Hedonic pricing models for metropolitan bus services

Conventional studies on the pricing of bus services use the cost structure to explain bus fares. In this paper, a hedonic pricing model for bus services in Hong Kong is estimated. The contributions of cost and market factors are uncovered. It is found that the cost factors dominate the determination of bus fares. In contrast to our expectation, bus fares do not react to competition faced by bus companies. Moreover, except the three cross-harbour tunnels, the bus fare has no direct relationship with the tolls of other tunnels. Our model serves well as a reference tool for bus companies to set market-acceptable bus fares.Hedonic Pricing Model, Bus Fares, Kowloon Motor Bus.

Can job turnover improve technical efficiency? : a study of state-owned enterprises in Shanghai

This paper studies the relationship between job turnover and technical efficiency of state-owned enterprise (SOEs) in Shanghai\u27s manufacturing sector during the period of 1989-1992. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to compute measure of technical efficiency for each enterprise. Our findings indicate that, for non-expanding SOEs, the relationship between job turnover (i.e., downsizing) and technical efficiency is a U-shaped one such that efficiency declines at low levels of turnover,but after a certain level, it starts to increase. In addition, we show that small non-expanding SOEs (i.e., with employment size less than 100) start to increase their efficiency at a lower level of turnover than other medium and large SOEs. We also find that for medium and large expanding SOEs, the turnover-efficiency relationship is a positive and linear one

Evaluation of deformed image-based dose calculations for adaptive radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The ultimate goal of adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is to deliver truly customized radiation treatments. Currently, the quality of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images is still inferior to that of conventional CT images in contour delineations and dose calculations for replanning purposes. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the dosimetric accuracy of using deformed conventional CT images for dose calculations, in the hope of inferring the feasibility of ART using planning CT (PCT) images that deformed to up-to-date CBCT images for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Thirty consecutive patients with NPC who had undergone 1 replan in their radiotherapy treatments were selected. The pretreatment PCT images were deformed to match the mid-treatment PCT images by deformable image registration. The same volumetric modulated arc therapy plan was then calculated on the deformed PCT images. The resulting dose distributions and dose volume histograms of the tumors and organs at risk (OARs) were compared with the original plan. Five dose levels, D98%, D95%, D50%, D5%, and D2%, were recorded for 9 NPC targets. Four dose levels, Dmax, D10%, D50%, and Dmean, were recorded for 15 OARs. The greatest percentage difference in observed dose for D98%, D95%, D50%, D5%, and D2% of the targets were 1.71%, 1.55%, 0.64%, 0.97%, and 1.13%, respectively. The greatest percentage difference in observed dose for Dmax, D10%, D50%, and Dmean of the OARs were -26.51% (left optic nerve), -17.06% (left optic nerve), 56.70% (spinal cord), and 18.97% (spinal cord), respectively. In addition, 29 of 45 (64%) dosimetric end points of the targets showed statistically significant dose differences (p < 0.05) between the original plan and the plan calculated on deformed images. Forty-nine of 60 (82%) dosimetric end points of the OARs also showed statistically significant dose differences (p < 0.05). Dose calculations using deformed PCT images could result in significant dose uncertainties in target volumes and OARs. Larger dose deviations were found in OARs in comparison with target volumes. The spinal cord and optic nerve showed the greatest percentage dose differences and the clinical significance has yet to be determined. Deformable registration error was believed to be the problem causing the dose deviations. Owing to unknown clinical significanceof dose deviation results obtained from this study, a conventional CT scan is still required for replanning in patients with NPC who are experiencing significant anatomical changes during the course of radiation treatment. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2017 American Association of Medical Dosimetrists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Small businesses and liquidity constraints in financing business investment : evidence from Shanghai\u27s manufacturing sector

This paper studies the relationship between investment and internal funds in the manufacturing sector of Shanghai with a focus on the relationship between firm size and liquidity constraints faced by manufacturing firms. By using a firm level data set in the Chinese economy in transition, we obtain a different result which contradicts the conventional wisdom that smaller firms should face a tighter liquidity constraint: Larger firms actually are more cash-constrained than smaller firms. This result is actually caused by some institutional features which are common among transition economies: (1) Facing less available means of external finance from the state banking system, small firms which are better managed and more efficient may be able to generate large enough cash flow to finance their fixed investment. (2) The presence of heavy indebtedness of large state-owned enterprises may deprive them of sufficient cash available for investment decision. Given that the state-owned enterprise have been making heavy losses, the central and regional governments have liquidity problem in satisfying their huge liquidity demands. (3) Small enterprises in non-state sector can rely on borrowing from the informal credit market although they can obtain very limited bank credit from the formal banking institutions

Profitability and technical efficiency : a performance evaluation of international joint ventures in Shanghai\u27s manufacturing industries

This paper studies the relationship between accounting profits and efficiency of manufacturing enterprises in Shanghai during the period of 1989-1992 and examines which factors affect the profitability of manufacturing enterprises. In 1990, the industrial reform was sped up, a Chow test is used to test for the presence of any structural break and our empirical test confirms its presence. In addition, this paper also tests for the presence of ownership effects on profits. Our results indicate that the profits of international joint ventures are more persistent than the rest of ownership types and industries

