Showing papers by "The Chinese University of Hong Kong published in 1991"
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors test the free cash flow hypothesis on a sample of large investments made by firms, namely decisions to acquire control of other firms through tender offers, and show that the hypothesis is false.
Abstract: The free cash flow hypothesis advanced by Jensen (1988) states that managers endowed with free cash flow will invest it in negative net present value (NPV) projects rather than pay it out to shareholders. Jensen defines free cash flow as cash flow left after the firm has invested in all available positive NPV projects. In this paper, we test this hypothesis on a sample of large investments made by firms, namely decisions to acquire control of other firms through tender offers.
975 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that cultural values, measured from Western and Eastern perspectives, are factors in economic performance which explain more than half the cross-national variance in economic growth over two periods for samples of 18 and 20 nations.
Abstract: Cultural values, measured from Western and Eastern perspectives, are factors in economic performance which explain more than half the cross-national variance in economic growth over two periods for samples of 18 and 20 nations. Performance seems facilitated by ‘Confucian dynamism’—stressing thrift, perseverance, and hierarchical relatedness, but not traditions impeding innovation. Cultural ‘individualism’ seems a liability, while the propensity for work in cohesive groups is an asset for economic performance. With business becoming more international, effective strategic management requires accounting for fundamental national differences such as those of culture identified in this study.
541 citations
TL;DR: The authors analyzed the extent to which both traditional Chinese cultural values and Chinese psychology influence Chinese perceptions and approaches to conflict resolution and thus affect Chinese negotiating behaviour, and examined the extent that both these cultural value and conflict preferences have shaped a distinctive Chinese negotiation style.
Abstract: This paper analyzes the extent to which both traditional Chinese cultural values and Chinese psychology influence Chinese perceptions and approaches to conflict resolution and thus affect Chinese negotiating behaviour. An attempt is made to illustrate salient cultural values and orientations, and empirical data is used to identify Chinese conflict preferences. The extent to which both these cultural values and conflict preferences have shaped a distinctive Chinese negotiation style is then examined.
447 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a procedure for computing significance levels from data sets whose missing values have been multiply imputed data using moment-based statistics, m ≤ 3 repeated imputations, and an F reference distribution.
Abstract: We present a procedure for computing significance levels from data sets whose missing values have been multiply imputed data. This procedure uses moment-based statistics, m ≤ 3 repeated imputations, and an F reference distribution. When m = ∞, we show first that our procedure is essentially the same as the ideal procedure in cases of practical importance and, second, that its deviations from the ideal are basically a function of the coefficient of variation of the canonical ratios of complete to observed information. For small m our procedure's performance is largely governed by this coefficient of variation and the mean of these ratios. Using simulation techniques with small m, we compare our procedure's actual and nominal large-sample significance levels and conclude that it is essentially calibrated and thus represents a definite improvement over previously available procedures. Furthermore, we compare the large-sample power of the procedure as a function of m and other factors, such as the di...
297 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1991TL;DR: The author examines spelling, pronunciation, and meaning in English in Use, as well as rules for short and long vowel sounds, and describes the structure of Phrases and its applications.
Abstract: An Introduction to English Grammar provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of English grammar The first part of the book (‘The Grammar’) provides a step-by-step introduction to the key topics in English grammar The second part (‘The Applications’) shows how a grasp of these topics can be helpful in resolving usage problems, in developing a clear writing style, and in mastering punctuation and spelling A whole chapter, ‘English in Use’, is devoted to illustrating the grammatical features of a wide range of modern text types, including emails, Facebook pages, and ‘tweets’ It also looks at the special grammatical features of English in everyday conversation
Each chapter is followed by two sets of exercises The first set can be used in self-study or in the classroom The second set deals with more advanced topics, and can be used for classroom discussion or essay writing
This fourth edition has been fully revised and updated and includes:
clearer descriptions and improved presentation
new material on word structure and word formation
new exercises, examples and extracts
updated further reading
Assuming no prior knowledge of English grammar, this book is ideal for beginning students on a one-semester course and provides everything a student needs on the theory and practice of English usage A comprehensive Glossary of grammatical terms is included and a website provides invaluable additional exercises
246 citations
TL;DR: The course of HBV-related membranous nephropathy in adults in areas where HBV is endemic is not benign, and regardless of treatment, the disease has a slowly but relentlessly progressive clinical course in approximately one third of patients.
