Showing papers by "Hong Kong Polytechnic University published in 2006"
TL;DR: In this article, the technical applicability of various physico-chemical treatments for the removal of heavy metals such as Cd(II), Cr(III, Cr(VI), Cu(II, Ni(II) and Zn(II).
1,732 citations
TL;DR: The suggested guidelines address three main issues: implementation, key management and security analysis, aiming at assisting designers of new cryptosystems to present their work in a more systematic and rigorous way to fulfill some basic cryptographic requirements.
Abstract: In recent years, a large amount of work on chaos-based cryptosystems have been published. However, many of the proposed schemes fail to explain or do not possess a number of features that are fundamentally important to all kind of cryptosystems. As a result, many proposed systems are difficult to implement in practice with a reasonable degree of security. Likewise, they are seldom accompanied by a thorough security analysis. Consequently, it is difficult for other researchers and end users to evaluate their security and performance. This work is intended to provide a common framework of basic guidelines that, if followed, could benefit every new cryptosystem. The suggested guidelines address three main issues: implementation, key management and security analysis, aiming at assisting designers of new cryptosystems to present their work in a more systematic and rigorous way to fulfill some basic cryptographic requirements. Meanwhile, several recommendations are made regarding some practical aspects of analog chaos-based secure communications, such as channel noise, limited bandwith and attenuation.
1,620 citations
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine how cultural differences influence the returns of momentum strategies and find that individualism is positively associated with trading volume and volatility, as well as with the magnitude of momentum profits, and that momentum profits are also positively related to analyst forecast dispersion, transaction costs, and the familiarity of the market to foreigners.
Abstract: This paper examines how cultural differences influence the returns of momentum strategies. Cross-country cultural differences are measured with an individualism index developed by Hofstede (2001), which is related to overconfidence and self-attribution bias. We find that individualism is positively associated with trading volume and volatility, as well as to the magnitude of momentum profits. Momentum profits are also positively related to analyst forecast dispersion, transaction costs, and the familiarity of the market to foreigners, and negatively related to firm size and volatility. However, the addition of these and other variables does not dampen the relation between individualism and momentum profits.
951 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the applicability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model using its core constructs (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control), with the addition of the past behavior variable, on behavioral intention of choosing a travel destination.
870 citations
TL;DR: Li et al. as mentioned in this paper examined whether ownership structure and boardroom characteristics have an effect on corporate financial fraud in China and found that the proportion of outside directors, the number of board meetings, and the tenure of the chairman are associated with the incidence of fraud.
865 citations
TL;DR: Gastronomy is becoming an important attribute in the development of niche travel and niche destinations as mentioned in this paper, and the literature supports the view that there is a connection between tourism and gas.
Abstract: Gastronomy is becoming an important attribute in the development of niche travel and niche destinations. Although the literature supports the view that there is a connection between tourism and gas...
864 citations
01 Dec 2006
TL;DR: A theoretical model based on the Technology Acceptance Model with an added construct Perceived Web Security is developed and empirically tested its ability in predicting customers' behavioral intention of adopting IB, and its findings provide useful information for bank management in formulating IB marketing strategies.
Abstract: This study investigates how customers perceive and adopt internet banking (IB) in Hong Kong. We developed a theoretical model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with an added construct Perceived Web Security, and empirically tested its ability in predicting customers' behavioral intention of adopting IB. We designed a questionnaire and used it to survey a randomly selected sample of customers of IB from the Yellow Pages, and obtained 203 usable responses. We analyzed the data using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relationships, if any, among the constructs, which include Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Web Security as independent variables, Perceived Usefulness and Attitude as intervening variables, and Intention to Use as the dependent variable. The results provide support of the extended TAM model and confirm its robustness in predicting customers' intention of adoption of IB. This study contributes to the literature by formulating and validating TAM to predict IB adoption, and its findings provide useful information for bank management in formulating IB marketing strategies.
714 citations
TL;DR: Low-cost adsorbents can be viable alternatives to activated carbon for the treatment of metals-contaminated wastewater and vary, depending on the characteristics of the individual adsorbent, the extent of surface modification and the initial concentration of the adsorbate.
