52 research outputs found
Field investigation of deformation characteristics and stress mobilisation of a soil slope
Get PDFStress mobilisation and deformation of a slope are important for engineers to carry out reliable design of retaining systems. However, most case histories reported mainly on the response of pore-water pressure (PWP), whereas knowledge about the stress-deformation characteristics of slope is limited. In this study, a saprolitic soil slope was instrumented to monitor not only the responses of PWP but also horizontal stress and horizontal displacement. To assist in the interpretation of field data, a series of laboratory tests was conducted to characterise the volume change behaviour of soil taken from the site, under the effects of both net stress and suction. During a rainstorm event when positive PWP built up, a remarkably large displacement of 20 mm was recorded between 5.5 and 6 m depths, and the top 5 m of the slope exhibited translational down-slope movement. This caused an increase in effective horizontal stress by 350%, which reached a peak value close to 40% of an effective passive stress. During the subsequent dry season when suction was recovered, an up-slope rebound of 10 mm was recorded. Comparison of field and laboratory data reveals that the rebound was attributed to suction-induced soil shrinkage. This rebound led to a decrease in the effective horizontal stress previously built up during the storm event
Fluid spaces
No full textThesis: S.M. in Art, Culture, and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture, 2016.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections."June 2016." Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 91-92).In this thesis, I explore a form of video game that is free from modes of competition and mechanics of puzzle-solving. Instead, this form of video game focuses on creating first-person encounters with evocative spaces that do not urge for actions but allow players to wander, and to daydream. Such encounters do not connect players to other characters or players, but instead, to the depths of their own past. To achieve this goal, I develop a spatial design approach for video game, which aims to create a form of intimacy in 3D virtual environments that induces a state of suspended playing in the players, evoking their memories and bringing them to daydream. This spatial design approach also includes a method for sequencing spaces in video game called the First Person Experiential Model for Spatial Montage, which takes into account the players' moment-by-moment perception as they move between different spaces in the game, and analyze the cumulative psychological effects of spatial order, directionality of the trajectories, and connection devices between spaces such as doors and gates. For testing and demonstrating the principles of this spatial design approach, I create a single-player video game called The Hallway, which places the players into the first-person perspective of a 5-year-old child, who, after being expelled by his father, wanders in the hallway outside his home. By traversing this constantly-evolving hallway, the players not only encounter evocative spaces that give concrete shape to their childhood memories of rejection and insecurity, but also confront spatial paradoxes that allow them to experience the stuckness and anxiety felt by the child.by Tsz Wai Alan Kwan.S.M. in Art, Culture, and Technolog
A preliminary report on the Rural Neighbourhood Development Project in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long : implementation and achievement
Get PDFWith funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies (APIAS) of Lingnan University collaborated with Tuen Tsz Wai San Hing Tsuen Tsing Chuen Wai Rural Community Service Centre of Yan Oi Tong and Ngau Tam Mei Community Development Project of the Salvation Army to launch the first batch of professional support team-led (PST) district-based programme: Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project – Rural Neighbourhood Development Project (the programme) in April 2018. The programme provided training to residents in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long rural areas to be Rural Befrienders, they were well-equipped with skills to regularly visit older persons residing in nearby areas, raise awareness among the older persons about home safety and fall prevention, and foster connection between the older persons and Rural Befrienders as well as their neighbourship by establishing a support network in rural areas. The programme also invited an occupational therapist to do home assessments and make changes to the older persons’ living environment in order to achieve the long-term goal of ageing in place.
Ageing in place is considered to be a critical global approach to caring for older persons. The framework promotes an agenda that support older persons to live in a familiar environment and enjoy added autonomy, which is beneficial to their physical and mental health. Hong Kong Government has also embraced the concept of ageing in place in the elderly care policy. Accordingly, the government recently initiated different programmes for Community Care and Support Services to facilitate ageing in place by engaging older persons in their communities. However, the current social environment can barely keep pace with the needs of the rapidly ageing population. According to the results of the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project baseline assessment conducted in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts, older persons in rural Hong Kong tend to be overly disadvantaged as regards community support services when compared with those in urban areas, leaving many of them with no choice but to settle in elderly homes once having mobility decline.
