Showing papers by "The Chinese University of Hong Kong published in 1980"
TL;DR: This paper studied the effect of cross-cultural interaction on the response of bilinguals when they are presented with a questionnaire in their first or second languages, and found that ethnic affirmation depends on the respondent's level of identification with the first culture and the availability of behaviors to affirm or deny that first culture.
Abstract: What is the effect on the response of bilinguals when they are presented with a questionnaire in their first or their second languages? To examine this question 121 university students completed a survey on their identification with Chinese or Western practices. The questionnaire was written in Chinese or English and administered in small groups by one of four investigators-two Chinese, two Western. Results showed higher levels of Chinese identification in response to the English version of the attitude survey. It was proposed that this ethnic affirmation depends on the respondent's level of identification with the first culture and the availability of behaviors to affirm or deny that first culture. The phenomenon of ethnic affirmation extends beyond questionnaire responding and would seem applicable to any situation where one's ethnic salience is heightened. Cross-cultural interaction, particularly in a research context, is a prime example.
127 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that the development of [3H]Met binding sites in brain follows a caudal to rostral sequence and that antenatal exposure to opiates affects theDevelopment of opiate receptors in brain and that the latter effect may be responsible for the neonatal withdrawal symptoms in infants born to addicted mothers.
120 citations
TL;DR: This article analyzed the relationship between English language attainment and attitudes towards English among Chinese-speaking (Canton dialect) secondary school students in Hong Kong and found that the direct measure of attitude was a better predictor of English attainment than an indirect measure.
Abstract: This study analyzes the relationship between English language attainment and attitudes towards English among Chinese-speaking (Canton dialect) secondary school students in Hong Kong. The subjects were Form IV (10th grade) students from both English-medium and Chinese-medium schools. Attitude measures were obtained by use of both direct and indirect means. Attitudes towards English were measured directly by means of a series of statements concerning the study and use of English to which subjects were asked to respond on five-point scales. Indirectly, attitudes were measured with a scale of stereotypes modelled on the work of Spolsky. English attainment was assessed by a cloze procedure as suggested by Oller. Results of factor analysis of the direct attitude questions regarding English show that several of these attitude factors are significantly related to English attainment as measured by the cloze test. In some cases, however, the correlations were contrary to the directions that one might expect. In general, the statistical results of this study indicate that, for the population under study, the direct measure of attitude was a better predictor of English attainment than an indirect measure. The indirect measures obtained by asking Ss to rate (1) themselves, (2) themselves as they would like to be, (3) Chinese people, and (4) Westerners did produce some significant results, but these were not as strong indicators of language attainment as the results obtained from the direct measures.
108 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors measured the thermal conductivities of six oriented semicrystalline polymers which range from 0.37 to 0.63 in crystallinity and 1 to 5 in draw ratio λ (up to about 15 for two polymers) up to about 340 K.
Abstract: Thermal conductivities of six oriented semicrystalline polymers which range from 0.37 to 0.63 in crystallinity and 1 to 5 in draw ratio λ (up to about 15 for two polymers) have been measured between 100 and 340 K. It was found that for increasing λ the conductivity K∥ (along the draw direction n) increases rapidly while K⊥ (normal to n) decreases slightly; K∥ also increases with temperature, but K⊥ shows no simple pattern in temperature dependence. These general features can be reproduced reasonably well at low draw ratio (λ < 5) by the modified Maxwell model, and the discrepancy in details may be attributed to the fact that the model does not take into account the possible anisotropy of the amorphous phase of the oriented polymers. At high draw ratio the intercrystalline bridge effect becomes important, and one must resort to the Takayanagi model, but the lack of corroborating x-ray data has rendered a detailed comparison impossible.
107 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, a generalized least square estimation of covariance structures with parameters subject to arbitrary nonlinear constraints is extended to covariance structure with parameters that are consistent, multivariate normally distributed, and asymptotically equivalent to constrained maximum likelihood estimators, and the relationships between the Lagrangian approach and reparameterization approach are discussed.
Abstract: Some basic results by Browne (1974) on generalized least squares estimation in the analysis of covariance structures are extended to covariance structures with parameters subject to arbitrary nonlinear constraints. It is shown that the constrained estimators are consistent, asymptotically multivariate normally distributed, and asymptotically equivalent to constrained maximum likelihood estimators. Asymptotic chi-square tests are developed to evaluate appropriate model comparisons. The relationships between the Lagrangian approach and the reparameterization approach are discussed.
84 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that certain neurons in the newborn retina already possess a specific mechanism for GABA uptake, and the commitment by certain neurons to use GABA as the transmitter is made prenatally.