Abstract: Background. The natural course of adult hepatitis B virus (HBV)—related membranous nephropathy in areas where HBV infection is endemic (characterized by vertical and horizontal transmissio...
245 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the interacting effects of management accounting systems and perceived environmental uncertainty on small business managers' perceptions of their performance and found that MAS had a positive effect on performance but under low levels it had a negative effect.
Abstract: This study examines the interacting effects of management accounting systems (MAS) and perceived environmental uncertainty on small business managers' perceptions of their performance. Results obtained from using a multiple regression and partial derivative analyses of responses to questionnaires distributed to a sample of 42 managers/owners of light engineering manufacturing firms in Australia, confirmed the hypothesis that the effects of MAS on performance were dependent on environmental uncertainty. Under high levels of uncertainty, sophisticated MAS had a positive effect on performance but under low levels it had a negative effect.
220 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the change in regional inequality in the People's Republic of China from 1952 to 1985 with the help of a set of newly published provincial national income statistics and found that interprovincial income gaps did not narrow between 1952 and 1985.
194 citations
TL;DR: Dose-response curves for propofol and midazolam alone and in combination for hypnosis and anaesthesia were determined and synergistic interaction was found, but the cause of the synergism was not clear, but may have been interaction at CNS GABAA receptors.
Abstract: We have studied interactions between i.v. propo-fol and midazolam for induction of anaesthesia in 200 unpremedicated female patients undergoing elective gynaecological surgery. Using end-points of "hypnosis " (loss of response to verbal command) and "anaesthesia " (loss of response to a 5-s transcutaneous tetanic stimulus), we determined dose-response curves for propofol and midazolam alone and in combination. For hypnosis, synergistic interaction was found ( P P
193 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the effects of audit fee size, management advisory services, audit firm size and competition on perceptions of the auditors'ability to resist management pressure in an audit conflict situation.
Abstract: Using a multi-factor ANOVA design and forty-nine bankers as subjects, this study examined the effects of audit fee size, management advisory services, audit firm size and competition on perceptions of the auditors'ability to resist management pressure in an audit conflict situation. It postulates that size of the audit fee is a major explanatory factor regardless of the provision of management advisory services, audit firm size or level of competition. Results supported the hypothesized effects of these variables and, in particular, that size of audit fee affects perceptions of the auditors'ability to resist management pressure regardless of the other variables.
160 citations
TL;DR: In this morphological and immunohistochemical study, it is shown that olfactory schwann cells (OSC) are derived from precursor cells residing in the Olfactory epithelium.
Abstract: In this morphological and immunohistochemical study we show that olfactory schwann cells (OSC) are derived from precursor cells residing in the olfactory epithelium. During development, they migrate out of the epithelium and extend processes to ensheath the olfactory axons.
Olfactory mucosa from E14 rat embryos and juvenile rats were treated with trypsin-pancreatin to remove the underlying connective tissue. The epithelial explant was then maintained for two days in culture, during which cells migrated out from the explant. Among them were spindly bipolar cells which were identified as OSC by their positive immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein, ultrastructure, and association with growing axons. Axonal growth was significantly more profuse in the embryonic explants, in which the polarity of the OSC was oriented parallel with the axons. Ultrastructural observations showed that ensheathment of the bundles of axons resembled those in vivo.
TL;DR: Sodium pump activity in untreated subjects with periodic paralysis is higher than in other thyrotoxic subjects, and this may be responsible for the hypokalaemia.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE--To examine whether sodium pump activity plays a part in the pathogenesis of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. DESIGN--Measurement of platelet sodium-potassium ATPase and in vivo sodium pump activities in healthy subjects and thyrotoxic subjects with and without paralysis. SETTING--University hospital in Hong Kong. SUBJECTS--21 healthy subjects, 23 untreated thyrotoxic subjects, 13 untreated men with periodic paralysis, seven treated thyrotoxic subjects, and six treated men with periodic paralysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Platelet Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity and plasma rubidium concentration after oral loading. RESULTS--Median (range) platelet Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity in thyrotoxic subjects was 253 (169-821) mumol inorganic phosphate/h/g protein--significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (134 (81-180) mumol/h/g protein; p less than 0.001). Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity in those with periodic paralysis was 374 (195-1196) mumol/h/g protein, again significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (p less than 0.001) and that in other thyrotoxic subjects (p less than 0.01) despite similar degrees of hyperthyroidism. Activities in treated thyrotoxic subjects with and without periodic paralysis were 148 (110-234) and 131 (86-173) mumol/h/g protein respectively. Mean (95% confidence interval) plasma rubidium concentration five hours after oral administration in thyrotoxic subjects (7.0 (6.6 to 7.5) mumol/l) was significantly lower than in healthy subjects (10.2 (9.5 to 10.9) mumol/l; p less than 0.001) and higher than in those with periodic paralysis (6.0 (5.7 to 6.3) mumol/l; p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--Sodium pump activity in untreated subjects with periodic paralysis is higher than in other thyrotoxic subjects, and this may be responsible for the hypokalaemia.