712 citations
TL;DR: Standard measures of structure in complex networks can be applied to distinguish different dynamic regimes in time series and application to human electrocardiograms shows that such statistical properties are able to differentiate between the sinus rhythm cardiograms of healthy volunteers and those of coronary care patients.
Abstract: We construct complex networks from pseudoperiodic time series, with each cycle represented by a single node in the network. We investigate the statistical properties of these networks for various time series and find that time series with different dynamics exhibit distinct topological structures. Specifically, noisy periodic signals correspond to random networks, and chaotic time series generate networks that exhibit small world and scale free features. We show that this distinction in topological structure results from the hierarchy of unstable periodic orbits embedded in the chaotic attractor. Standard measures of structure in complex networks can therefore be applied to distinguish different dynamic regimes in time series. Application to human electrocardiograms shows that such statistical properties are able to differentiate between the sinus rhythm cardiograms of healthy volunteers and those of coronary care patients.
682 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored antecedents of revisit intention based on literature reviews and examined their significance based on the results of 2000-2003 surveys of pleasure tourists in Hong Kong, revealing that perceived attractiveness, rather than overall satisfaction, is the most important indicator.
669 citations
TL;DR: The Pb isotopic composition of the urban, suburban, and country park soils showed that vehicular emissions were the major anthropogenic sources for Pb, and metal contamination were mainly concentrated in the northern and western parts of Hong Kong Island.
TL;DR: This article examined the compensation of CEOs in China's listed firms and found that firms that have a State agency as the major shareholder do not appear to use performance related pay, while firms with private blockholders or SOEs as their major shareholders relate the CEO's pay to increases in stockholders' wealth or increases in profitability.
TL;DR: A critical review on recent research related to nanotube/polymer composites is given in this paper, where newly-adopted coiled nanotubes used to enhance the interfacial bonding strength of nanocomposites are also discussed.
Abstract: Since the last decade, research activities in the area of nano-materials have been increased dramatically. More than a 1000 of journal articles in this area have been published within the last 3 years. Materials scientists and researchers have realized that the mechanical properties of materials can be altered at the fundamental level, i.e. the atomic-scale. Carbon nanotubes (hereafter called ‘nanotubes’) have been well recognized as nano-structural materials that can be used to alter mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of polymer-based composite materials, because of their superior properties and perfect atom arrangement. In general, scientific research related to the nanotubes and their co-related polymer based composites can be distinguished into four particular scopes: (i) production of high purity and controllable nanotubes, in terms of their size, length and chiral arrangement; (ii) enhancement of interfacial bonding strength between the nanotubes and their surrounding matrix; (iii) control of the dispersion properties and alignment of the nanotubes in nanotube/polymer composites and (iv) applications of the nanotubes in real life. Although, so many remarkable results in the above items have been obtained recently, no concluding results have so far been finalized. In this paper, a critical review on recent research related to nanotube/polymer composites is given. Newly-adopted coiled nanotubes used to enhance the interfacial bonding strength of nanocomposites are also discussed. Moreover, the growth of nanotubes from nanoclay substrates to form exfoliated nanotube/nanoclay polymer composites is also introduced in detail.
TL;DR: An overview of the development of urban environmental geochemistry as a field of scientific study is provided and major transitions during the course of its development from its establishment to the major scientific interests in the field today are highlighted.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the mechanical and durability properties of high performance metakaolin and silica fume concretes to their microstructure characteristics, and found that the effect of metakaolins on the interfacial porosity is discussed based on test results.
TL;DR: The support vector machine (SVM) is presented as a promising method for hydrological prediction and it is demonstrated that SVM is a very potential candidate for the prediction of long-term discharges.
Abstract: Accurate time- and site-specific forecasts of streamflow and reservoir inflow are important in effective hydropower reservoir management and scheduling. Traditionally, autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) models have been used in modelling water resource time series as a standard representation of stochastic time series. Recently, artificial neural network (ANN) approaches have been proven to be efficient when applied to hydrological prediction. In this paper, the support vector machine (SVM) is presented as a promising method for hydrological prediction. Over-fitting and local optimal solution are unlikely to occur with SVM, which implements the structural risk minimization principle rather than the empirical risk minimization principle. In order to identify appropriate parameters of the SVM prediction model, a shuffled complex evolution algorithm is performed through exponential transformation. The SVM prediction model is tested using the long-term observations of discharges of monthly river fl...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed models depicting the spatial movement patterns of tourists within a destination using an inductive approach based on urban transportation modeling and tourist behavior, to identify explanatory factors that could influence movements.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the performance of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) on the same set of container port data for the world's largest container ports and compared the results obtained.
