Search for gravitational waves from Scorpius X-1 with a hidden Markov model in O3 LIGO data

Results are presented for a semicoherent search for continuous gravitational waves from the low-mass x-ray binary Scorpius X-1, using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to allow for spin wandering. This search improves on previous HMM-based searches of Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory data by including the orbital period in the search template grid, and by analyzing data from the latest (third) observing run. In the frequency range searched, from 60 to 500 Hz, we find no evidence of gravitational radiation. This is the most sensitive search for Scorpius X-1 using a HMM to date. For the most sensitive subband, starting at 256.06 Hz, we report an upper limit on gravitational wave strain (at 95% confidence) of h095%=6.16×10-26, assuming the orbital inclination angle takes its electromagnetically restricted value ι=44°. The upper limits on gravitational wave strain reported here are on average a factor of ∼3 lower than in the second observing run HMM search. This is the first Scorpius X-1 HMM search with upper limits that reach below the indirect torque-balance limit for certain subbands, assuming ι=44°

Search for continuous gravitational wave emission from the Milky Way center in O3 LIGO-Virgo data

We present a directed search for continuous gravitational wave (CW) signals emitted by spinning neutron stars located in the inner parsecs of the Galactic Center (GC). Compelling evidence for the presence of a numerous population of neutron stars has been reported in the literature, turning this region into a very interesting place to look for CWs. In this search, data from the full O3 LIGO-Virgo run in the detector frequency band [10,2000] Hz have been used. No significant detection was found and 95% confidence level upper limits on the signal strain amplitude were computed, over the full search band, with the deepest limit of about 7.6×10-26 at ≃142 Hz. These results are significantly more constraining than those reported in previous searches. We use these limits to put constraints on the fiducial neutron star ellipticity and r-mode amplitude. These limits can be also translated into constraints in the black hole mass-boson mass plane for a hypothetical population of boson clouds around spinning black holes located in the GC

隨碧城之筆，觀香城之昔 : 淺析《碧城樂府》中的香港情懷

提及香港文學，浮現在腦海中的大多是香港現代電影、戲劇、小說、散文等，的確，這些文學種類在現代化的大環境下較受一眾讀者追捧，其內容、主題和寫作模式多會隨著讀者的閱讀興趣和近代文學潮流而改變，顯得較為貼合現代社會，能夠帶給讀者共鳴及深刻體會，淺白通俗的文字也彷彿使文學變得更平易近人。相較之下，中國文學四大類別之一的詩詞則顯得較為失色。 在不少現代人眼中，詩詞的創作形式較為死板，著重用字、平仄、押韻、對偶、引用、用典等創作準則，且主題上多數圍繞著懷古諷今、感慨時光易逝、哀歎懷才不遇、描繪湖光山色等創作，難以為現代人帶來新鮮感和共鳴。加上香港過往長期被冠以「文化沙漠」之名，久而久之，連香港人也相信了「香港沒有文學」這個說法，因而放棄了探討香港的文學史及發掘香港的文化價值。綜觀現今香港文學界，創作小說、散文、戲劇的作家比比皆是，唯獨是詩詞作家，在香港文壇中已成為稀有的存在。上至《詩經》，下至現代新詩，詩歌在香港文壇上不僅被好好承傳下來，甚至作出了創新，縱使詩人較少，他們仍堅持著創作。但詞在香港文壇可謂愈發罕見，大部分人甚至連香港本土詞作也未曾聽聞過，更遑論承傳及創新了。 實際上，半個多世紀以前，香港曾有一眾熱衷於詞學的文人組織了一個盛極一時的詞社「堅社」，他們不斷研究及創作，互相吸收寫作經驗，互相給予改進意見，他們創作出不少優美動人的詞作供後世傳頌，為詞學在香港文學史上寫下重要的一頁，亦填補了香港文學對詞學研究之空白。其中一名詞人為林汝珩，他的大部分作品在其仙逝後才得以面世，後人從其詞作、書信和文字記載中得知五十年代香港文學的狀況、堅社的起源和發展以及眾多從沒面世的珍貴詞作，為香港文學研究提供了珍貴的資源。林汝珩的詞作用字優美自然、感情真摯，詞中不僅記載了他的個人經歷，還記載了五十年代香港的風貌。本文旨在集中討論香港詞學的發展、堅社對香港詞壇的貢獻以及透過林汝珩的作品觀香港昔日之面貌

「鬼」字在香港粵語句子中的語法特性

中國人對「鬼」字一般比較忌諱，但廣東話中，「鬼」字的用法卻多不勝數，除了有豐富的與「鬼」字搭配而成的俗語和詞彙外，在日常的口語中，「鬼」字的使用也十分普遍。在香港，「鬼」字的使用好像是一種語言習慣，不少香港人在說話時都會不自覺地在句子中加上「鬼」字。其中，有一些「鬼」字的用法更是廣東話獨有的，極具特色。因此，本文將會從「鬼」的基本義入手，進而分析「鬼」字在廣東話中的詞類轉變，以及「鬼」字在不同句子中的語法特色。 本文將集中討論「鬼」字在口語句子中的使用情況。本文會以詞類作為劃分，從名詞、副詞和助詞，羅列出「鬼」字會出現在香港粵語中那些句子結構，並從中分析「鬼」字的語法意義和功能，以及探討「鬼」字在不同詞類之間的關係。為確保所討論的「鬼」字用法是常見於香港的新聞和日常的溝通中，本文討論「鬼」字在不同的句子結構時，會附以多條相應的例句供參考，語料的來源主要是本地報章的報導內文的句子，也有少部分源自日常生活中的口頭例句

Student motivation on a diagnostic and tracking English language test in Hong Kong

Performance in an assessment is not the reflection of just one’s knowledge and skills;motivation also plays a part. When the stakes of the assessment are low, it is logical to assume that students will have lower motivation to perform well in it. The Diagnostic English Language Tracking Assessment (DELTA) diagnoses and tracks students’ English language progress during their years of study at three universities in Hong Kong. Although the DELTA is a low stakes assessment, students get a report with their DELTA measure and detailed feedback on their performance. This study provides insights into test motivation as well as how useful students find a diagnostic report is to their language learning by ways of questionnaire survey and group interview, so as to explore students’ perceptions of test stakes and test value. The survey includes the Student Opinion Scale by Sundre and Moore (2002),which measures students’ motivation during the test; and a feedback usefulness scale specifically designed for this study to measure students’ perceptions of the usefulness of the diagnostic report. The results show that both scales are valid instruments to be used in this context and students are not motivated whilst sitting the test although they find the DELTA report quite useful. Data from the students’ interviews provide further information as to students’ motivation before and after the DELTA. In general they are not motivated before the test and their motivation to work on their English after the test largely depends on their perceived usefulness of the DELTA report. Lastly, as L2 motivation is a dynamic entity which will not remain constant over time, the study also demonstrates how Dörnyei and Ottó’s (1998) process model of L2 motivation can be adapted in explaining students’ test preparation and test taking process in low stakes diagnostic tests

Norms for the pitch pattern sequence (PPS) test for Cantonese adults

Also available in print."A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 2003."Thesis (B.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science