Abstract: Uptake, synthesis, storage, and release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are some of the characteristic properties of GABA-ergic neurons. In the present study, we have used these properties as physiological probes to follow the emergence and maturation of GABA-ergic neurons during postnatal development of the rabbit retina. There is autoradiographic, immunocytochemical, and pharmacological evidence that some amacrine cells and certain neurons in the ganglion cell layer probably use GABA as the neurotransmitter. These neurons take up GABA, contain the GABA-synthesizing enzyme L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15), and release the accumulated GABA by a CA++-dependent mechanism when depolorized with high extracellular K+ concentration. In this study, we show that certain neurons in the newborn retina already possess a specific mechanism for GABA uptake. The positions and numbers of these cells in the developing retina suggest that they will become GABA-ergic neurons in the adult retina. These putative GABA-ergic neurons are, however, probably immature at birth because newborn retinas contain only low levels of GABA and GAD. Additionally, there is relatively little K+-stimulated, Ca++-dependent release of (3H)-GABA from the newborn retinas. GABA concentrations and GAD activities in developing retinas increase steadily postnatally, reaching about 80% of the adult levels by day 9. The activities of the GABA-degrading enzyme, GABA-glutamate transaminase (GABA-T, EC 2.6.1.19), follow a similar pattern of maturation during retinal development. K+ stimulated GABA release, however, remains low until about day 6, and then increases dramatically from 20% to 85% of the adult level over the next 3 days. Taken together, our results indicate that in the rabbit retina, the commitment by certain neurons to use GABA as the transmitter is made prenatally. These neurons are immature at birth but are biochemically, physiologically, and probably functionally mature by about 9 days after birth.
71 citations
TL;DR: The sacred or magical-religious tradition of Chinese medicine is accepted by a relatively small portion of the ordinary Chinese people in urban Hong Kong, and is relatively more popular among women or less educated people, and the acceptance of secular Chinese medicine does not vary significantly among different sex, age, education, or income groups.
Abstract: The present paper was based on both qualitative observations and quantitative survey data. Major findings are as follows: (1) The sacred or magical-religious tradition of Chinese medicine is accepted by a relatively small portion (roughly one-fifth) of the ordinary Chinese people in urban Hong Kong, and is relatively more popular among women or less educated people. (2) Both the classical-professional and the local-empirical traditions of secular medicine are resorted to by many Chinese people (over one half) either for treating diseases or for strengthening their constitution. The acceptance of secular Chinese medicine does not vary significantly among different sex, age, education, or income groups. It should be noted that secular Chinese medicine is often used in addition to or in combination with modern Western medicine. (3) It appears that most people are more confident in the Chinese medical tradition than in Chinese-style practitioners in Hong Kong, and that people's confidence in secular Chinese medicine has been increasing in recent years. (4) There are reasons for the confidence in secular Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is generally perceived to be better than or as good as Western, scientific medicine in some ways, such as for tonic care, for fewer side effects, for curing the cause (not symptoms) of diseases, and for treating certain diseases. Therefore, to ordinary Chinese people, Chinese and Western medicine may perform either equivalent or complementary functions. (5) As regards the process of seeking medical care, most people seem to follow the pattern of moving from self-medication, using Chinese and/or Western home remedies, to Western-style doctors, to Chinese-style practitioners, and finally to a Western medical hospital. Policy and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
68 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the feasibility of using the penalty function method to estimate parameters that are subject to a set of functional constraints in covariance structure analysis is demonstrated, both types of inequality and equality constraints are studied.
Abstract: This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using the penalty function method to estimate parameters that are subject to a set of functional constraints in covariance structure analysis. Both types of inequality and equality constraints are studied. The approaches of maximum likelihood and generalized least squares estimation are considered. A modified Scoring algorithm and a modified Gauss-Newton algorithm are implemented to produce the appropriate constrained estimates. The methodology is illustrated by its applications to Heywood cases in confirmatory factor analysis, quasi-Weiner simplex model, and multitrait-multimethod matrix analysis.
61 citations
TL;DR: The plasma beta-endorphin levels of heroin addicted and normal subjects were measured by radioimmunoassay and the difference between the two groups was significant.
60 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the slectivity coefficients for various monovalent ions were measured and the electrodes based on bis-crown ethers are more selective than those based on the known monomeric crown ethers.
39 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that in the snakehead, protein catabolism is reduced with the onset of starvation.
TL;DR: The uptake and K+‐stimulated release of glycine are used as physiological probes to follow the emergence and maturation of putative glycinergic neurons during postnatal development of the rabbit retina and suggest that the glycine‐accumulating neurons may be a subpopulation of amacrine cells and may use glycine as a neurotransmitter.