TL;DR: This article explored the structure and dimensional meaning of causal attributions for actual academic performance and found that effort, interest in study, study skill, and ability in study shared common characteristics in that they were the most important causes and were very internal, controllable, stable and global.
Abstract: The present study explored the structure and dimensional meaning of causal attributions for actual academic performance. Chinese high school students were asked to rate the importance as well as dimensional meaning (along locus, controllability, stability, and globality dimensions) of thirteen specific causes. A principal components analysis of the importance ratings generated four factors among which three were loaded on partially overlapping dimensions and the fourth was unrelated to any dimension. Results also revealed that effort, interest in study, study skill, and ability in study shared common characteristics in that they were the most important causes and were very internal, controllable, stable, and global. The findings were discussed in terms of socio-cultural values in the Chinese culture.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors analyzed the serum concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins and the prevalence of other risk factors in a case-control study of 304 consecutive Chinese patients with acute stroke and 304 age-and sex-matched controls.
Abstract: We analyzed the serum concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins and the prevalence of other risk factors in a case-control study of 304 consecutive Chinese patients with acute stroke (classified as cerebral infarction, lacunar infarction, or intracerebral hemorrhage) and 304 age- and sex-matched controls. For all strokes we identified the following risk factors: a history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension; the presence of atrial fibrillation or left ventricular hypertrophy; a glycosylated hemoglobin A1 concentration of greater than 9.1%; a fasting plasma glucose concentration 3 months after stroke of greater than 6.0 mmol/l; a serum triglyceride concentration 3 months after stroke of greater than 2.1 mmol/l; and a serum lipoprotein(a) concentration of greater than 29.2 mg/dl. We found the following protective factors: a serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration of greater than 1.59 mmol/l and a serum apolipoprotein A-I concentration of greater than or equal to 106 mg/dl. The patterns of risk factors differed among the three stroke subtypes. When significant risk factors were entered into a multiple logistic regression model, we found a history of hypertension, a high serum lipoprotein(a) concentration, and a low apolipoprotein A-I concentration to be independent risk factors for all strokes. The attributable risk for hypertension was estimated to be 24% in patients aged greater than or equal to 60 years. In this population, in which cerebrovascular diseases are the third commonest cause of mortality, identification of risk factors will allow further studies in risk factor modification for the prevention of stroke.
TL;DR: Simulation results show that the system's traffic-carrying capacity can be increased by about 10% by the use of this algorithm, and that the gain is additional to the improvement obtained from the channel-borrowing strategies.
Abstract: An algorithm for allocating nominal channels according to traffic distribution is designed. The algorithm attempts to minimize the average blocking probability as nominal channels are allocated one at a time. Simulation results show that the system's traffic-carrying capacity can be increased by about 10% by the use of this algorithm, and that the gain is additional to the improvement obtained from the channel-borrowing strategies. If the effect of shadow blocking is considered in the assignment of channels, only a very small increase in the traffic capacity is observed. >
TL;DR: It is concluded that both endoscopic epinephrine injection and heat probe treatment are effective in stopping bleeding from actively bleeding ulcers.
TL;DR: The mortality patterns of Hong Kong and of the studied cohort closely resemble that of Western developed countries with cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases as the leading causes of death.
Abstract: A total of 1,054 Hong Kong Chinese subjects aged 70 years or over were recruited into a cohort study to investigate the relation between social support and health outcomes. More than 30 social, health, and behavioral characteristics were recorded as baseline information when the study began in 1985. Mortality data were obtained during a 2-year follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the roles of these variables in predicting mortality. The mortality patterns of Hong Kong and of the studied cohort closely resemble that of Western developed countries with cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases as the leading causes of death. Besides sex and place of residence (whether living in the community or in homes for the elderly), the independent predictors of mortality included five baseline variables: being single or widowed, limited ability in activities of daily living, smoking habit, low body mass index, and poor self-evaluated health status. Subjects with at least three of these predictors had a relative risk of 3.9 (95% confidence interval 2.4-6.2) compared with those with zero to two of these characteristics.