Given this context, the programme generated social capital by consolidating the mutual support network in rural neighbourhoods in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts, in response to the needs of older persons. The programme lasted for over 10 months, and more than 50 trained Rural Befrienders participated in volunteer service with over 100 elderly beneficiaries. The programme enhanced public awareness of the living conditions of older persons in the rural communities through public education activities, such as street exhibitions and the production of Age-friendly City Teaching Kit.
Study Funded ByThe Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust(Part of the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project)
Contributors of ReportKa Ho MOKWai Tak SZECheuk Man LEUNGZhuoyi WENPadmore Adusei AMOAHChak Kwan CHANLai Wah L
Language : key roles in concretization and renunciation of colonisation.
No full textThe focus of Postcolonial literary studies often revolve around a number of tropes and keystones
such as “marginalisation”, “rupture”, “problematic parentage”, “abrogation” and “appropriation”. These
are often techniques and themes employed and expounded upon in Postcolonial texts. As such, it is
interesting to note the commonalities in rhetorical tropes and techniques that allow these texts to cover the
common ground that exists in Postcolonial studies.
Thus, the focus of this paper is to examine the existence of said elements in Postcolonial literature,
as well as the treatment of Language by a number of chosen authors and texts. This paper has chosen
two Postcolonial writers across different continents and circumstances that remain connected by the act
of Colonisation.
The authors chosen are Nigerian author Chinua Achebe and Indonesian author Pramoedya
Ananta Toer. The primary texts for this paper are Things Fall Apart and the english translation of This
Earth of Mankind. This Earth of Mankind will be used in conjunction with the rest of the epic Buru
quartet to which it belongs.Bachelor of Art
Yi sui ji dui zhao shi yan ping gu shu huan zhi liao bing ren jie shou sheng ming hui gu: yi jian duan ban jie ru cuo shi hou zai gai shan ling xing xing fu gan, jiao lu, yi yu shang de xiao guo
No full textD.Nurs.BackgroundPsychological and spiritual distresses compounded with physical sufferings are common in palliative care patients. If the spiritual distress of the patients at the end of life left unattended, the psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life of the patients were threatened. Studies found that life review based on Erikson’s developmental theory, is an effective intervention to enhance spiritual wellbeing and lower anxiety and depression in palliative care patients. Unfortunately, conventional life review interventions are too lengthy beyond the life expectancy and physical tolerance of these patients. A short term of life review (STLR) intervention was identified through literature search worth for testing for its effectiveness and applicability. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the short term life review intervention in enhancing spiritual well-being, and lowering anxiety and depression in Chinese palliative care patients.MethodologyA mixed method approach with randomized controlled trial (RCT) and qualitative evaluation was adopted. This was a prospective study. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention group or control group. The intervention group received the STLR intervention. The control group received usual care. Both the patients and the outcome assessors were blinded to the group assignment.The outcomes of the STLR were evaluated by means of improvement in spiritual wellbeing, and anxiety and depression using two set of questionnaires, the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire - Hong Kong version (MQOL-HK) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Chinese version. The process of the intervention implementation was assessed by means of the observation of patient’s response during the life review intervention and post-intervention patient interviews. Observational log sheets were used to record the patients’ responses during the STLR interventions. Audio-taped semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit patients’ feedbacks and feelings toward the process of the intervention and the performance of the intervener.Result:There were 109 patients recruited (62 men). There were 54 in the intervention group. Twenty patients dropped (18.3% attrition). Metastatic cancer was the predominant diagnosis. The outcome evaluation of the spiritual wellbeing between groups across time found significant difference (p < 0.05) particularly in two components within the spiritual domain of the MQOL-HK, 'life goals achieved’ and 'feel good about myself’. The anxiety and depression level between groups across time found no significant difference. The secondary outcome measured quality of life also demonstrated a trend of better score in within group evaluation.The process evaluation found that most patients were highly involved (92.6%), interested (77.8 %) and participated (79.6%) in the STLR discussion. Twelve audio-taped semi-structured interviews were conducted. The patients had positive feelings towards the STLR intervention process. They described the process as 'comfortable’, 'relaxing’ and 'interesting’. They were enlightened and had raised self-awareness after the STLR intervention.ConclusionIn this study, the patients received STLR intervention demonstrated significant improvement in spiritual well-being. Patients’ feedbacks were positive and accepting to the intervention. The short term life review intervention seems promising in affirming achievements and securing the sense of satisfaction with self for the patients.研究背景：紓緩治療病人除了得忍受生理疼痛外，也常感受心理與靈性上的折磨。若忽視晚期病人在靈性層面的痛苦，其心理社會幸福感與生活質素將受到威脅。過去研究指出，以生命回顧作為紓緩治療病人的介入措施，可有效提升病人的靈性幸福感，並降低焦慮與抑鬱情況。然而，一般的生命回顧介入歷時過長，往往超出病人生理上的負擔甚至預期壽命。因此，本研究藉由文獻探討選出一套生命回顧—簡短版進行介入，檢測其有效性與適用性，目的在於評估生命回顧—簡短版能否有效增進紓緩治療華人病人的靈性幸福感，減少焦慮與抑鬱情況。研究方法：本研究採用混合方法，搭配隨機對照試驗與質性評估，屬於前瞻性研究。首先，尋找符合納入標準的病人，將其隨機分配為介入組或控制組。介入組接受生命回顧—簡短版介入措施，控制組則實施一般紓緩治療。分派過程以遮盲方式進行，病人與結果評估員均不知曉所屬組別。介入措施的結果是以靈性幸福感、焦慮、抑鬱的改善程度為判斷標準，採用兩種量表進行評估，即McGill生活質素量表（香港版）與臨床焦慮抑鬱量表（中文版）。介入措施的執行過程亦受到評估，評量標準為病人在介入期間的反應觀察，及其介入後的訪談回答。介入實施期間，評估員使用觀察紀錄表記錄病人反應；在半結構性錄音訪談中，針對介入過程與介入人員表現，詢問病人的回饋與感想。結果：本研究共收案109位主要診斷為轉移癌的病人（62位為男性），其中介入組有54人。共20名病患退出研究（樣本流失率為18.3%）。本研究評估兩組別在靈性幸福感的整體歷時變化上，尤其是在McGill生活質素量表中，靈性層面有兩個項目（即「達到生活目標」與「對自己感到滿意」）達到顯著差異（p<.05）。在焦慮、抑鬱上的整體歷時變化，未發現顯著差異。不過，在次要結果評估指標（即生活質素）上也呈現分數上升的趨勢。介入過程評估結果顯示，多數病患在討論生命回顧—簡短版介入措施時，表現出十分投入（92.6%）、有興趣（77.8%）、有意參與（79.6%）等反應。本研究共進行十二次半結構性錄音訪談，結果發現病人對介入過程抱持正面觀感，以「舒適」、「輕鬆」、「有趣」等字眼形容介入過程。介入結束後，病人感到豁然開朗，且提升自我意識。結論：本研究發現，病人接受生命回顧—簡短版介入措施後，靈性層面達到統計顯著標準，尤其在肯定病人表現與提升病人自我滿足感方面。心理社會層面也表現出改善趨勢。病人多半給予正面回饋，十分接納介入過程，顯示生命回顧—簡短版介入措施，具備良好的應用潛力。Kwan, Wai Man Cecilia.Thesis D.Nurs. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2017.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-99).Abstract and some appendices also in Chinese.Title from PDF title page (viewed on 20, August, 2019).Kwan, Wai Man Cecilia
