reports, some medical instruments at the HKU Health Service (Dental Unit) were not properly sterilized from October 30 to November 2.

 

The dental clinic has since been in touch with (note 5) 230 to 350 patients to be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

 

About 100 tests have already been conducted but results will not be known for a few days. “I can’t tell if the patients are victims (受害者), but even it they are not infected, they will be worried. I think we should apologize to them,” Leong said.

 

University vice chancellor Tsui Lap-chee said special group has been set up to investigate the blunder (大錯).

 

Tsui said the chances of patients being infected are low as the instruments had undergone three sterilization processes and the fourth and final process, which was not performed, is the high-pressure high-temperature programme.

 

“It is said that the sterilization process was problematic, but they have followed the entire washing process,” said Ko, adding that the Centre for Health Protection is following up on the issue.

 

HKU Students’ Union president Dan Chan Koon-hong said yesterday the immediate blood tests may not reflect whether the patients are infected as it takes four to six weeks for a person infected with hepatitis B to test positive and up to three months for those infected with HIV.

 

 

(note 1) Four days in a row=連續4天。e.g. Mi Mi has been absent for four days in row. Everyone is worrying about him.

 

(note 2) Failing to=沒有做到。e.g. Although he had spent $400 in the new anti-flu pills, the pills failed to ease his symptoms.

I fail to see=我弄不懂

Words failed me at the last minute=到最後的時候我說不出話來了。

 

(note 3) Serious matter=嚴重事故。e.g. Chemicals, Bunsen burner or any apparatus in the lab are serious matters. Callousness will lead to accidents, injuries, or in the worst case, death.

Serious 的同義詞有 grave, stern, grim, severe

 

(note 4) learn its lesson=受過教訓

 

(note 5) in touch with=接觸 (contact)

Academic freedom vow (鄭重宣告) as new university nears

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) moved a step closer (note 1) to reality (現實) with a groundbreaking (動土) ceremony at its Longgang site yesterday.

 

Some of the dignitaries (高官/要人) attending the ceremony were Guangdong Provincial Committee secretary Wang Yang, Shenzhen mayor Xu Qin, Chief Secretary of Administration Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, education secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kin, Chinese University vice chancellor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu and Mona Fong Yat-wah, chairwoman of the Sir Run Run Shaw Charitable Trust.

 

The site a located on the outskirts of (note 2) northeastern Shenzhen, in area of around 100 hectares (公頃). Both Hong Kong and mainland students will be admitted. It will be independently financed (note 3) with no cross-subsidy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

 

The main sources of operating income will come from tuition fees, donations, subsidies from the Shenzhen municipal government and other subsidies for scientific research.

 

Its executive board will be its governing body, to be chaired by the vice chancellor and president of CUHK and to comprise eight members, each nominated by CUHK and Shenzhen University. The chair man will have a casting vote (note 4). The president of CUHK (SZ) will be responsible for management, under the leadership of the executive board. Speaking at the ceremony, Sung said academic freedom (note 5) will be evident (明顯的) in the campus.

 

“We should ensure that there will be academic freedom. I believe both parties will follow the agreement we have made.” Applications for admission will commerce from as early as next year (note 6). Professors and instructors currently in the CUHK will not be asked to teach in the mainland.

 

Lam said more such exchanges between Guangdong and Hong Kong may take place. The proposed instruction will be bilingual-Chinese and English-and emphasis will be placed on general and college education.

