RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP 1997 Research Project Physical Sciences
Research Projects Arts and Languages Administrative, Business and Social Studies Biological Sciences Physical Sciences Education Medicine, Dentistry and Health: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Civil and Structural Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering Computing Sciences, Information Technology and Applied Mathematics Mechanical, Production and Industrial Engineering including Textiles and Clothing Architecture, Surveying, Urban Planning and Urban Studies Law	EARLY PALEOZOIC RADIOLARIAN BIOSTRATIGRAPHY To develop a detailed early Paleozoic radiolarian biostratigraphic zonation. This zonation will provide a means of obtaining age constraints for many of the previously undated deep-water siliceous marine sedimentary rocks in complex orogenic zones. Once the ages of these rocks are known they can be used to provide constraints on the timing of major tectonic events and the evolution of orogenic systems. Other applications include better understanding of early paleozoic oceanographic conditions, the paleolatitude of formation of various rocks sequences and details of the early evolution of protozoans. Investigator: Dr. J.C. Aitchison Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF NORTH WEST CHINA: WEST JUNGGAR REGION To undertake a pilot investigation of ophiolitic rocks in the Western Juggar Region of North West China. Investigators: Dr. J.C. Aitchison (Principal) Mr. S. Buckman Mr. W.J. He Dr. M.F. Zhou Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: CRA Exploration Pty Ltd., Australia Dr. Stephen S.F. Hui Trust Fund Starting date: 1996.12 POSITRON BEAM STUDIES OF METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR INTERFACES To provide necessary manpower to carry out up-grades to the Physics Department's positron beam, and to investigate its focussing limit actions. Investigators: Dr. C.D. Beling (Principal) Dr. S. Fung Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Croucher Foundation Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Run Run Shaw Research and Teaching Endowment Fund University Grants Committee Starting date: 1988.10 IMPLIMENTATION OF THE NEW DOUBLE DOPPLER BROADENING SPECTROSCOPY (DDBS) The implimentation of an improved form of positron Doppler Broadening spectroscopy. The technique known now as Double Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (DDBS), which uses a dual detector configuration, offers both a 40% improvement in instrument resolution together with exciting possibilities for spectral deconvolution and vacancy defect characterization. Investigators: Dr. C.D. Beling (Principal) Dr. S. Fung Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE ANTIMALARIAL ARTEMISININ, SYNTHETIC STUDIES TOWARDS THE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF ISOTOPICALLY-LABELLED SUSPECTED BIOSYNTHETIC INTERMEDIATES Artemisinin is the most promising new anti-malarial drug to be discovered in the past two decades. It is a natural product currently obtained from the Chinese plant Artemisinin annua; its chemical synthesis is complex and not economically viable. Previous work has suggested a plausible biosynthetic route to artemisinin. The current project aims to synthesize the putatative intermediates on this pathway incorporating stable isotope labels at designated positions. Once synthesized these labelled intermediates will be fed to the plants and NMR analysis used to establish direct incorporation into artemisinin, thereby defining the biosynthetic route to artemisinin. This information will then prove invaluable to those involved in improving the efficiency of artemisinin production from field grown plants. Investigators: Dr. G.D. Brown (Principal) Mr. S.M. Hui Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1994.08 Completion date: 1997.06 BIOSYNTHESIS OF ARTEMISININ To establish the biosynthetic pathway leading to production of the antimalarial artmeisinin in artemisia annua. Investigator: Dr. G.D. Brown Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.11 GRADIENT DIFFUSION-ATTENUATED NMR SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF MULTI-COMPONENT MIXTURES Spectroscopic analysis of multi-component mixtures has always required a physical separation of the components by some chromatographic technique prior to the acquisition of a characteristic spectrum from ech component. In recent year there has been a proliferation of "hyphenated" techniques based on this very principle. The modern capability to generate magnetic-field gradients in NMR Spectroscopy opens up the possibility of differentiating compounds by their diffusion characteristics. The project aims to investigate whether this molecular property can be applied to resolve different components when present simultaneously in the same mixture. If successful, NMR analysis of complex mixtures would then be as simple a matter as NMR analysis of individual compounds, and the need for prior chromatography will have been removed, resulting in greater simplicity and wider applicability of NMR in the analysis of multi-component mixtures. Investigator: Dr. G.D. Brown Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1994.12 PHYLOGENETIC RECONSTRUCTION AND SYSTEMATICS OF THE ILLICIALES USING STRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL DATA To investigate the evolutionary relationships between plant species belonging to the order Illiciales by measns of a combination of morphological characteristics and plant chemistry. Investigators: Dr. G.D. Brown (Principal) Dr. R.M.K. Saunders Departments: Chemistry Ecology and Biodiversity Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 NEW ANTI-CANCER DRUGS FROM PLANTS USED IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE To undertake a chemical investigation of plants described in traditional Chinese medicine whose use might suggest anti-tumour properties. Investigator: Dr. G.D. Brown Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1995.09 PRODUCTION OF PHARAMACEUTICALS IN PLANT TISSUE CULTURE To produce two modern pharmaceuticals of plant origin, artemisinin from Artemisia annua and taxoL from Taxus brevifosia, by means of plant tissue culture. Investigator: Dr. G.D. Brown Department: Chemistry Source of funding: HKUST Biotechnology Research Institute Starting date: 1995.09 GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODES IN METHANOL FUEL CELLS Several aspects of the design and operation of low temperature methanol fuel cells will be investigated to determine possible areas for improvement of this energy technology; methanol fuel cells are attractive energy devices because of the availability of the fuel and a pollution free and convenient operation; the commercialization of methanol fuel cells has been limited by low currentgeneration because of catalytic and mass-transfer resistance; identifications of these fundamental problems will lead tothe design of electrodes with acceptable performance for commercialization; the results in the investigation of electrocatalysts and oxygen electrode behaviour are more general and can be applied to other types of fuel cells, batteries, and other electrochemical technologies as well. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.08 ELECTRONEUTRALITY OF IONIC SOLUTION IN CHARGED PORES To investigate the applicability of the electroneutrality condition to ions inside a charged micropore. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 THEORETICAL STUDIES OF NON-PRIMITIVE MODEL ELECTROLYES To gain some understanding of the role of solvent in an electrolyte solution; to investigate the effect of short range interaction and packing of ions and solvents; to understand how the charge and size of ions affect their activities; to develop a simple but accurate analytical equation of state to predict electrolyte properties in a wide range of concentrations; to provide Monte-Carol simulation data of ternary hard sphere mixture. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.01 ELECTROCHEMICAL ETCHING OF SILICON To study the changes of morphology and optical properties of silicon during electrochemical etching. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 ELECTROLYTES IN NANOSTRUCTURES To investigate the adsorption properties of electrolytes in confined structures of nanometre scale and to relate these to the charge, size, and concentration of the ion, and geometry of the nanostructure. Investigators: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan (Principal) Dr. D. Nicholson Departments: Chemistry Chemistry, Imperial College, University of London, London, U.K. Source of funding: UK/HK Joint Research Scheme (British Council / Hong Kong Research Grants Council) Starting date: 1996.09 GLUCOSE OXIDATION FOR SENSOR AND FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS To identify the mechanism of glucose electrochemical oxidation so that better catalysts can be designed. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 THEORETICAL STUDIES OF ION TRANSFER REACTIONS ON ELECTRODES To investigate the mechanism of ion transfer electrochemical reactions using a combination of computer simulations, integral equation techniques, and quantum mechanical calculations. Investigators: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan (Principal) Professor W. Schmickler Departments: Chemistry Abteilung Elektrochemie, University of Ulm, Germany Source of funding: Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme Starting date: 1997.01 HARD SPHERE MIXTURES IN THE COLLOIDAL LIMIT To establish an accurate equation for the prediction of pair correlation function of hard spheres in the colloidal limit. Investigator: Dr. G.K.Y. Chan Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 PALEOMAGNETIC AND TECTONIC STUDY OF SOUTH CHINA Application of paleomagnetic and geophysical methods to determine the tectonic structure and history of the maritime province of South China Investigator: Dr. L.S. Chan Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1993.09 TECTONIC AND PALEOMAGNETIC STUDIES OF COASTAL PROVINCE OF SOUTH CHINA To study some fundamental aspects of the geology of the area and will facilitate a better understanding of the tectonic history of South China. Investigator: Dr. L.S. Chan Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 INTEGRATED GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDY OF THE TECTONIC HISTORY OF HONG KONG AND EASTERN GUANGDONG To evaluate the significance and extent of a postulated tectonic boundary extending from Fuzhou in Fujian in a southwesterly direction to the vicinity of Hong Kong. Investigators: Dr. L.S. Chan (Principal) Dr. R.J. Sewell Departments: Earth Sciences Hong Kong Geological Survey, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong Government Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.10 APPLICATIONS OF GEOPHYSICAL TECHNIQUES TO GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN HONG KONG To determine the feasibility of using geophysical techniques, including ground radar, resistivity, and seismic method to study slops and retaining wall conditions in Hong Kong. Investigator: Dr. L.S. Chan Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1996.06 GRAVITY AND SEISMICITY STUDY OF THE LIN HUA SHAN FAULT ZONE To examine the nature and seismic activity of the fault systems in areas adjancent to Hong Kong. Investigator: Dr. L.S. Chan Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 EESPHYSICAL DETERMINATION OF SUBSURFACE SOIL AND ROCK PROPERTIES Determination of resistivity and dielectric constant of surface soil samples and application to refinement of radargrams of slopes and retaining walls. Investigator: Dr. L.S. Chan Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1997.07 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CONJUGATED POLYMERS FOR PHOTONIC APPLICATIONS To synthesize a series of conjugated polymers by palladium catalysed coupling reaction. A small amount of charge sensitizer, charge transporting molecules, or photochromic molecules will also be incorporated into the conjugated backbone. The resulting polymers have various potential properties such as photoconductivity, electroluminescent, photoswitching, and electrical conductivity. They will be characterized by different physical measurements. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.11 PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS OF FUNCTIONALIZED POLYMERS To characterize different organic polymer films with special electrical and photonic properties. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1996.01 STUDIES OF SOME FUNCTIONALIZED SILICON-CONTAINING POLYMERS To synthesize and characterize a series of functionalized silicon-containing polymers. Different functional groups such as cross-linkage, photoconductor, photo charge sensitizer, and mesogens will be incorporated into the polymer backbone or side-cha The resulting polymers will be characterized by various physical measurement techniques, depending on the groups attached. These polymers have the potential applications such as high strength elastomers, polyelectrolytes, and photoconductors etc.will try to understnad their structure property relationship. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 FUNCTIONALIZED BLOCK COPOLYMERS: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION To synthesize a series of functionalized diblock copolymers with controlled nano-architecture and to characterize their structural and physical properties; to investigate how the microphase structure and the morphology of nanoscaled, self-assembled diblock-copolymers can be controlled; to study how the size and type of the functionalized microphase, which can be controlled by the molecular weight and composition, affects the physical properties of the block copolymers. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.09 DETERMINATION OF CHARGE CARRIER MOBILITIES IN POLYMER FILM BY TIME-OF-FLIGHT EXPERIMENT To determine the charge carrier mobilities of organic polymeric film by the time-of-flight method. The polymer film for measurement will be fabricated by coating a thin layer of electrode by sputtering. By using a laser pulse, the sheet of charge injected into the film will travel across the polymer film, and the time taken will be recorded by an oscilloscope. Several important parameters such as charge carriers' nature, density, and mobilities can be obtained. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 STUDIES OF THERMAL AND LIQUID CRYSTAL PROPERTIES IN SOME BIPYRIDINE-CONTAINING POLYMERS To synthesize a series of bipyridine-containing polymers with rigid main chain and to characterize some physical properties such as mesophase behaviour, thermal stability, and photophysical properties by various techniques. Investigator: Dr. W.K. Chan Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 DEVELOPMENT OF A LASER SAMPLING-GLOW DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR THE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOLIDS To develop a laser sampling-glow discharge analytical atomic source; to explore the capability of this device for chemical analysis of solids; to do fundamental studies of laser material interactions. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1993.07 DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF A DIRECT SAMPLE INSERTION (DSI) SYSTEM FOR THE INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA - ATOMIC EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY (ICP-AES) A direct sample insertion (DSI) device will be developed; the DSI technique, as a sample introduction method for the inductively coupoed plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), will be characterised; research effort will be concentrated on the thermal characteristics of the sample probe and the vaporisation processes of the analyte; DSI of both solids and liquids is potentially a powerful analytical technique for elemental analysis; with improvement on the analytical performance, accurate direct solid analysis is possible; the time and cost of sample analysis will also be reduced; applications include environmental, metallurgical, biological, and geological studies, among others. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.11 DEVELOPMENT OF A SAMPLING TECHNIQUE FOR ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY to further develop a novel laser sampling technique, "back surface ablation"; to study laser material interactions at a fundamental level. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS - INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA SPECTROMETRY FOR ELEMENTAL SPECIATION To develop a sensitive technique for metal speciation using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and inductively couple plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Investigator: Dr. W.T. Chan Department: Chemistry Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 STUDY OF SIMPLE TRAFFIC MODELS USING STATISTICAL MECHANICS To study the phase diagram and phase transitional properties of simple toy models of traffic flow, including the BML model. Investigator: Dr. H.F. Chau Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 CHIRAL RUTHENIUM-OXO COMPLEXES To understand the various factors governing asymmetric alkene epoxidation and the development of a new synthetic methodology for chiral organic epoxides; to explore the potential application of cis-dioxoruthenium (VI) in organic oxidation. Investigators: Professor C.M. Che (Principal) Professor K.F. Cheng Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1993.07 METAL-NITROGEN MULTIPLE BONDING. FROM HIGH-VALENT METAL-NITRIDO AND METAL IMIDO COMPLEXES TO CATALYSTS FOR ALKENE AZIRIDINATION To investigate metal-nitrogen multiple bonding in highly oxidising metal-nitrido and metal-imido complexes; to design new metal catalysts for nitrogen atom transfer reactions, and to investigate the proton-coupled electron transfer reactions of metal-nitrido and metal-imido complexes; to prepare and investigate the reactivities of high valent ruthenium and manganese-imido complexes and to generate highly oxidizing metal-imido complexes of other transition metal ions by electrochemical oxidation; if suitable crystals are obtained, low temperature x-ray crystal analysis and molecular orbital calculations will be undertaken to elucidate the electron density distribution in the metal-nitrido and metal-imido bonds; to develop new procedures for selective alkene aziridination and to elucidate the factors governing nitrogen atom trnasfer reactions; to investigate the role of metal-nitrido complexes in the metal-catalysed oxidation of ammonia to nitrite or the reverse reduction of nitrite to ammonia. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.07 SETTING UP OF HIGH-POWER PICOSECOND LASER SYSTEM AND A HIGH-POWER NANOSECOND YAG LASER Setting up of high-power picosecond laser system and a high-power nanasecond YAG laser Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1995.03 HIGH-VALENT ORGANO-RUTHENIUM AND -OSMIUM COMPLEXES WITH FACIALLY COORDINATING MACROCYCLIC TERTIARY AMINE LIGANDS To develop the chemistry of high-valent ruthenium and osmium complexes containing metal-carbon multiple bondings. The goal is to develop new homogenous catalysts for olefin metathesis and carbon-carbon bond formation reactions. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC PHOTOCHEMISTRY. LUMINESCENT HOMO- AND HETERO-NUCLEARMETAL COMPLEXES To investigate new homonuclear and heteronuclear metal complexes which have an emissive and coordinative unsatured excited state in solution at room temperature. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.09 REDOX KINETICS OF ORGANIC OXIDATION REACTIONS To elucidate the mechanisms for the alkene and alkyne oxidations by high-valent ruthenium-oxo complexes. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 HIGH VALENT ALKYLIDENE AND ALKYLIDYNE COMPLEXES OF RUTHENIUM AND OSMIUM. ELECTRON TRANSFER PROPERTIES AND CATALYSTS FOR CARBON-CARBON BOND FORMATION To study metal-carbon multiple bonds in those complexes containing highly oxidizing metal ions, to design new catalysts for C-C bond formation, and to investigate the electron transfer properties of metal-alkylidene and -alkylidyne complexes. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.10 MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS To prepare new microporous and mesoporous materials through modifications with transition metal complexes; to develop new and long-lived heterogeneous catalysts for organic oxidations. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF ALKANES BY HIGH-VALENT METAL-OXO COMPLEXES To prepare neutral and luminescent osmium-oxo complexes which undergo photochemical oxidation of alkanes; to develop a system for photocatalytic oxidation of organic molecules using molecular oxygen. Investigator: Professor C.M. Che Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 FREE-ENERGY LANDSCAPES OF PROTEIN MOLECULES To understand the mechanism of protein folding. Investigator: Dr. G.H. Chen Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.11 ELECTRONIC DYNAMICS OF CONJUGATED ORGANIC SOLIDS To understand the complex electronic dynamic processes of conjugated organic materials in condensed phases. The structure-property relationships will be sought for a variety of microscopic molecular processes as well as various macroscopic properties. These relationships will provide useful guidelines for synthesising novel materials with specific properties. Investigator: Dr. G.H. Chen Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF NEW AGENTS FOR MALE FERTILITY REGULATION To synthesize a number of new agents to be used for biological screening for fertility regulation in the human male. Investigator: Professor K.F. Cheng Department: Chemistry Source of funding: International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development Starting date: 1987.01 ASYMMETRIC CYCLOPROPANATION OF ALKENES To study the asymmetric cycloaddition reaction of diazoester to alkenes for the enantioselective preparaton of cyclopropanes. Investigator: Professor K.F. Cheng Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1992.07 SYNTHESIS OF CYCLOPENT[B] INDOLE DERIVATIVES To synthesize a number of designed cyclopent[b] indole derivatives for evaluation of their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity. Investigator: Professor K.F. Cheng Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 SYNTHETIC STUDY TOWARDS PSEUDOLARIC ACID A To develop synthetic reactions to synthesize natural products of medicinal interest, in particular, pseudolaric acid A. Investigators: Professor K.F. Cheng (Principal) Dr. P. Chiu Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 COSMIC GAMMA-RAY BURSTS To study the characteristics of cosmic gamma-ray bursts by analysing The BASTE data and constructure possible theoretical models to explain the origin and mechanisms of gamma-ray bursts. Investigator: Professor K.S. Cheng Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 RADIATION AND TRANSPORT AROUND ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI To study the radiative mechanisms and transport processes in/around the accretion disk and the magnetosphere of the active galactic nuclei. Investigators: Professor K.S. Cheng (Principal) Professor C.M. Leung Departments: Physics Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, U.S.A. Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 HIGH ENERGY PHENOMENA AROUND ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI To develop a general model to explain the spectral features, intensity and energy range of high energy gamma-rays from Active Galactic Nuclei; to study a new possible mechanism of gamma-ray burst, in which a neutron is trapped in the accretion disk of AGN and transform to be a strange star by accreting 0.5 M matter. Investigator: Professor K.S. Cheng Department: Physics Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.10 RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS: COALESCENCES OF NEUTRON STAR BINARIES To study physical processes occuring in the coalescence of two neutron stars including gamma-ray emission, gravitational wave emission and change of the equation of state in high density matter. Investigators: Professor K.S. Cheng (Principal) Professor W.M. Suen Departments: Physics Physics, Washington University, U.S.A. Starting date: 1997.07 FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF SMALL FREE RADICALS To measure vibrational transition frequencies and determine molecular structure of small free radicals. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1992.07 LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF JET-COOLED GAS-PHASE FREE RADICALS To obtain laser spectrum of simple free radical at very low vibrational and rotational temperature. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1993.11 NEAR IR DIODE LASER ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY OF TRACE GAS IN TROPOSPHERIC AIR To use tunable near-IR laser absorption spectroscopy to measure the concentration of trace gases in tropospheric air. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 NEAR INFRARED DIODE LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF TRANSITION METAL COMPOUNDS To obtain laser induced fluorescence spectrum of simple transition metal oxides and nitrides in the near infrared(0.8 -1.3 um) spectral region; to understand in detail the very complicated optical spectra of the transition metal oxides and nitrides that are known constituents of the stellar atmosphere. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.11 WAVELENGTH RESOLVED LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF TRANSITION METAL COMPOUNDS To detemine vibrational constants of electronic state, the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) of electronic transitions and characterize the perturbing state causing perturbations in transition metal compounds. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 INTERMODULATED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF TRANSITION METAL COMPOUNDS To obtain intermodulated fluorescence spectrum of diatomic transition metal oxides and nitrides at sub-Doppler resolution. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.01 LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF METAL CONTAINING RADICALS To study electronic transition and determine molecular structure of metal containing radicals. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 PREDISSOCIATION LINEWIDTHS OF THE SCHUMANN-RUNGE BANDS OF OXY To study in detail the predissociation mechanism of the Schumann-Runge bands of oxygen. Investigators: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung (Principal) Dr. M.J. Jamieson Departments: Chemistry Computing Science, University of Glasgow, U.K. Source of funding: UK/HK Joint Research Scheme (British Council / Hong Kong Research Grants Council) Starting date: 1996.10 LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF SUPERSONIC BEAM OF REFRACTORY MOLECULES To produce various gas-phase refractory molecules using laser vaporization/reaction followed by supersonic cooling and study their electronic spectra in the visible and near IR (400-1300 nm) region using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1997.01 LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF HAFNIUM NITRIDE (HFN) To study the electronic transition of hafnium nitride and determine its molecular structure. Investigator: Dr. A.S.C. Cheung Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 CRYSTAL STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF INORGANIC, ORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS INCLUDING SUPRAMOLECULES To provide structural information of chemical molecules, viz., stereochemistry, bond distances and bond angles; to characterize and to ascertain molecular geometry in the design of new compounds for use in specific chemical reactions. Investigators: Dr. K.K. Cheung (Principal) Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1992.12 DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF MODEL MOLECULES ASSIMILATING TO FRAGMENTS OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEXES FORMED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND ROW METAL IONS AND THESE MODEL MOLECULES To obtain detailed conformational arrangements and molecular dimensions of small organic molecules resembling fragments of biological macromolecules and to understand the function of metal ions in biochemical processes. Investigator: Dr. K.K. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Run Run Shaw Research and Teaching Endowment Fund Starting date: 1993.07 METHODOLOGY IN CRYSTAL STRUCTURE DETERMINATION To identify special situations in a crystal structure from the X-ray diffraction data, to devise methods for the solution of such structures and to present the methods in the form of computer programmes. Investigator: Dr. K.K. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 SOLID-STATE STRUCTURAL CHEMISTRY Determination of single crystal structures by X-ray diffraction methods. Investigator: Dr. K.K. Cheung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS VIA EXTERIOR DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEMS To further develop the formalism of the Calculus of Variations via Exterior Differential Systems in one and several independent variables; to apply the said formalism to problems arising from differential geometry, mechanics and other related areas. Investigators: Dr. W.S. Cheung (Principal) Dr. R.H.F. Chan Departments: Mathematics Mathematics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.12 DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF FINGERPRINTING TECHNIQUES FOR ANDESITIC TEPHRAS To provide volcanologists with a workable, definitive means of identifying and correlating andesitic tephras; to use the techniques to help erect regional tephra stratigraphies where these are needed, and to resolve stratigraphic correlations specifically at Tongariro and Egmont volcanic Centres; to characterise the compositional diversity of andesitic tephras and use this information to study magma chamber evolution and eruptive mechanisms at these volcanoes. Investigators: Dr. S.L. Donoghue (Principal) Dr. D. Mullineaux Dr. V.E. Neall Dr. A.S. Palmer Dr. R.B. Stewart Departments: Earth Sciences Branch of Volcanic and Geothermal Process, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.A. Soil Science, Massey University, New Zealand Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.12 GEOMAGNETIC INDUCTION PROBLEM A geophysics project in which electrical anomaly structure underground is studied theoretically. The lateral gradients in electric conductivity underground can be detected by using a single magnetograph. Theoretical results of such detection are usually expressed as induction arrows, which are complex numbers. In this project, numerical models are being used to investigate the behaviour of these real and imaginary 'induction arrows', with the aim to study earth-quake prediction eventually. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Dr. P.F. Chen   Department: Physics Starting date: 1987.01 SOLITON SOLUTIONS OF YANG-MILLS GAUGE FIELD AND GRAVITATIONAL FIELD Using differential geometrical and other techniques, the investigators attempt to find one-soliton and two-soliton solutions of the Yang-Mills gauge field and gravitational field in the presence of a spherical symmetrical gravity field, due to the presence of the earth. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. F.T. To Departments: Physics Starting date: 1989.01 SUPERCONDUCTIVITY THEORIES To study the various physical conditions under which the electron and hole pairs can form Cooper pairs, leading to the propagation of current without ohmic resistance. These studies include the two-carrier model, the tri-excitonic enhancement model, the bi-polaron model. Physical properties of ceramics superconductors in their normal states are investigated. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Dr. C.C. Lam Professor K.W. Wong Mr. T.F. Yu Mr. J. Zong Departments: Physics Applied Science, City University of Hong Kong Physics, University of Kansas, U.S.A. Starting date: 1989.01 ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE STUDY OF HIGH TC CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTORS AND OTHER MATERIALS USING THE PHOTOACOUSTIC TYPE OF DETECTION To continue the phase transition studies of a number of new superconductors fabricated in the Department of Physics using the electron spin resonance method down to 77K. The detection techniques have already been developed in the Department. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. H.L. Tam Mr. S.Y. Tang Mr. X.H. Zhang Mr. J. Zong Departments: Physics Department of Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1991.05 MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF HIGH TC SUPERCONDUCTORS To analyze the microstructure with various length scales (mm-um-nm) of ceramic superconductors fabricated in this University and those sintered by co-workers in other institutions, in order to understand the crystal grow process and phase distribution Phase transitions reflection intensity of the surface is also observed through scanning electron microscope covering the temperature 83K - room temperature. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. H. Li Mr. A. Vyas Mr. T.F. Yu Department: Physics Starting date: 1992.01 DETERMINATION OF CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY OF BULK HIGH TC CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTORS To build up a direct current magnetometer for measuring the current passing through superconductors fabricated in our laboratory below the critical temperature. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. T.F. Yu Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1992.12 Completion date: 1996.09 INTERNAL FRICTION STUDY AND THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY MECHANISMS OF HIGH TC CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTORS To measure the crucial characteristics of migration of oxygen atoms to vacant sites in crystals of various superconductors with oxygen deficiency; to calculate the electrical resistance and coherent length of the Cooper pairs of the superconductor-semiconductor composite in a unit cell of a sample subject to a magnetic field; to calculate the specific heat-temperature relation of superconductors as resulting from several plausible theories and test these results with experimental data. In particular, the 'two carrier model' relies on the existence of defects or (oxygen) deficiency and the result is relevant in testing the theory. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. K.F. Liang Professor J.X. Zhang Departments: Physics Physics, Zhong Shan University, People's Republic of China Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1993.01 STRUCTURAL, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE C60 AND ITS METAL DERIVATIVES To investigate the physical and chemical properties of Buckminsterfullerene and its metal derivatives and to develop superconducting materials based on metal fullerides. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Professor C.M. Che Mr. H. Li Mr. T.F. Yu Departments: Physics Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1993.10 EXACT SOLUTIONS TO EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS To solve the Einstein Field Equations (EFE) in general relativity. The exact solutions found are applied to various stellar and cosmological models. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. M.K. Mak Departments: Physics Department of Physics Starting date: 1994.01 TO BUILD UP AN INTERNAL FRICTION MACHINE To build up an Internal Friction Machine for analyzing phase transitions of superconductors and other materials like alloys and composite materials. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. K.F. Liang Mr. T.F. Yu Professor J.X. Zhang Departments: Physics Physics, Zhong Shan University, People's Republic of China Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 PHOTOACOUSTIC APPLICATIONS IN BIOCHEMISTRY Photoacoustic techniques can be used to measure the absorption spectrum of many biochemical samples such as blood and mitochondria. According to the spectrum, we select some laser wavelengths to irradiate the mitochondria and then compare the respiratory control rate (RCR) of mitochondria with and without laser irradiation. It is found that laser irradiation has some effect on the RCR of mitochondria at some wavelengths. This is meaningful for understanding the mechanism of laser biostimulation. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Ms. W. Zhu Department: Physics Starting date: 1995.01 Completion date: 1996.12 TO ANALYZE THE SUPERCONDUCTING PROPERTIES OF SAMPLES IN THE YTTNIUM FAMILY AND THE MERCURY FAMILY WITH DIFFERENT OXYGEN CONTENTS To fabricate superconducting samples in a vacuum or in controlled low gas pressure using vacuum furnace. Then we characterize these samples with existing available equipment. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. T.F. Yu Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1996.01 BUILDING A NOVEL SUPERCONDUCTING THERMAL SWITCHES To make a novel solid-state cryocooler system that can be used to cool superconducting Josephson switches which have wide applications in industry, to replace the conventional semi-conductor P-N junctions. Investigator: Professor P.C.W. Fung Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 NEW METHOD TO GROW HIGH TC SINGLE CRYSTAL To build a simple but special furnace to grow relatively large (1 cm in diameter) high Tc single crystals of various families. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Mr. H. Li Professor X.L. Yan Professor S.S. Yi Departments: Physics Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 INVESTIGATION ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) BULK HIGH TC SUPERCONDUCTORS (HTCS) WITH LARGE GRAINS AND DOMAINS The two superconductivity groups collaborate to grow MTG YBCO Bulk HTCS with large grain and domains, to study their physical properties with the aim to build HTCS motors. Investigators: Professor P.C.W. Fung (Principal) Dr. W. Gawalek Mr. K.F. Liang Dr. M.Z. Wu Departments: Physics Material Sciences, Institute of Physikalische, Germany Source of funding: Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme Starting date: 1997.03 POSITRON ANNIHILATION S-PARAMETER TRANSIENT STUDIES OF DEEP LEVEL STATES IN SEMICONDUCTORS To develop a new spectroscopy technique for investigating defects in semiconductors. Once developed, the technique will be used to study the deep level states in semi-insulating materials. Investigator: Dr. S. Fung Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1995.07 