TL;DR: A prospective study of sixteen Chinese anorexic patients in Hong Kong indicates that they were single young females who came from lower social class, exhibited severe self-induced weight loss, rigid maintenance of low body weight and amenorrhea, and only partially fulfilled current criteria for diagnosis.
Abstract: A prospective study of sixteen Chinese anorexic patients in Hong Kong indicates that they were single young females who came from lower social class, exhibited severe self-induced weight loss, rigid maintenance of low body weight and amenorrhea. Weight reduction was primarily by dietary restriction. The typical bulimic syndrome and major depression were uncommon. There were multiple aetiological factors, but no pre-morbid obesity and little pressure to pursue slimness for beauty. Instead of displaying an intense fear of obesity and a distorted body image, patients more commonly attributed poor food intake to abdominal bloating. As such, they only partially fulfilled current criteria for diagnosis. It is argued that such clinical patterns arise logically from their sociocultural backgrounds, but may gradually change with Westernization.
TL;DR: The observed consistent deletion of alleles on the short arm of chromosome 3 in the NPC cases may represent a critical event in the multistep genesis of NPC, and is identified for linkage studies on NPC families.
TL;DR: The coefficient of correlation between the antigen level and functional activity of PC improved significantly with dialysis treatment, and the level of AT III or PS in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis had a higher total PS antigen level, but a lower freePS antigen level compared with the controls.
TL;DR: Individual and combined effects of three heavy metals; namely, copper, chromium and nickel, on growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll a synthesis of the unicellular green alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa 251, were determined.
TL;DR: In this article, an empirical investigation of individual preferences in the use of managerial influence tactics by Hong Kong Chinese and Americans was conducted, where subjects were asked to evaluate alternative upward and downward influence tactics in terms of their preferred usage.
Abstract: This paper reports an empirical investigation of individual preferences in the use of managerial influence tactics by Hong Kong Chinese and Americans. Subjects in a cross-cultural scenario study were asked to evaluate alternative upward and downward influence tactics in terms of their preferred usage. The findings indicate a main effect for culture and for direction of influence attempt. In addition, direction of influence attempt interacts with subject gender and culture on a tactic-by-tactic basis to reveal differences in influence preferences. Implications of the findings and directions for future studies are discussed.
Book•
29 Nov 1991TL;DR: In this article, the open-door policy and the pivotal role of Hong Kong as a trading partner were discussed. But the authors focused on the institutional setting and did not consider Hong Kong's role as a financier or middleman.
Abstract: 1. The open-door policy 2. The pivotal role of Hong Kong 3. The institutional setting 4. Evaluation of the open-door policy 5. Hong Kong as a financier 6. Hong Kong as a trading partner 7. Hong Kong as middleman 8. Summary and conclusions.
TL;DR: The style of speech illustrated in this article is typical of the educated younger generation in Hong Kong and the recording is that of a 22-year-old female university student who has lived all her life in Hong Hong Kong.
Abstract: The style of speech illustrated is that typical of the educated younger generation in Hong Kong. The recording is that of a 22-year-old female university student who has lived all her life in Hong Kong.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: An effective chemotherapeutic regimen for palliation of pulmonary and hepatic metastases was cisplatinum/carboplatin-5FU which gave a complete response rate of 29% and partial response rates of 21%.
Abstract: This is a retrospective study of 90 patients who developed distant metastases after radical radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The skeleton was the commonest site of distant metastases. Clubbing, hypercalcemia and malignant fever occurred in about 10% of patients with pulmonary, skeletal and hepatic metastases respectively. An effective chemotherapeutic regimen for palliation of pulmonary and hepatic metastases was cisplatinum/carboplatin-5FU which gave a complete response rate of 29% and partial response rate of 21%. This was considered superior to some non-cisplatinum-containing regimens. One patient with hepatic metastases had good palliation by hepatic irradiation. The median survival of all patients with distant metastases was eight months. Five (6%) patients survived more than two years with one surviving free of disease at 31 months. Hepatic metastases and spinal cord compression were associated with short survivals.
