Students’ class works: an example in Hong Kong 8th grade mathematics classroom

Topic Study Group 21 - Research on classroom practiceThe student’s class work of an 8th grade mathematics classroom in Hong Kong has been studied. The data were obtained from the Learning Perspective Study (LPS). Five consecutive lessons for the topic of “solving simultaneous equation by the graphical method and the method of substitution” were analyzed. The tasks in the lessons were differentiated as the teacher’s examples and the student’s class work. The cognitive domains of the student’s class work were further classified. All the tasks were classified as either knowing or applying, and no reasoning domain was identified. Results showed that most of students imitated the teacher’s examples completely or partly. Only two of the tasks showed modification of teacher’s method and one task solved by student’s own method. Finally, we argue that the strong direct role of teacher might help the students master their mathematical content in a relatively short time but may have the danger of limiting the students’ opportunity for independent thinking.postprin

Insights From Students' Private Work In Their Notebooks: How Do Students Learn From The Teacher's Examples?

Students’ seatwork plays an important part in their learning in their lessons, and very often, students record their private work in the notebooks during seatwork. The students’ private work in their notebooks reflects students’ learning and thinking, representing explicit learning outcomes. The students’ private work in their notebooks of 14 mathematics lessons of an eighth-grade Hong Kong classroom was analyzed. The mathematical tasks used in the lessons were categorized with the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) cognitive domains framework. The implementation of the tasks was recorded in cycles of teacher’s examples (TEs) and students’ exercises (SEs). By comparing the methods employed by the students and the teacher, the students’ methods were found to be mainly imitation or partial imitation regardless of the cognitive domains of the students’ exercises. The students’ perspectives on the instructional practice expressed in the post-lesson interviews were used as a triangulation for the results. The results showed that the students appreciated the teacher’s explanation and demonstration in the teacher’s exposition. Finally, the authors argue that the high percentages of imitation of teacher’s methods not only are due to the students’ choice, but also are influenced by the Confucian heritage cultures.postprin

Property price gradients: The vertical dimension

This is an empirical study on the pricing of two vertical property attributes: floor level and building height. Floor level is the vertical location of a unit in a multi-storey building; the extra price paid for a higher floor level is labelled a floor-level premium. Previous hedonic price studies unequivocally showed that the floor-level premium is positive, but they were silent on whether its magnitude varies with floor levels and with buildings of different heights. Indeed, building height is a feature of a building, not its constituent units, so it is not clear whether building height alone should affect the units' prices. Based on a sample of highly homogeneous housing units in buildings of varying heights, we found that (1) the floor-level premium was not constant, but diminished as floor level increases; (2) there was no significant difference in the pattern of the floor-level premium between high-rise and low-rise buildings; and (3) there was a positive and significant premium for units in low-rise buildings over those in high-rise ones. These findings can help developers determine the optimal height and shape of their development. © 2010 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Floor-level premiums in high-rise and low-rise buildings

This paper examines a unique feature of multi-storey buildings – floor-level premiums. Floor-level premiums refer to the price paid for the vertical location of a flat, measured by its floor level. Previous hedonic price studies unequivocally showed that floor-level premiums are positive. However, they were often based on the assumptions that floorlevel premiums are constant 1) across different floor levels within the same building and/or 2) across different buildings given the same floor level. This second assumption is particularly interesting because it begs the question of whether the same premium is paid for high-rise and low-rise buildings. For instance, do we pay the same for the 5th floor of a low-rise building and that of a high-rise building? Based on a sample of highly homogeneous buildings (except for their heights), we found that floor-level premiums were not constant but diminishing with respect to floor levels. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the pattern of floor-level premiums between high-rise and lowrise buildings. Finally, there was a positive and significant premium for shorter buildings over taller buildings.published_or_final_versio

Genetic linkage study of family members of a patient with adult polycystic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE. To study the feasibility of making an early diagnosis of adult polycystic kidney disease by using genetic linkage analysis in Hong Kong. DESIGN. Genetic linkage study. SETTING. University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS. Six members of a Chinese family with a history of adult polycystic kidney disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. The inheritance pattern of adult polycystic kidney disease, as detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction products using radioactively labelled primers specific to six microsatellite DNA markers that are closely linked to the PKD1 gene on chromosome 16. RESULTS. Four of the six members of the family studied were shown to be positive for disease-linked markers, and the inheritance of adult polycystic kidney disease could be traced in this family with a higher degree of precision (93.7%) using genetic linkage analysis, than could be predicted otherwise. CONCLUSION. The success of genetic linkage analysis in providing an early diagnosis of adult polycystic kidney disease is dependent on having a sufficient number of family members whose disease status has been established by imaging methods to allow the disease-linked marker haplotype to be determined. The establishment of a genetic data bank for families with adult polycystic kidney disease should be considered to maximise the effectiveness of this diagnostic approach.published_or_final_versio