Prolonged exposure to bacterial toxins downregulated expression of toll-like receptors in mesenchymal stromal cell-derived osteoprogenitors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs, also known as mesenchymal stem cells) are multipotent cells with potential therapeutic value. Owing to their osteogenic capability, MSCs may be clinically applied for facilitating osseointegration in dental implants or orthopedic repair of bony defect. However, whether wound infection or oral microflora may interfere with the growth and osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs remains unknown. This study investigated whether proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs would be affected by potent gram-positive and gram-negative derived bacterial toxins commonly found in human settings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We selected lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from <it>Escherichia coli </it>and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from <it>Streptococcus pyogenes </it>as our toxins of choice. Our findings showed both LPS and LTA did not affect MSC proliferation, but prolonged LPS challenge upregulated the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, as assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Because toll-like receptors (TLRs), in particularly TLR4 and TLR2, are important for the cellular responsiveness to LPS and LTA respectively, we evaluated their expression profiles serially from MSCs to osteoblasts by quantitative PCR. We found that during osteogenic differentiation, MSC-derived osteoprogenitors gradually expressed TLR2 and TLR4 by Day 12. But under prolonged incubation with LPS, MSC-derived osteoprogenitors had reduced TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression. This peculiar response to LPS suggests a possible adaptive mechanism when MSCs are subjected to continuous exposure with bacteria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, our findings support the potential of using human MSCs as a biological graft, even under a bacterial toxin-rich environment.</p

The Strengths Model in Hong Kong

Mental health practice involves the continuous process of learning and refinement, especially when practitioners focus on the strengths and aspirations of individuals who are coping with serious mental illnesses (Tse et al., 2016). Cross-cultural considerations include beliefs, language, the role of social support, and the distinctive characteristics of specific communities that require localization in designing and offering mental health services. In this chapter, we describe the experience of adopting the Strengths Model in Hong Kong, starting with an introduction to the mental health system in the city. We then illustrate the development and implementation of the Strengths Model for the Chinese population in Hong Kong. We also briefly review research studies focusing on the Strengths Model in mental health practice in this cultural context (Tsoi et al., 2018; Tsoi, Tse, Canda, & Lo, 2019; Tse et al., 2019). The process of localization described in this chapter required the building of complex relationships among Strengths Model founders, scholars, organizations, caseworkers, and people facing mental health challenges

Consumption patterns of entrepreneurs in the People\u27s Republic of China

Since the implementation of economic reforms in 1978 in the People\u27s Republic of China, entrepreneurs have emerged as a new consumer group. With rising income and high consumption power, entrepreneurs have become major consumers for expensive goods and services. However, little research has been carried out to understand their consumption decisions. In this paper, we study the consumption patterns of small business .owners, getihu, in China by using a set of large-scale, nation-wide survey data. Their consumption is postulated to be affected by (1) risk factors which include failure risk and financial (leverage) risk, (2) household variables such as the household size, financial and labor resources in the family, (3) the future plans of their business, and (4) home ownership. The effects of these factors on consumption patterns are evaluated. Our empirical results, based on regression and Tobit analysis, showed that all these factors are important in the consumption decisions of the entrepreneurs\u27 households. In particular, risk and household factors are statistically significant in accounting for the variations in their consumption patterns. The marketing implications are also discussed

Job turnover in China : a case study of Shanghai\u27s manufacturing enterprises

This paper studies the job turnover among manufacturing enterprises in Shanghai during the period from 1989 to 1992. Various indicators of job turnover, including job expansion rate, job contraction rate, net job growth rate, gross job reallocation rate, and excess job reallocation rate are calculated. The empirical results demonstrate that types of ownership and firm size are significant factors in accounting for the changes in job generation and job reallocation. Among various types of enterprise, international joint ventures and small firms (i.e., those that employ less than 100 workers) are more able to create jobs and to generate job reallocation

A pilot study of common outcome measurement of service-learning in Hong Kong

Since the Office of Service-Learning (OSL) at Lingnan University was established in 2006 as the first independent office dedicated to promoting service-learning (S-L) in Lingnan and among the higher education institutes in Hong Kong. OSL undertakes an important role to develop of service-learning in Hong Kong higher education. The Higher Education Service-Learning Network (HESLN) in Hong Kong was first established in 2007 to provide a platform to discuss the local development and opportunities of S -L. Its members include Lingnan University, Hong Kong University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Science and Technology, City Univers ity of Hong Kong, the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, the Baptist University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and the Hong Kong College of Technology. As different higher education institutes implement S-L in their teaching and learning the common outcome measurement (COM) of S-L is necessary to investigate the student learning outcome across different institutes to demonstrate the knowledge transfer model. Two pilot tests of COM were conducted in 2011 and 2012 in order to develop the standardized measurement for assessing student learning outcome in terms of nine domains (e.g. self-understanding/confidence, communication skills, problem-solving skills, civic engagement, social responsibility and willingness to contribute, team skills, self-reflection, general knowledge application, caring for others, intercultural competences). 189 and 197 university students from 5 different institutes have completed the pilot questionnaire in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The reliability test was applied for the scale reduction from 78 items to 36 items. For the preliminary findings of the 2nd pilot study, eight domains -- except intercultural competences -- reported an acceptable Cronbach’s Alpha (from 0.87 to 0.75). Also, the significant improvement in the mentioned 9 domains was found. Further development of the intercultural competences domain and a greater comprehensive and large-scale scale validation are needed to develop the common outcome measurement in Hong Kong