 

(note 1) moved a step closer=向前邁進了一步。First mover=先著，先走棋者。make a move=動；(準備) 出發。On the mover=一直在動；開始活動；事件正在發展。

 

(note 2) on the outskirts=在城市邊緣 (in the areas that form the edge of a town or city)。clear Victor's skirts=為Victor洗去恥辱；表明Victor 清白無辜。

 

(note 3) independently financed=非政府支持 (not given any financial help from governments)。independent of one's parents=不倚賴父母。Independent thinking=獨立思考。

 

(note 4) the casting vote=決定性的一票 (a single vote given by the person in charge of a meeting if the number of votes about something is equal, and which therefore decides the matter)。A cast of the net=撒一次網。

 

(note 5) academic freedom=學術自由。Freedom of the press=出版自由。

 

(note 6) as early as next year=最快於來年。It is early days yet (to make up one’s mind)=(要下決心) 現在還為時過早。

Dark days face diabetics (糖尿病) blind to retinopathy risk

More than half of diabetes patients do not realize (note 1) that one of the complications of the disease may cause blindness (盲).

 

That is the stark truth (note 2) about diabetic retinopathy (糖尿病視網膜病變), though early treatment and medication may effect a cure in 90 percent of cases.

 

Hong Kong Ophthalmological (眼科) Society president Nancy Yuen Shi-yin said diabetes is a major health problem ( note 3) and diabetic retinopathy is fast becoming on the main causes of blindness in the territory.

 

But more than 60 percent of diabetics have no idea about (note 4) related retinopathy or its symptoms (症狀), a 2010 study by the society found.

 

“About 10 percent of the population are diabetic, of whom 40 percent may also suffer from diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision damage (note 5) or even blindness, “Yuen said.  The risk of severe forms of diabetic retinopathy grows with age, the noted eye doctor said.

 

“While Hong Kong is comparatively (對比地) well off, people still run the risk (note 6) of losing their sight due to the disease. An average of 200 diabetics have become blind annually in recent years.”

 

Diabetic retinopathy is almost totally symptom-free (沒有症狀) in the early stages. The disease only becomes apparent (表面) when patients experience bleeding in the eyes or blurred (模糊不清) vision.

 

Calling on all diabetics to get their eyes checked once a year, Yuen said: “Early detection may reduce the chances of developing severe visual problem by up to 90 percent.”

 

Besides seeking medical help and undergoing (經歷) surgery if need be, Yuen also advises retinopathy patients to exercise regularly and keep a balanced diet so that their blood glucose in under control as “fighting against diabetic retinopathy is a long battle.”

 

 

(note 1) do not realize=不太了解。例句：More and more Hongkongers believe CY Leung and his team do not realize that people are unhappy.

 

(note2) start truth=完全的，全然的真相。Victor gave a stark denial to the rumor=Victor對謡言加以完全的否認。例句：Economists opine that the mainland is facing the stark truth of a hard landing in the near future.

 

(note 3) a major health problem=主要的健康問題。例句：Almost all Hong Kong people are living with extreme stress-this stress is contributing to some of their major health problems.

 

(note 4)  have no idea about=毫無頭緒。例句：Personally, I have no idea how radical democratic lawmarkers can secure adequate votes to win in an election.

 

(note 5) cause vision damage=損害視力。例句：Inappropriate care and cleaning of contact lenses can result in blurring of vision. If these eye problems are not detected and treated early, they may cause vision damage and even blindness.

 

(note 6) run the risk=冒險。Risk one’s fortune or life=拼著財產、性命。例句：After the High Court’s clearance order, the “Occupy Central” movement participants attempted to continue their protest at a plaza beneath the HSBC headquarters, but they ran the risk of being forced out by the HSBC security guards.

Death brings clamp (打擊) on beauty business

Beauty centers and staff conducting high-risk medical treatments will be regulated to prevent a recurrence of a blood transfusion after which customer died, the health minister announced.

 

Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man also said the government will clamp down (note 1) hard on misleading medical claims and unlicensed (沒有執照的) doctors who carry out such treatments while a yearlong review is being conducted.

 

Restaurant boss Chan Yuen-lam, 46, died on Wednesday after suffering septic shock hours after receiving a processed blood injection-costing some HK$50,000-at a DR beauty center last week. Three other women were stricken (患病) after similar treatment. One remained critical last night while the others were described as serious and stable.