Translating Hoeng1 Gong2: language use as identity in anglophone Hong Kong texts
No full textM.Phil.This thesis examines the effects of colonialism on Hong Kong’s identity and culture, and aims to describe the changes in conceptions of Hong Kong identity through addressing the differences in language use and translation methods by two Hong Kong writers, Xu Xi and Nicholas Wong. It focuses specifically on two historical events in Hong Kong, the Handover and the Umbrella Movement, and uses these two events as loci for discussion as these two events can be seen as framing devices for different narratives about Hong Kong and its postcolonial identity. The Handover, with its demand for a clear expression of identity, prompted questions about Hong Kong’s identity and created a split in narratives about Hong Kong, with one focusing on hybridity, and the other focusing on ethnocultural conformity. Xu Xi addresses these narratives in her texts Hong Kong Rose and The Unwalled City, revealing the ambivalence embedded within the hybridity of Hong Kong through her characters, at the same time expressing the fear of cultural erosion via demands for ethnocultural conformity by acting as a translator and archiver in her texts. The Umbrella Movement, meanwhile, can be seen as the expression and creation of a local community that is defined by civic participation instead of ethnocultural identification. Nicholas Wong channels this community in his poems, expressing an individual identity by using Kongish, an identity-oriented language code that blends Cantonese and English through ad-hoc translations. Through his usage of this code, Nicholas Wong writes against monolingualism and monoculture, as well as opens up the definitions of a Hong Kong identity. By analyzing the different ways these two writers incorporate Cantonese into their texts, I argue that these writers reflect Hong Kong’s changing postcolonial identity from ambivalence to assertiveness.本文探討殖民主義對香港身份認同和文化的影響，並通過分析香港作家許素細和香港詩人黃裕邦在語言使用和翻譯方法上的差異來描述香港身份認同的變化。本文聚焦於兩個重要歷史事件——回歸和雨傘運動作討論的切入，同時將這兩個事件作為對香港及其後殖民身份不同敘述的框架。回歸要求香港清楚表達身份，引發人們對香港身份的質疑，並造成對香港的敘述的分裂。其中一個敘述著眼於香港的混合性，另一個則聚焦於中華民族文化的統一。許素細在其作品《香港玫瑰》和《無牆的城市》中，通過她的角色揭示了香港混雜性內蘊含的矛盾，同時通過她的翻譯表達對民族文化順應性而引發文化侵蝕的恐懼。雨傘運動可被視為一場展視和創造本土社區的運動，當中的社區是指公民參與而不是民族文化認同。 黃裕邦在其詩歌中呈現這個社區，通過使用港語來描繪香港的本土文化。同時，黃裕邦反對單一語言和單一文化，並開啟香港身份的定義的新想像。透過分析兩位作家將粵語以不同方式融入他們的文本，我認為這兩位作家的作品反映香港後殖民身份，已從矛盾變為展現個性。Liu, Wai Kwan Natalie.Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2020.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-124).Abstracts also in Chinese.Title from PDF title page (viewed on 24 May, 2021)
Re-engineering the semiconductors business process to focus on Total Service Quality development through people in the Customer Responsiveness Center : executive summary
Get PDFThe research work illustrates the setup of a new and unique cross-functional unit
called "The Customer Responsiveness Center" or "the CRC". The objective of this
center is to improve total service quality management through individual employees
and teamwork. The ultimate objectives are employee satisfaction and customer
loyalty. Forming the CRC in this way is an innovative approach for a traditionally
technology focused organization where the fundamental objective is Total Customer
Satisfaction. Before, not much work has been done in the organization to understand
total service quality, to explore the power of people, and to demonstrate results from
real teamwork. The author accepts this challenge.