Abstract: The efficiency of the container port industry has been variously studied utilising either Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) or Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Given the strengths and weaknesses associated with these two approaches, the efficiency estimates and scale properties derived from these analyses are not always convincing. This paper applies both approaches to the same set of container port data for the world’s largest container ports and compares the results obtained. A high degree of correlation is found between the efficiency estimates derived from all the models applied, suggesting that results are relatively robust to the DEA models applied or the distributional assumptions under SFA. High levels of technical efficiency are associated with scale, greater private-sector participation and with transhipment as opposed to gateway ports. In analysing the implications of the results for management and policy makers, a number of shortcomings of applying a cross-sectional approach to an industry characterised by significant, lumpy and risky investments are identified and the potential benefits of a dynamic analysis, based on panel data, are enumerated.
TL;DR: Nanoparticles show promise when applied as a coating to the surface of protective clothing in reducing the risk of transmission of infectious agents.
TL;DR: In this article, a study was conducted at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to investigate the possibility of using recycled concrete aggregates and crushed clay brick as aggregates in unbound subbase materials.
TL;DR: In this article, single-phase Bi1−xNdxFeO3 (BNFOx) multiferroic ceramics were prepared to study the effects of Nd substitution on their crystal structure and ferroelectromagnetic behavior.
Abstract: Single-phase Bi1−xNdxFeO3 (BNFOx) (x=0–02) multiferroic ceramics were prepared to study the effects of Nd substitution on their crystal structure and ferroelectromagnetic behavior Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction data showed a continual transformation of crystal structure from the rhombohedral structure of BNFOx=0 (BiFeO3) to a triclinic structure in BNFOx=005–015 and a pseudotetragonal structure in BNFOx=0175–02 Ferroelectromagnetic measurements revealed the existence of ferroelectricity with remnant polarization of ∼9μC∕cm2 in BNFOx=0–0175, paraelectricity in BNFOx=02, and weak ferromagnetism with remnant magnetizations of 007–0227emu∕g in BNFOx=015–02 Magnetoelectric coupling was obvious in BNFOx=015–0175 near the Neel temperature of ∼380°C
TL;DR: The LAMP assay does not require purified DNA for efficient DNA amplification, thereby reducing the cost and turnaround time for P. falciparum diagnosis, and requires only basic instruments, and assay positivity can be verified by visual inspection.
Abstract: Background: Malaria is one of the most important parasitic infections in humans. A sensitive diagnostic test for malaria that could be applied at the community level could be useful in programs to control the disease. The aim of the present work was to develop a simple, inexpensive molecular test for Plasmodium falciparum .
Methods: Blood was collected from controls (n = 100) and from patients diagnosed with falciparum malaria infection (n = 102), who were recruited to the study. Heat-treated blood samples were tested by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for P. falciparum . Results were interpreted by a turbidity meter in real time or visually at the end of the assay. To evaluate the assay, DNA from these samples was purified and tested by PCR. Results from the LAMP and PCR assays were compared.
Results: The LAMP assay detected P. falciparum directly from heat-treated blood. The quantitative data from the assay correlated to the parasite counts obtained by blood-film microscopic analyses. When we used the PCR assay as the comparison method, the sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay were 95% and 99%, respectively.
Conclusions: Unlike PCR, the LAMP assay does not require purified DNA for efficient DNA amplification, thereby reducing the cost and turnaround time for P. falciparum diagnosis. The assay requires only basic instruments, and assay positivity can be verified by visual inspection.
TL;DR: In this article, two different mechanisms for plastic strain-induced grain refinement in pure Cu were identified, corresponding to different levels of strain rate, and the minimum size of refined grains via this process is about 100 nm.
TL;DR: This paper presents several examples of applying chromatographic fingerprint analysis for determining the identity, stability, and consistency of TCHM as well as the identification of adulterants.
