Showing papers by "Hong Kong Polytechnic University published in 2004"
TL;DR: The literature available on IT in SCM has been classified using suitable criteria and then critically reviewed to develop a framework for studying the applications of IT inSCM and some future research directions are indicated.
1,157 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the causal relationship between electricity consumption and real GDP for China during 1971-2000 was examined and it was shown that real GDP and electricity consumption are cointegrated and there is unidirectional Granger causality running from electricity consumption to real GDP but not vice versa.
818 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of these aggregates (recycled and natural) on the microstructure and compressive strength of the new concrete were studied, and the results are explained by the differences in porosity and pore structure of the two types of aggregates, and possible interactions between the aggregates and the cement paste.
746 citations
TL;DR: Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid of low toxicity; it can be absorbed and easily metabolized in the human body and is used as the raw material for the production of vanillin and preservatives, as a cross-linking agent for the preparation of food gels and edible films, and as an ingredient in sports foods and skin protection agents.
Abstract: Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid), an effective component of Chinese medicine herbs such as Angelica sinensis, Cimicifuga heracleifolia and Lignsticum chuangxiong, is a ubiquitous phenolic acid in the plant kingdom. It is mainly conjugated with mono- and oligosaccharides, polyamines, lipids and polysaccharides and seldom occurs in a free state in plants. Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid of low toxicity; it can be absorbed and easily metabolized in the human body. Ferulic acid has been reported to have many physiological functions, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis, and anti-cancer activities. It also protects against coronary disease, lowers cholesterol and increases sperm viability. Because of these properties and its low toxicity, ferulic acid is now widely used in the food and cosmetic industries. It is used as the raw material for the production of vanillin and preservatives, as a cross-linking agent for the preparation of food gels and edible films, and as an ingredient in sports foods and skin protection agents. Ferulic acid can be prepared by chemical synthesis and through biological transformation. As polysaccharide ferulate is a natural and abundant source of ferulic acid, preparation of ferulic acid from plant cell wall materials will be a prospective pathway.
714 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), measured both objectively and subjectively are developed through a comprehensive literature review, and the validity of the proposed KPIs is also tested by three case studies.
Abstract: The construction industry is dynamic in nature. The concept of project success has remained ambiguously defined in the construction industry. Project success is almost the ultimate goal for every project. However, it means different things to different people. While some writers consider time, cost and quality as predominant criteria, others suggest that success is something more complex. The aim of this paper is to develop a framework for measuring success of construction projects. In this paper, a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), measured both objectively and subjectively are developed through a comprehensive literature review. The validity of the proposed KPIs is also tested by three case studies. Then, the limitations of the suggested KPIs are discussed. With the development of KPIs, a benchmark for measuring the performance of a construction project can be set. It also provides significant insights into developing a general and comprehensive base for further research.
696 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a conceptual framework on critical success factors (CSFs) and identified five major groups of independent variables, namely project related factors, project procedures, project management actions, human-related factors, and external environment, as crucial to project success.
Abstract: Different researchers have tried to determine the factors for a successful project for a long time. Lists of variables have been abounded in the literature, however, no general agreement can be made. The aim of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework on critical success factors (CSFs). Seven major journals in the construction field are chosen to review the previous works on project success. Five major groups of independent variables, namely project-related factors, project procedures, project management actions, human-related factors, and external environment are identified as crucial to project success. Further study on the key performance indicators (KPIs) is needed to identify the causal relationships between CSFs and KPIs. The causal relationships, once identified, will be a useful piece of information to implement a project successfully.
692 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of moisture states of natural and recycled aggregates on the properties of fresh and hardened concretes was investigated, and the results suggested that an AD aggregate that contains not more than 50% recycled aggregate is optimum for producing normal strength recycled aggregate concrete.
678 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a closed-form analytical solution is presented which is capable of predicting the entire debonding propagation process, in which the realistic bi-linear local bond slip law is employed.
673 citations
TL;DR: A framework is provided to illustrate how models for this class of machine scheduling problems have been generalized from the classical scheduling theory, and a complexity boundary is presented for each model.
603 citations
TL;DR: Quantitative desorption of Pb(II) from CSC was found to be 75% which facilitates the sorption of metal by ion exchange and indicates the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption.
599 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the fabrication conditions significantly influence the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra obtained, and it is found that green PL emission can be suppressed by coating the nanostructures with a surfactant for all fabrication conditions.
Abstract: ZnO tetrapod nanostructures have been prepared by the evaporation of Zn in air (no flow), dry and humid argon flow, and dry and humid nitrogen flow. Their properties have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopies (at different temperatures), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at –160 °C and room temperature. It is found that the fabrication conditions significantly influence the EPR and PL spectra obtained. While a g = 1.96 EPR signal is present in some of the samples, green PL emission can be observed from all the samples. Therefore, the green emission in our samples does not originate from the commonly assumed transition between a singly charged oxygen vacancy and a photoexcited hole [K. Vanheusden, C. H. Seager, W. L. Warren, D. R. Tallant, J. A. Voigt, Appl. Phys. Lett. 1996, 68, 403]. However, the green emission can be suppressed by coating the nanostructures with a surfactant for all fabrication conditions, which indicates that this emission originates from surface defects.