Abstract: Certain neurons in the adult rabbit retina possess a high-affinity uptake mechanism for glycine and release it in response to elevated K+ concentrations in the medium. Although the evidence is not yet complete, these properties, together with pharmacological studies, suggest that the glycine-accumulating neurons may be a subpopulation of amacrine cells and may use glycine as a neurotransmitter. In the present study, we have used the uptake and K+-stimulated release of glycine as physiological probes to follow the emergence and maturation of putative glycinergic neurons during postnatal development of the rabbit retina. We show that certain neurons in the newborn retina already possess a specific high-affinity mechanism for glycine uptake. The positions and density of these cells in the developing retina suggest that they will become glycine-accumulating neurons of the adult retina. Thus, similar to our earlier study on the development of GABA-ergic neurons in this retina, the commitment by certain retinal neurons to be glycinergic, if indeed these cells use glycine as the transmitter, is made prenatally. These putative glycinergic neurons are, however, probably immature at birth, because they do not release the accumulated glycine in response to high K+ concentrations in the medium. In fact, there is practically no K+-stimulated release of preloaded glycine from the retina until about 7 days after birth, after which the release increases drastically to about 65% of the adult level on day 10 and 80% on day 12. Assuming that this release originates synaptically, our finding suggests that the putative glycinergic neurons may be functionally mature by 10-12 days after birth. Additionally, our results show that during development of the rabbit retina, the mechanism for high-affinity glycine uptake emerges and matures much earlier than the mechanism for K+-stimulated glycine release.
TL;DR: This highly profitable chironomid farming may be developed to reduce the problem of stream pollution due to the farm wastes because of the large quantity of chicken manure consumed in each cycle.
TL;DR: In this article, the lateral thermal motion of atoms in an inextensible polymer chain would cause a shortening along the chain direction, which could explain the observed negative thermal expansivity α along chain direction of a polymer crystal.
Abstract: The lateral thermal motion of atoms in an inextensible polymer chain would cause a shortening along the chain direction. This effect could explain the observed negative thermal expansivity α along the chain direction of a polymer crystal. Using this idea, the expansivity α is calculated for a lattice of parallel linear chains. A value of −1.3 × 10−5 K is obtained for chains with a carbon backbone, in good agreement with data for polyethylene.
TL;DR: The analysis of the total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and water soluble phosphate contents of the samples showed that Lam Tsuen River, Tai Po Kau River, and Shing Mon River were grossly polluted by organic and inorganic wastes.
TL;DR: By annealing evaporated a-Si films between 450°C and 620°C, it was found that new dangling bonds are generated as mentioned in this paper, these dangling bonds can act as hopping centres.
TL;DR: In this paper, a systematic investigation was carried out on the mechanical relaxations and moduli of four drawn semicrystalline polymers: polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride and polychlorotrifluoroethylene.
TL;DR: In this article, a modified technique with a simple T-tube for atomisation held above conventional atomic absorption burners is described and the absolute sensitivities are in the range 0.3-11 ng and the r.s.d. is usually below 5%.
TL;DR: The compound eye of the grasshopper Phlaeoba has alternating bands that appear clear or brown, which suggests that this eye has only one visual pigment, whose spectrum is altered in the brown bands by a screening pigment.
Abstract: The compound eye of the grasshopper Phlaeoba has alternating bands that appear clear or brown. Electroretinograms recorded from the individual bands have different action spectra: The spectrum of the clear band peaks at 525 nanometers and that of the brown band at 545 nanometers. Spectrally selective whole-eye adaptation with light of eight long of short wavelength yields identical action spectra. This evidence suggests that this eye has only one visual pigment, whose spectrum is altered in the brown bands by a screening pigment. In behavioral tests of spontaneous choices between stimuli that appear green to the normal human and those that appear red, the green stimuli are preferred even when the relative intensity is varied by 0.9 log units around the equal-brightness level (determined by the electroretinogram). When some red light is mixed with the green light, the preference for the mixture is less than for the green light alone, even though the mixture is more intense. True color vision therefore seems to exist. Painting the bands shows that behavioral color vision requires the presence of both types. These data suggest that Phlaeoba has true color vision mediated by one visual pigment and suitable optical filters.
TL;DR: No evidence indicating an increase of beta-endorphin level in either the plasma or the CSF after 30 min of acupuncture is obtained, and the majority of the addicts experienced a reduction of withdrawal symptoms during treatment.
Abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate if plasma or CSF β-endorphin level can be induced to rise during the treatment of heroin addiction by electroacupuncture. Based on the examination of 30 addicts, we obtained no evidence indicating an increase of β-endorphin level in either the plasma or the CSF after 30 min of acupuncture. In spite of this, the majority of the addicts experienced a reduction of withdrawal symptoms during treatment. Since electroacupuncture may only induce a highly localized secretion of β-endorphin in the brain, our results cannot unequivocally exclude the possibility that this peptide is involved in mediating the action of acupuncture.
TL;DR: Aqueous extracts of sewage sludge, used tea-leaves and soy-bean residues used as culture media for the cultivation of a unicellular green alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, showed a higher uptake of copper, manganese and iron than those cultivated in other media.
TL;DR: The lack of direct phloem connections between successive leaves suggests that the only possible route to assimilate movement from younger into mature leaves of Vigna sesquipedalis is via parenchyma cells between adjacent sieve tube strands of the node, and subsequent movement in thephloem of the petiole and leaf.
Abstract: SUMMARY
Possible routes of assimilate movement from younger into mature leaves of Vigna sesquipedalis have been investigated. The presence of label is not the result of redistribution of root amino acids. No evidence could be found for movement in the xylem. The lack of direct phloem connections between successive leaves suggests that the only possible route is via parenchyma cells between adjacent sieve tube strands of the node, and subsequent movement in the phloem of the petiole and leaf. The implications for normal upward movement in the plant are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the electronic and optical properties of Cd x Zn 1− x S films (0.9 > x 0.1) fabricated using the chemical spraying method have been investigated.
TL;DR: Boar seminal plasma can enhance the progressive motility for washed boar spermatozoa but the effect is dose dependent and the full effect is obtained at 10% of the original seminal plasma concentration.
Abstract: Boar seminal plasma can enhance the progressive motility for washed boar spermatozoa. The effect is dose dependent and the full effect is obtained at 10% of the original seminal plasma concentration. This motility restoration (enhancement) stems not from a change of viscosity in the suspending medium. The component(s) in the seminal plasma responsible for such a restoration is non-nutrient in nature and was found to be heat labile but resistant to storage for two months at-20 degrees C.
TL;DR: In this article, a fuzzy set theoretical framework is proposed for the analysis of sociometric structure characterized by vagueness of liking between individuals and a person's relative degree of belonging to a social group.
Abstract: A fuzzy set theoretical framework is proposed for the analysis of sociometric structure characterized by vagueness of liking between individuals and a person's relative degree of belonging to a social group. Max‐min transitivity of a fuzzy relation is employed as a basic concept to examine the degree of liking and clustering in group structures. A distance model based on min‐max transitivity is also formulated as a special case of transitivity analysis. Other notions of transitivity such as the max‐product and the max‐* are also discussed. An empirical analysis is performed to examine the applicability of the proposed transitivity concepts. It appears that the current methodological construct provides a more appropriate perspective in the analysis of the group structure properties.
TL;DR: The thermal stability of various methemoglobin and metmyoglobin derivatives at different ligand concentrations and pH were studied and it was found that the stability of hemoglobin and myoglobin does not correlate with the iron atom spin state but depends instead on steric interactions with the ligands.
TL;DR: A simple scale using tropical lichen species has been used by secondary school students to assess air pollution zones in Hong Kong as mentioned in this paper, and the distribution of lichens was found to be related to the sites of power stations, a desalting plant, and heavily industrialised areas.
Abstract: A simple scale using tropical lichen species has been used by secondary school students to assess air pollution zones in Hong Kong. The distribution of lichens was found to be related to the sites of power stations, a desalting plant, and heavily industrialised areas. As in temperate climates, both complexity of growth form and numbers of species increase with distance from the sources of air pollution.
TL;DR: In this paper, Ophiocephalus maculatus and Gillichthys mirabilis urophysial extract was injected into 40% seawater-adapted fish.
TL;DR: Laboratory studies indicate that the unicellular green alga Chlorella salina CU-1 could be cultivated in treated sewage effluent with high salinity, suggesting that this alga might be an ideal organism to be used for single cell protein production from high-salinity sewage.
Abstract: Laboratory studies indicate that the unicellular green algaChlorella salina CU-1 could be cultivated in treated sewage effluent with high salinity. The high protein content (51% dry weight), and the relatively complete amino acid profile of the cells, suggest that this alga might be an ideal organism to be used for single cell protein production from high-salinity sewage.
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis of bis-crown ethers with either benzo-15crown-5 or benzo 18crown 6 moieties bridged only by an ether functional group was reported.