The Customer Responsiveness Center is a vehicle for promoting Total Service Quality
and people involvement. It is crucial to making the company's Total Customer
Satisfaction objective possible. The concept that employee satisfaction precedes
customer satisfaction is expanded through this literature research. This is a different
belief from the common saying: The customer always comes first. There is no doubt
in the author's mind that when employees come first, they will develop happy
customers. The author proves his belief correct with his own Total Service Quality
Management (TSQM) model in the CRC.
The Quality and Speed Team (QuST) process initiated by the author creates a positive
environment for the CRC team to promote total service quality concepts. "QuST" is
an innovative culture development process focusing on Total Quality, Speed of
Execution and Teamwork. "QuST" is also a unique process derived from the Total
Quality Management concept.
The CRC team also attempts to break the traditional business cycle barriers to re-engineer
for better results. This includes: making possible the shipment of China
manufactured semiconductors to Taiwan; reducing the total logistics and distribution
cycle time; and closing down the customer service department in Hong Kong (headquarters) for better synergy and productivity.
While promoting the total service quality concept, the CRC team enhanced employee
satisfaction and customer satisfaction. The team has started the total service quality
drive for the Asia Pacific semiconductor products group in Motorola. However, these
are the areas that also need additional attention and require further study.
Times have changed. We no longer live in a manufacturing environment. Total
service quality is critical to all service providers. Customers today demand a total-service-
quality package and consider that the service quality component is as critical
as if not more important than the physical product. We are literally customer-driven.
We are moving into the 21st century. Organizations that fail to master the skill of
total service quality management will face difficult times. The CRC TSQM is a
change model that can be applied to other industries to benchmark and to master the
skills and resources that give an organization competitive advantage in the 21st
century
The moderating effects of product-related and market-related knowledge on consumers' utilization of product information in pre- and post-trial product evaluations. (Volumes I and II)
No full textThis dissertation investigated two issues about consumers' information utilization when evaluating products: What types of product information were utilized in pre- and post-trial product evaluations by consumers of different knowledge levels, and why these types of information were utilized.A conceptual model was proposed by integrating the economics of information theory, the accessibility-diagnosticity model of information utilization, and effects of product knowledge. The model argues that information which is used by consumers must be (a) available, (b) accessible, (c) diagnostic, and (d) comprehensible. An in-depth interview study and three experiments were conducted to test the model proposed.The results of study 1 indicate that intrinsic- and extrinsic-search attributes were used most frequently at the pre-trial stage. However, intrinsic-experience attributes were used most frequently at the post-trial stage.The results of study 2 suggest that, at the pre-trial stage, intrinsic-search attribute information was more likely to be utilized by consumers with high product-related knowledge, when evaluating a product (VCR). This difference was not observed at the post-trial stage.The results of study 3 suggest that, at both pre- and post-trial stages, extrinsic-search attribute information was more likely to be utilized by consumers with high market-related knowledge.The results of study 4 suggest that the utilization of described intrinsic-experience attribute information was not influenced by consumers' product-related knowledge, at both pre- and post-trial stages. However, at the post-trial stage, consumers with high product-related knowledge were more likely to use the experienced intrinsic-experience attribute information to evaluate a product, when they received favorable described information.To conclude, while search attribute information was more likely to be utilized for product evaluations at the pre-trial stage, experiential information was more likely to be utilized at the post-trial stage. Furthermore, intrinsic-search and intrinsic-experience attribute information was more likely to be used by consumers with high product-related knowledge, whereas extrinsic-search attribute information was more likely to be utilized by consumers with high market-related knowledge. These findings are consistent with the model proposed.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T13:09:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Effect of group-delay ripples on dispersion-managed soliton communication systems with chirped fiber gratings
No full textAuthor name used in this publication: Y. H. C. KwanAuthor name used in this publication: P. K. A. WaiAuthor name used in this publication: H. Y. Tam2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordRGCPublishedVoR allowe
Analytical method for designing grating-compensated dispersion-managed soliton systems
No full textAuthor name used in this publication: Y. H. C. KwanAuthor name used in this publication: P. K. A. Wai2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishedVoR allowe
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