TL;DR: In this article, the ability of chitosan, derived from deacetylated crab shell chitin, to remove acid dyes from effluent solution by adsorption has been studied.
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29 Nov 2004TL;DR: DTM-Based Terrain Analysis (DTM Interpretation).
Abstract: Digital terrain representation. Data Acquisition Methodology. Terrain Surface Modeling (Reconstruction). Algorithms for Triangular Irregular Network Formation. Interpolation Methods. Data Quality Control. Mathematical Models for DTM Accuracy.Multi-Scale Representation of Digital Elevation Models. DTM Data Management. Contouring from DTM. DTM-Based Terrain Analysis (DTM Interpretation). Visualization of DTM Surface. Applications. Integration with GIS. Index.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors examined the relevance of seven technological innovation capabilities (TICs) to building and sustaining the competitiveness of Chinese firms and found that a strong R&D capability could safeguard innovation rate and product competitiveness in large and medium sized firms, whereas a resources allocation capability would enhance the sales growth in small firms.
TL;DR: The findings of this study show that the exposures to VOCs may lead to lifetime risks higher than 1 x 10(-6) and that people in a smoking home had the highest cancer risk, while students in an air-conditioned classroom had the lowest risk of cancer.
TL;DR: One important application of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is as a confining material for concrete in the retrofit of existing concrete columns by the provision of FRP jackets as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: One important application of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is as a confining material for concrete in the retrofit of existing concrete columns by the provision of FRP jackets. Such jac...
The Chinese University of Hong Kong1, City University of Hong Kong2, University of Macau3, Simón Bolívar University4, University of Tokyo5, University of Osnabrück6, California State University, Chico7, University of Vienna8, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven9, University of Alberta10, University of Guelph11, Chinese Academy of Sciences12, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic13, Charles University in Prague14, Pedagogical University15, Åbo Akademi University16, University of Lyon17, Tbilisi State University18, International University, Cambodia19, Hong Kong Polytechnic University20, Hungarian Academy of Sciences21, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens22, University of Delhi23, Indian Statistical Institute24, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad25, Padjadjaran University26, University of Haifa27, University of Padua28, Seowon University29, University of Latvia30, American University of Beirut31, Universiti Sains Malaysia32, Universiti Malaysia Sabah33, Tilburg University34, Victoria University of Wellington35, University of Lagos36, University of Bergen37, University of Peshawar38, University of the Philippines39, University of Porto40, University of Minho41, Russian Academy of Sciences42, University of Cape Town43, Autonomous University of Madrid44, National Taiwan University45, Assumption University46, Boğaziçi University47, University College London48, University of Greenwich49
TL;DR: Leung et al. as mentioned in this paper revealed a five-dimensional structure of social axioms across individuals from five cultural groups across 41 nations and revealed the culture level factor structure and its correlates across 41 cultures.
Abstract: Leung and colleagues have revealed a five-dimensional structure of social axioms across individuals from five cultural groups. The present research was designed to reveal the culture level factor structure of social axioms and its correlates across 41 nations. An ecological factor analysis on the 60 items of the Social Axioms Survey extracted two factors: Dynamic Externality correlates with value measures tapping collectivism, hierarchy, and conservatism and with national indices indicative of lower social development. Societal Cynicism is less strongly and broadly correlated with previous values measures or other national indices and seems to define a novel cultural syndrome. Its national correlates suggest that it taps the cognitive component of a cultural constellation labeled maleficence, a cultural syndrome associated with a general mistrust of social systems and other people. Discussion focused on the meaning of these national level factors of beliefs and on their relationships with individual level factors of belief derived from the same data set.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the development of the partnering concept in general and identify critical success factors for partnering projects from the Hong Kong perspective in particular, through a postal questionnaire survey geared toward project participants with hands-on partnering experience.
Abstract: The construction industry is a very competitive high-risk business. Many problems, such as little cooperation, lack of trust, and ineffective communication resulting in adversarial relationships between contracting parties, are facing the construction industry. Partnering is perhaps one of the most innovative developments in delivering a project efficiently and reducing construction disputes. It provides a sound basis for a “win-win” climate and synergistic teamwork. Project partnering in the Hong Kong construction industry has gained in popularity since 1994. A number of potential factors contributing to partnering success have emerged and deserve further study. This paper presents a review of the development of the partnering concept in general and identifies critical success factors for partnering projects from the Hong Kong perspective in particular. Through a postal questionnaire survey geared toward project participants with hands-on partnering experience, the opinions of various parties—clients, co...
TL;DR: Several hot-spot areas of metal contamination were identified from the composite metal geochemical map, mainly in the old industrial and residential areas, and the Pb isotope composition of the contaminated soils showed clear anthropogenic origins.