 

A superbug (超級病毒) associated with tuberculosis, Mycobacterium abscessus, has been implicated. Ko said yesterday he will chair a 29-member steering committed to review two decades-old (note 2) laws “to strengthen the regulatory controls of private health-care facilities, including high-risk medical treatments, in order to safeguard public safety.” It will aim to put “any premises (經營場所) which conduct high-risk medical treatments or procedures under regulatory control.”

 

Laboratories will also be covered.

 

Ko said the review will try to meet community calls (note 3) for tighter regulations on the beauty industry and provide “clear definitions to differentiate beauty therapies from medical treatment.”

 

Currently private health-care facilities are required to register with the Department of Health under different ordinances.

 

But the two laws were enacted in 1936 and 1963 respectively, and no major revision (note 4) has been introduced to them since 1966. Director of Health Constance Chan Hon-yee said upon completion of the police and departmental investigation, the case will be referred to Medical Council for possible disciplinary (紀律的) action against doctors involved.

 

(note 1) clamp down=強行限制。例句：The sparkling illuminations along both sides of the Victoria Harbour have caused serious light pollution in Hong Kong. Environmentalists are now urging the government to clamp down on the illuminations

 

(note 2) two decades-old=二十年的。例句：The two decades-old mobile phone that John owned was considered useless by most, but he saw the mobile phone as a precious pearl as it was a gift from his father.

 

(note 3) to meet community calls=應社的要求。例句：Mainlanders have veen criticized by Hongkongers for exploiting Hong Kong’s precious resources, such as services provided by public hospitals. The Hong Kong government will try to meet community calls by imposing policies to ensure that locals’ rights will not be infringed upon.

 

(note 4) major revision=主要修訂。例句：There has been no major revision on school rules in Welton Academy since 1912.  Excellence, honor, discipline and tradition have always been the four principles followed by its students.

Green groups protest against man-made (人造的) beach

Various green groups marched(前進) yesterday from Central pier to the government headquarters at Tamar to protest against the building of an artificial beach at Lung Mei, Tai Po.

   

There are more than 200 types of marine life and insects (note1) in the area, including 97 species of butterflies, 35 percent of which are rare.

 

Wearing blue shirts symbolizing the ocean, the marchers took with them a petition containing more than 3,000 signatures urging the government to shelve (擱置) the project.

 

Hong Kong Wildlife Forum spokesman Wong Chi-chun stressed the ecological value of Lung Mei, with starfish and crabs living in its shallow waters and on the shore.  The government should not spend pubic money on an artificial beach that is not suitable for swimming and which will damage the natural environment, Wong said.

 

Many Hongkongers want to preserve the natural environment in Lung Mei, not only the green groups, he added.

 

He criticized the government for not spending enough time on public consultation before calling for (note 2) bids.

 

Wong said it will be difficult to change the decision since the Town Planning Board has given the project the go-signal (note 3) and the Legislative Council has approved the budget.

 

Nevertheless, the hopes the government will listen to their views before making a final decision.

 

The marchers would like to urge the government to build a public swimming pool at Lung Mei instead.

 

The green groups will have a meeting with different government departments today to explain the details of the proposed swimming pool.  Bidding for the Lung Mei project ends in mid-October and construction is expected to start next month.

 

Meanwhile, alleviating poverty (note 4) among our senior citizens ranks high on the agenda of the current administration.

 

(note 1) marine life and insects=海洋生物和昆蟲。例句: As there is a shortage in the supply of land, the government has decided to have more reclamation. However, this has raised much concern among citizens as this will endanger different kinds of marine life and insects.

 

(note 2) call for=求助。例句：I have decided to call for professors’ to see if there is another way to help with my studies.

 

(note 3) the go-signal=准許。例句：Before giving the go-signal on building the high-speed rail to Chinese cities, the government should spend more time on public consultation.

 

(note 4) alleviate poverty=舒緩貧窮。例句：There are many underprivileged people who are living hand-to mouth. In order to alleviate poverty, the government should provide subsidies to these people.

e-books the way to slash (大幅削減) cost, says schools chief

The education Bureau is pushing for (鼓催) a new SAR-wide scheme (note 1) in which electronic textbooks will be used in all primary and secondary schools to deflect (減少) the rising cost of printed materials.