The effect of SARS on the price of re-entrants in multi-storey apartment buildings

Natural lighting and ventilation have long been a primary consideration in building design, particularly for those high-rise and densely packed apartment blocks where mechanical ventilation is normally secondary. In Hong Kong, there are prescriptive legal requirements governing the provision of natural lighting and ventilation in private buildings. This, coupled with developers’ profit-maximizing incentives, often gives rise to re-entrant designs commonly found in apartment buildings in Hong Kong. This paper aims to study the economic impacts of the disposition of re-entrants on property prices with reference to the revelation of the chimney effect of re-entrants after the occurrence of the mass community outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS) in Amoy Gardens in 2003. In this study, we use a hedonic pricing model to examine whether flats designed with a re-entrant is sold at a different price than those without a re-entrant. We draw a sample of property transactions from a popular single residential development with variations in re-entrant designs. A total of 357 transactions were collected, of which 90 were transacted after the SARS event. The model is capable to monitor any significance changes in the premium of re-entrant and its relationship with floor level before and after SARS. Based on the hedonic pricing analysis, we found that the preference for re-entrants is floor-dependent. Before SARS, homebuyers were not fond of re-entrants on low floor levels, but they were willing to pay more for re-entrants as the floor level increases. Yet, the outbreak of SARS did not significantly change their preferences for re-entrants. The market is capable to capitalize the building design into property prices. Developers and designs should improve their building design to meet the ever changing needs of the market. This paper provides an empirical framework to examine how homebuyers price a particular design feature using property transaction data.published_or_final_versio

Comparative study of Building Performance Assessment Schemes in Hong Kong

Having access to information is essential when one needs to make a decision to buy property or renovate a building. However, information concerning the health, safety, and environmental performance of buildings is not always readily available. This creates a need for building performance assessment tools. This paper aims to compare the building performance assessment schemes available for use in Hong Kong, namely The Hong Kong Building Environment Assessment Method (HK-BEAM), The Intelligent Building Index (IBI), The Building Quality Index (BQI), and The Comprehensive Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme for Buildings (CEPAS). Their similarities and differences are pinpointed and discussed in detail. The findings of this study will serve as a guide for practitioners to decide on the schemes that best suit their purposes.postprin

An empirical study on the neighbourhood effect of refurbishment

An important portion of property value comes from property location, which is a function of the quality of surrounding environment (e.g. external views). In a congested living environment like Hong Kong, it is difficult, if not impossible, to have a view unobstructed by buildings. As such, the quality of views is dependent upon the aesthetic quality of surrounding buildings. It is likely that poorly maintained buildings will emit negative visual effects to their immediate neighbourhood. Refurbishing these poor buildings should, therefore, reduce or even counter this negative externality. This study aims to empirically identify the effect of refurbishment on the prices of neighbourhood properties based on an analysis of panel data in Hong Kong. The data consists of property transactions in a large housing estate located in Pokfulam. This estate was chosen because its surrounding buildings underwent refurbishment in 1998. Results show that the refurbishment brought a significant increase in the price of properties facing the refurbished buildings, keeping other things constant. Given the aging building problem in most urban areas, the results pose significant practical implications on building refurbishment and urban rehabilitation as a whole. Developers or property owners may be lured to invest in the refurbishment of adjacent dilapidated properties with a view to a value enhancement of their own properties.published_or_final_versio

Unauthorized building works - Does building management regime matters?

postprintThe 15th Annual Conference of the Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES 2009), Sydney, Australia, 18-21 January 2009

Longitudinal study of middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia, 2014–2015

Two herds of dromedary camels were longitudinally sampled with nasal and rectal swabs and serum, between September 2014 and May 2015, and the samples were tested for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus RNA and antibodies. Evidence of MERS-CoV infection was confirmed in one herd on the basis of detection of virus RNA in nasal swabs from three camels and significant increases in the antibody titers from three others. The three viruses were genetically identical, thus indicating introduction of a single virus into this herd. There was evidence of reinfection of camels that were previously seropositive, thus suggesting that prior infection does not provide complete immunity from reinfection, a finding that is relevant to camel vaccination strategies as a means to prevent zoonotic transmission.published_or_final_versio