TL;DR: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of problem‐based learning and lecturing approaches on the development of students' critical thinking.
Abstract: Background Educational approaches are thought to have facilitative or hindering effects on students' critical thinking development. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) and lecturing approaches on the development of students' critical thinking.
Methods All 79 Year 1 undergraduate nursing students at a university in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 parallel courses delivered by either PBL (n = 40) or lecturing (n = 39) over 1 academic year. The primary outcome measure was students' critical thinking disposition as measured by the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI). Individual interviews were also conducted to elicit the students' perceptions of their learning experience. Data were collected at 4 timepoints spanning 3 years.
Results The overall CCTDI and subscale scores for the PBL group were not significantly different from those of the lecture group at the first timepoint (pretest). Compared with lecture students, PBL students showed significantly greater improvement in overall CCTDI (P = 0.0048), Truthseeking (P = 0.0008), Analyticity (P = 0.0368) and Critical Thinking Self-confidence (P = 0.0342) subscale scores from the first to the second timepoints; in overall CCTDI (P = 0.0083), Truthseeking (P = 0.0090) and Analyticity (P = 0.0354) subscale scores from the first to the third timepoints; and in Truthseeking (P = 0.0173) and Systematicity (P = 0.0440) subscale scores from the first to the fourth timepoints.
Conclusions There were significant differences in the development of students' critical thinking dispositions between those who undertook the PBL and lecture courses, respectively.
TL;DR: This article conducted a meta-analysis of 56 studies (58 samples) conducted in 28 countries and found that market orientation is a generic determinant of firm performance, however, stronger effects were found for studies set in large, mature markets and when market orientation was measured using Kohli, Jaworski and Kumar's (1993) MARKOR scale.
Abstract: Quantitative evidence drawn from a meta-analysis of 56 studies (58 samples) conducted in 28 countries reveals that market orientation is a generic determinant of firm performance. However, stronger effects were found for studies set in large, mature markets and when market orientation was measured using Kohli, Jaworski and Kumar’s (1993) MARKOR scale. The meta-analysis also revealed that the value of a market orientation weakens in proportion to the cultural distance separating the home market from the U.S. This study thus extends previous research by (1) providing evidence of measurement moderators that inhibit the generalization of results obtained from studies using different scales and performance variables, (2) establishing benchmark effect sizes for specific regions around the world, and (3) revealing that the managerial value of a market orientation is significantly affected by the cultural and economic characteristics of the host country.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the feasibility of using the developed fiber Bragg grating sensors for structural health monitoring, via monitoring the strain of different parts of the Tsing Ma bridge under both the railway and highway loads as well as comparing the FBG sensors' performance with the conventional SWMS that has been operating at TMB since the bridge's commissioning in May 1997.
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: The studies suggest that CUL4–DDB1 ligases use WDR proteins as molecular adaptors for substrate recognition, and modulate multiple biological processes through ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis.
Abstract: CUL4–DDB1 ubiquitin ligase interacts with multiple WD40-repeat proteins and regulates histone methylation
TL;DR: Ionic-liquid-supported synthesis (ILSS) has been applied to the preparation of oligopeptides and oligosaccharides and the comparison of ILSS with solid-phase synthesis, soluble-polymer- supported synthesis, and fluorous phase synthesis has been highlighted where applicable.
Abstract: Soluble ionic liquids have recently been used as supports for catalyst/reagent immobilization and synthesis in homogeneous solution phase. The wide range of ionic liquid supports available makes their use as supports compatible with most common chemistries. The solubility properties of these ionic liquid supports can be tuned by the variation of cations and anions to make them phase separate from less polar organic solvents and aqueous media. The ionic-liquid-supported species can therefore be purified from the reaction mixture by simple washings. Ionic-liquid-supported catalysts and reagents have been prepared and used, and they are easily recovered and reused. Parallel and combinatorial libraries of small molecules have been synthesized. Ionic-liquid-supported synthesis (ILSS) has been applied to the preparation of oligopeptides and oligosaccharides. The comparison of ILSS with solid-phase synthesis, soluble-polymer-supported synthesis, and fluorous phase synthesis has been highlighted where applicable.