 

Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming-yeung said the current practice of publishers bundling most textbooks for sale (note 2) must change, because it has resulted in surging prices and market distortions (note 3) .

 

The failure of the bureau to persuade (勸服) publishers to sell textbooks separately from teaching resources has made them reluctant to reduce prices.

 

Publisher said they can only debundle half of primary school textbooks. Suen said yesterday: “There are not organized according to the requirements of our curriculum development (學科發展).”

 

He said he will ask that a new e-version be launched next year to meet the criteria of the bureau.

 

The new scheme aims to keep prices down by creating a diversified learning environment and make optimal use of advanced information technology (note 4) in schools.

 

Led by Undersecretary for Education Kenneth Chen Wei-on, the task force (小組) reviewed learning and teaching materials over the past six months. It made key recommendations to facilitate the development of the e-textbook market.

 

The task force noted that since 1998, the government has invested nearly HK$9 billion in implementing three IT strategies (note 5) in education. It has likewise spent another HK$400 million on developing e-learning resources.

 

Suen said incentives (誘因) are being considered to attract new entrants (note 6), such as relevant organizations and professionals, to the market and develop quality and reasonable priced e-texbooks.

 

However, he could not say how much cheaper textbooks will be once the measures are implemented.

 

(note 1) a new SAR-wide scheme=全港推行的計畫

In the scheme of things=在事物發展過程中。

 

(note 2) bundling most textbooks for sale=把教科書和教材一併出售

Bundle=包, 捆, 紥, 束

Bundle of rascals=一群壞蛋

Bundle of problems=一大堆問題

Victor bundles himself up=Victor (用毛衣) 把自己身體裹暖, 穿暖和些

 

(note 3) surging prices and market distortions=書價上升和扭曲市場價格

Bo Bo’s face was distorted with rage=Bo Bo 的臉氣得變了樣

 

(note 4) make optimal use of advanced information technology=把新進資訊科技作最適宜的運用

Optimal 的相反 pessimal=最壞的

 

(note 5) implementing three IT strategies=實施三項資訊科技政策

Strategy and tactics=戰略與戰術

 

(note 6) attract new entrants=吸引新供應商

New system to make ban on idle engines (note1) a breeze (note 2)

With the ban on idling engines just a day away, the territory has unveiled (公佈) its first automatic system to keep cool drivers who have stopped.

 

Developed by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the system aims to ease the problem of high in-vehicle temperatures during idle stops while improving roadside air quality by cutting emissions (note 3).

 

“With this system, when vehicle comes to a complete stop, the engine will stop automatically, cutting emissions caused by idling, “council chairman Clement Chen Cheng-jen said.

 

“Also, once the engine stops, the auxiliary air-conditioning system will kick in (note 4) immediately and can keep running for up to an hour.” The system, funded by the government Environment and Conservation Fund and the Woo Wheelock Green Fund, is currently undergoing patent registration and can cut fuel consumption, Chan said.

 

“We plan to commercialize the technology through licensing to auto parts manufacturers for sales and production, creating business opportunities for the industry.”

 

The council is also upgrading the system to extend air-conditioning supply to up to two hours, a feat (絕技) that will be tested early next year.

 

Under the ban taking effect on Thursday, drivers cannot leave their engines idling for more than there minutes in any 60-minute period, subject to a fixed penalty of HK$320.

 

Taxis at stands are exempted, as are the first two minibuses at stands. All drivers are exempt during very hot weather or rainstorm warnings.

 

Meanwhile, plans are under way (note 5) for more than 200 hectares of land-or five times the area of the West Kowloon Cultural District-to be made available for the government’s housing program.

 

The sites include 50 hectares of neglected greenbelt area (note 6) in the New Territories, a Development Bureau spokesman said.