TL;DR: In this article, the temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity of BZT ceramics has been investigated and it is shown that the phase transition temperature TC (or Tm) is suppressed with increasing Zr content.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the importance-performance analysis (IPA) model to assess the performance of Hong Kong's tour guides as perceived by mainland Chinese outbound visitors, and identified 20 pertinent tour guide service quality attributes.
TL;DR: In this paper, the concentrations of organic carbon and elemental carbon in atmospheric particles were investigated at eight sites in four cities (Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai) of the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR), China, during winter and summer 2002.
TL;DR: In this article, the average crystal structure of BaTaO2N is a cubic perovskite, with a Ta−O/N distance of 2.056 A. The optical band gaps are estimated from diffuse reflectance spectra as follows:
Abstract: The syntheses, crystal structures, electrical properties, and optical absorbance spectra of six perovskite oxynitrides, AMO2N (A = Ba, Sr, Ca; M = Ta, Nb) have been investigated. The average crystal structure of BaTaO2N is a cubic perovskite, with a Ta−O/N distance of 2.056 A. SrTaO2N and CaTaO2N are distorted by octahedral tilting, showing noticeably smaller Ta−O/N distances of approximately 2.02 A. Electron diffraction studies of BaTaO2N are consistent with the simple cubic perovskite crystal structure determined using X-ray powder diffraction methods. Each of the niobium oxynitrides is isostructural with its tantalum analogue, though the Nb−O/N distances are observed to be slightly longer. The optical band gaps are estimated from diffuse reflectance spectra as follows: BaTaO2N, 1.8 eV; SrTaO2N, 2.1 eV; CaTaO2N, 2.4 eV; BaNbO2N, 1.8 eV; SrNbO2N, 1.9 eV; CaNbO2N, 2.1 eV. Impedance spectroscopy was carried out on sintered pellets of the ATaO2N and BaNbO2N to investigate the dielectric and electrical tran...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report on a study of the motives for visiting and intended activities of first-time and repeat pleasure tourists to Hong Kong and reveal significant differences in motivation that resulted in the intention to participate in different activities.
Abstract: This article reports on a study of the motives for visiting and intended activities of first-time and repeat pleasure tourists to Hong Kong. The study revealed significant differences in motivation that resulted in the intention to participate in different activities. First-time visitors were motivated to visit Hong Kong to explore, while repeat visitors came to consume. First-time visitors intended to participate in a wide range of geographically dispersed activities, while repeat visitors intended to shop, dine, and spend time with family and friends.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors tested the fit of the theory of planned behavior with potential travelers from Mainland China to Hong Kong as the sample (n = 328) and found that data fitted the TPB model moderately well and explained respondents' traveling intention.
Abstract: Tourist behavior theories have been the focus of research in many tourism studies, but how travelers’ behavioral intention in choosing a travel destination is developed has rarely been investigated. This study tested the fit of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with potential travelers from Mainland China to Hong Kong as the sample (n = 328). Results showed that data fitted the TPB model moderately well and explained respondents’traveling intention. Attitude, perceived behavioral control, and past behavior were found to be related to respondents’travel intention. Recommendations were provided for government and tourism bodies to market Hong Kong as a destination for Mainland Chinese travelers.
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of elevated temperatures on the compressive strength stress-strain relationship (stiffness) and energy absorption capacities (toughness) of concretes are presented.
TL;DR: In this paper, the robust H"2 and H"~ filtering problem for linear discrete-time systems with polytopic parameter uncertainty was studied and a matrix inequality condition was proposed to provide additional free parameters as compared to existing characterizations.
TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study was conducted employing indepth interviews and focus groups to explore the tourism experiences of individuals with mobility or visual impairments, and the results revealed that they experience five different stages in the process of becoming travel active: personal, re-connection, tourism analysis, physical journey, and experimentation and reflection.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors empirically examined if there exist different types of logistics service providers and whether the types differ in service performance, and found that there are four discernable types of LSP according to the service capability displayed by each type.
Abstract: Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm, this study empirically examines if there exist different types of logistics service providers (LSPs), and whether the types differ in service performance. The study results suggest that there are four discernable types of LSP, according to the service capability displayed by each type, and that differences in service performance exist between the types. The implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for further research in LSPs are offered.
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the sum of the discounted dividends until ruin is a compound geometric random variable with exponentially distributed summands, and that the optimal level b* is the value of b for which the expectation of D is maximal.
Abstract: In the absence of dividends, the surplus of a company is modeled by a Wiener process (or Brownian motion) with positive drift. Now dividends are paid according to a barrier strategy: Whenever the (modified) surplus attains the level b, the “overflow” is paid as dividends to shareholders. An explicit expression for the moment-generating function of the time of ruin is given. Let D denote the sum of the discounted dividends until ruin. Explicit expressions for the expectation and the moment-generating function of D are given; furthermore, the limiting distribution of D is determined when the variance parameter of the surplus process tends toward infinity. It is shown that the sum of the (undiscounted) dividends until ruin is a compound geometric random variable with exponentially distributed summands. The optimal level b* is the value of b for which the expectation of D is maximal. It is shown that b* is an increasing function of the variance parameter; as the variance parameter tends toward infini...