TL;DR: A propofol infusion regimen and a standard general anaesthetic were compared in 40 Chinese women undergoing elective Caesarean section and neonates from both groups had similar and satisfactory Apgar scores, Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Scores and umbilical cord blood gas analysis.
Abstract: A propofol infusion regimen and a standard general anaesthetic were compared in 40 Chinese women undergoing elective Caesarean section. Twenty patients received propofol 2 mg/kg for induction of anaesthesia followed by propofol 6 mg/kg/hour, while 20 patients received thiopentone 4 mg/kg with enflurane 1% for maintenance of anaesthesia. All patients were given atracurium and their lungs ventilated with nitrous oxide 50% in oxygen until delivery of the neonate. The hypertensive response after intubation was of shorter duration in the propofol group compared with the thiopentone group. Induction to delivery times ranged from 5 to 14 minutes and neonates from both groups had similar and satisfactory Apgar scores. Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Scores and umbilical cord blood gas analysis. However, a prolonged propofol infusion time before delivery may cause lower Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Scores. There were no differences in maternal recovery times or psychomotor performance.
02 Dec 1991
TL;DR: A conflict-free protocol for packet-switched wavelength division multiaccess networks with the use of a control channel, each station in the network can obtain packet backlog information of all the other stations, and so packet transmission can be scheduled to avoid destination conflicts.
Abstract: A conflict-free protocol for packet-switched wavelength division multiaccess networks is proposed. With the use of a control channel, each station in the network can obtain packet backlog information of all the other stations, and so packet transmission can be scheduled to avoid destination conflicts. A very fast scheduling algorithm is proposed. Simulation results show that a maximum throughput of 1 can be achieved, as compared to a maximum of 0.63 for protocols without transmission scheduling. This high throughput performance is obtained because the transmission, reception and processing of backlog information and the transmission and reception of data packets are all done simultaneously in a pipeline operation and all destination conflicts are avoided in every slot through scheduling. The packet delay is calculated to be only one slot (due to scheduling) larger than those protocols without transmission scheduling at low traffic conditions. >
TL;DR: Angular and rotational profile of the lower limbs of 2,630 normal Chinese children from newborn to age 12 years were compiled using tibiofemoral angle, intercondylar, intermalleolar distance, medial and lateral rotation of the hip, and thigh-foot angle.
Abstract: Angular and rotational profile of the lower limbs of 2,630 normal Chinese children from newborn to age 12 years were compiled using tibiofemoral angle, intercondylar, intermalleolar distance, medial and lateral rotation of the hip, and thigh-foot angle. Children with clinical tibiofemoral angles, intercondylar or intermalleolar distances tended to be bowlegged at birth, maximally knock-kneed at age 3 and to have normal lower limbs by age 8. Medial hip rotation increased steadily from birth to a maximum of 56 degrees at age 9, and lateral hip rotation decreased from birth to a minimum of 30 degrees at age 9. Significant differences between Chinese children and children of other races were highlighted.
TL;DR: Chinese children were far more lax throughout the age range, with 100% “laxity” at age 3, 67% laxity at age 6, and 28% laxITY at age 12, in contrast to 50, 5, and 1% laxness in the same age group respectively, in large series of Caucasian children.
Abstract: Joint laxity was measured clinically in 2,360 normal Chinese children aged 3-13 years with equal sex distribution using the Carter Wilkinson five tests and scoring system. Results showed minimal differences due to gender. The degree of joint laxity diminished with age. The knee extension and ankle extension tests were more sensitive than other tests. Chinese children were far more lax throughout the age range, with 100% "laxity" at age 3, 67% laxity at age 6, and 28% laxity at age 12, in contrast to 50, 5, and 1% laxity in the same age group respectively, in large series of Caucasian children.
TL;DR: Direct admission of all head injured patients to a neurosurgical unit resulted in significant reduction in mortality and morbidity in patients with an extradural haematoma.
Abstract: A total of 104 patients with a traumatic extradural haematoma in a 5-year period were studied. The mortality of the 71 patients managed primarily by the neurosurgical unit was less than that of the 33 patients secondarily transferred from the district general hospital: 4 per cent vs 24 per cent. This better result was associated with a shorter delay between the time of conscious level deterioration and decompressive operation: 0.7 +/- 1.0 h vs 3.2 +/- 0.5 h. Direct admission of all head injured patients to a neurosurgical unit resulted in significant reduction in mortality and morbidity in patients with an extradural haematoma.