 

(note 1) idle engines=停車機器仍然開著 (空轉)

Idle=懶惰的, 吊兒郎當的

Stand idle=袖手旁觀

Idle way one’s [life]=虛渡時光

 

(note 2) a breeze=輕而易舉的事

Breeze=微風, 柔風, 和風

The horse Bo Bo Man won in a breeze=Bo Bo Man 這匹馬輕而易舉地就跑贏了

Breeze through the book written by Victor=不費力地很快讀完了全本Victor 寫的書

 

(note 3) cutting emissions=減少污染廢氣排放

The ship Victorian cut her way through the waves=Victorian號船破浪前進

Cut to the heart=使深深地感到痛心

 

(note 4) kick in=啟動

Mo Mo kicks the ball back=Mo Mo把球踢回去

Kick the car into higher gear=給汽車啟動快檔, 加速

 

(note 5) plans are under way=計劃已進行中

 

(note 6) neglected greenbelt areas=被忽視的綠色地帶

Victor was treated with neglect=Victor受到不理睬, 怠慢對待

Hit [strike] below the belt=[拳擊] 擊對手腰帶下部犯規行為; 卑劣行為, 玩卑鄙手段, 暗箭傷人

Ovary blunder (note1) sparks (無線電通訊)probe (探針)

An investigation is under way (note 2) to determine whether a private hospital delayed reportinga serious medical blunder in which a woman’s ovary (卵巢) had to be removed.

 

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said the Department of Health, the private hospitals’ watchdog (監察部門), is trying to find out whether Shatin International Centre Union Hospital did not know the woman developed complication (併發症) when she was discharge after she had her ova extracted (note 3) for artificial insemination (人工受孕).

 

He said the department is also probing an apparent lack of communication (note 4) between Union Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital, where the woman had one of her ovaries removed when her condition deteriorated 48 hours after the ova extraction. The department named the two hospitals involved in the incident in a departure from practice (note 5).

 

“[The government] needs to see if the public needs to know [about] the incident, especially if this is a problem on the system or procedures. If other patients and doctors need to know about it, it will be announced,” Chow said on the issue of naming the hospitals.

 

The department needs to verify (核實) when the incident happened and when Union Hospital learned of the complications, Chow said.

 

Initial investigation show the ova extraction took place on August 18, and the woman sought help from Tuen Mun Hospital two days later. The woman was discharged in early September. Union Hospital reported the incident on Friday, almost four months later. The government requires hospitals to report an unexpected serious occurrence or risk (note 6) within 24 hours.

 

Union Hospital deputy medical director Ares Leung Kwong-ling earlier denied the hospital intentionally delayed reporting the incident. He said the hospital did not know the woman’s condition had deteriorated (變壞) until she compained earlier this month.

 

(note 1) blunder=失策, 疏忽

Commit a blunder=犯大錯

Without his glasses, Victor blundered into the wrong room=Victor因為沒戴眼鏡，跌跌撞撞地走錯了房間

 

(note 2) is under way=正在進行中

All the way=一路上, 一直

Look this way=看這邊

 

(note 3) had her ova extracted=把卵子 (單數是ovum) 取出來

Extract=拔出, 抽出

Extract a tooth=拔牙

I could extract no information from Julian=我從Julian那裏一點消息也打聽不出來

Make extracts=精選, 摘要

 

(note 4) lack of communication=缺乏溝通

Lack=缺乏, 不夠, 不足

That fellow lacks common sense=那傢伙缺乏理智

Money is lacking=錢不夠

 

(note 5) a departure from practice=偏離一般做法

Depart=離開, 消失

Depart for (London)=去 (倫敦)

Depart from=不合(習慣等), 背離, 違反

A plausible idea, but will it work in practice? 主意倒好, 然而能實行嗎？

 

(note 6) unexpected serious occurrence or risk=意料之外的事故或危機

Daily occurrences=日常發生的事

Make allowance for unfavourable occurrence=留有餘地, 以防意外