SCHOTTKY BARRIER STUDIES OF SEMICONDUCTORS To study electron transport and Schottky barrier formation of metal-semiconductor junctions involving novel semiconducting materials and various metals. Investigator: Dr. S. Fung Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 INFLUENCE DIAGNOSTICS IN MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL METHODS WITH APPLICATIONS To explore and develop a new method for detecting outliers that incorporates powerful number theoretic techniques and projection pursuit ideas for solving the high dimensionality problem; to develop diagnostic measures in important but unexplored areas such as quadratic and canonical discriminant analyses, growth curve models with simple covariance structure, uniform covariance structure, and serial covariance structure that plays an important role inn investigating short time series and longitudinal data; to develop a new formulation of the local influence method that is applicable to models where restrictions are imposed on parameters such as the factor models; to apply the diagnostic measures to Hong Kong financial, biomedical and educational data including the prediction of corporate bankruptcy using discriminant analysis, the growth pattern of lower limbs in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and the factors affecting the academic performance of students in secondary schools and technical institutes, and to the physical data set of minerals for gold mine searching in Yunnan Province, China. The outliers and influential observations in these data sets altered the analysis substantially. Investigator: Dr. T.W.K. Fung Department: Statistics Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF PARTICULATE MATTERS, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES IN HONG KONG To develop analytical methods for chemical analysis of particulate matters, environmental pollutants and other chemical substances in Hong Kong with the use of a diode-array multi-channel spectroscopic detector, high volume air particulate sampler, and fibre optic spectrophotometer. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: China Light and Power Co. Ltd. Committee on Research and Conference Grants Run Run Shaw Research and Teaching Endowment Fund Starting date: 1985.07 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL METHODS FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND OTHER APPLICATIONS To support in general the development of chemical methods for analytical chemistry and other applications in the Department of Chemistry. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Miscellaneous external fund sources Starting date: 1985.10 DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MOLTEN SALT ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR SECONDARY HIGH ENERGY HIGH POWER LITHIUM BATTERY To seek support for the development of room temperature molten salt system for electroplating and for use in high energy high power lithium battery. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Chung Pak Battery Works Ltd. Committee on Research and Conference Grants Hong Kong Research Grants Council University Grants Committee Starting date: 1988.12 INVESTIGATION OF THE METHODOLOGY AND APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY FOR INDUSTRIAL USE To support the research activities for the development of analytical chemistry for industrial use. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Lafe Computer Magnetics Ltd. Miscellaneous external fund sources Starting date: 1989.06 DEVELOPING THE PURGE AND TRAP METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF TRACE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES Developing the purge and trap method for the analysis of trace volatile organic compounds in environmental samples. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Ocean Man Ltd. Starting date: 1992.01 DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MOLTEN SALT ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR (1) ELECTROCHEMICAL FORMATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIAL AT THE SURFACE OF METALLIC SUBSTRATES, (2) ELECTROPLATING OF METALS ON SUPERCONDUCTORS FOR CORROSION PROTECTION To understand the electrochemical behaviour of ceramic oxide materials in molten salt medium and to assess the potential for large current application. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1992.09 MONITORING AND APPORTIONMENT OF AIR POLLUTION SOURCES BY CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AT RECEPTOR SITES To develop analytical methodologies using capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the analysis of trace inorganic ions and easily ionisable organic compounds; to develop microcomputer controlled samplers for collecting rainwater at different durations of the rain and sampling particulates at given wind sectors; to develop a complete analytical procedure for automatic analysis of environmental important inorganic and ionisable organic compounds at ppb to ppt levels for background rain water analysis by coupling CE with the micro-computer controlled samplers developed, the flow injection analysis (FIA) and isotachophoresis for automatic sample introduction and pre-concentration, and the ECD for selective and sensitive detection; to apportion the major sources of air pollutants at receptor sites using results obtained from the method developed. Investigator: Dr. Y.S. Fung Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 DEVELOPMENT OF QUARTZ PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL BIOSENSOR FOR THE DETECTION OF SALMONELLA To determine the optimal coating conditions for a family of 7 monoclonal antibodies, which specifically identify Salmonella belonging to the serogroups A, B, C1, C2, D, E1 and E2, respectively; to establish the analytical procedure and to construct the continuous flow equipment and its associated circuitry which can allow us to detect the change in resonance frequency bought about by binding of the bacteria onto the quartz surface in aqueous solution; to determine the sensitivity and the specificty of this family of antibody coated crystals for detection and serogroup differentiation of Salmonella in mixed cultures of bacteria and in natural samples. Investigators: Dr. Y.S. Fung (Principal) Professor M.H. Ng Departments: Chemistry Microbiology Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.07 STUDY OF THE MICROSTRUCTURE IN HIGH TC THIN FILMS BY USING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE To obtain high resolution TEM cross section images; to study the relation between microstructure and other physical properties; to study the initial growth and structural defects. Investigator: Dr. J. Gao Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HIGH TC SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM DEVICES BASED ON JOSEPHSON EFFECT To investigate the physical nature of the high Tc devices based on Josephson effect. Investigator: Dr. J. Gao Department: Physics Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 HIGH TC MULTILAYER JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS WITH A GRADIENT DOPED-PR BARRIER To study the interface structures between the barrier and superconductors and to develop a gradient doped-Pr barrier to improve the lattice matching in the multilayer structures. Investigator: Dr. J. Gao Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 AQUIFER PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION BY GENETIC ALGORITHMS To explore systematically the potential of genetic algorithms for identification of groundwater flow and transport parameters under general field conditions. Investigator: Dr. J.J. Jiao Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1997.07 URBAN SOILS IN HONG KONG To investigate soils in different types of urban habitats in terms of morphological, physical and chemical properties; to assess the impacts of urbanization on soil formation; to evaluate the relationships between soil characteristics and the performa of amenity vegetation. Investigator: Professor C.Y. Jim Department: Geography and Geology Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1991.05 Completion date: 1997.07 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE EVENT TIME DATA In some medical studies, the response of each subject consist of serially indexed survival times. Typical examples are the inter-recurrence times of a certain kind of cancer, multiple attacks of cardiac arrest, and the recurrence of a certain disease. The gap times are indexed according to the order of recurrence of the event to the subject. It is natural to conceive that the time to the i-th recurrence (since the (i-1)st recurrence) and the previous (i-1) inter-recurrence times are dependent in a way that survival are less dependent. This kind of dependence is referred to as serial dependence. However, the primary interest of most medical researchers is to study the effects of some potential external risk factors or explanatory variables on the indexed times to recurrence, such as treatment plans, diet, and initial health conditions. To make correct inference on the fixed effects of the potential risk factors in the presence of the serial dependence structure and possibly heterogeneity among the subjects (this could be due to some unobservable risk factors), one or more general statistical models will be proposed. The objective of this project is to provide a general estimation methodology for modelling this kind of data. Investigators: Dr. K.F. Lam (Principal) Dr. P.L.H. Yu Department: Statistics Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 NATURAL PRODUCT SYNTHESIS To synthesis natural products which have not previously been synthesised - aim to develop/assess new methods and to obtain material for biological testing. These inculde (i) optically active cyclohexano[d]xanthones and (ii) also those with a 10a-methyl substitutent (as in aureol) and (iii) new o-napthoquinones. Investigator: Professor R.M. Letcher Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 Completion date: 1996.09 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS INCLUDING NATURAL PRODUCTS To explore new synthetic methods for cyclo-alkano[d]xanthones and naphthoquinones including chiral syntheses to synthesise physiologically active natural products or their analogues. Investigator: Professor R.M. Letcher Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 A SURVEY AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF NON-IONISING RADIATION IN HONG KONG To do a territory-wide survey on the level of non-ionising radiation (from power line frequency to ultraviolet); to assess the health effect and to formulate proper means for reducing the health risk. Investigators: Dr. J.K.C. Leung (Principal) Dr. W.M.Y. Tso Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1993.07 DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF OPTICAL DATING OF SINGLE GRAIN To develop technique of equivalent dose measurements for single grain of minerals, which is leading to single grain optical dating. The developed technique will enable dating with very small quantity of sample for geological and archaeological object Investigator: Dr. S.H. Li Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.11 IDENTIFICATION OF IRRADIATED FOOD STUFFS IN HONG KONG WITH LUMINESCENCE METHODS To survey and classify irradiated food in Hong Kong and to develop standard procedures for identifying irradiated food stuff with thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence methods; to provide information for regulations and official controlling on irradiated food in Hong Kong. Investigator: Dr. S.H. Li Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 DEVELOPMENT OF SINGLE GRAIN ISOCHRON DATING WITH OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE To solve some of the problems in developing single grain isochron technique. It is aiming to establish a routine procedure for single grain De determination and to apply isochron dating to deal with samples with changing external dose rate. Investigators: Dr. S.H. Li (Principal) Dr. W.M.Y. Tso Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 NON-LINEAR MULTIPLE TIME SERIES ANALYSIS WITH APPLICATIONS To explore and develop new multivariate models which can handle both non-linearity in the mean and in the variance components of the time series; to develop new and practical techniques to model such time series; to develop new methods of forecasting such models; applications to real data with special emphasizes on financial data such as international exchange rates/stock prices. Environmental data will also be included. Investigators: Professor W.K. Li (Principal) Professor K. Lam Professor H. Tong Departments: Statistics Mathematical Institute, University of Kent, Canterbury, U.K. Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.01 THE STUDY OF THE CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF FATTY ACID MOLECULES To study the chemical behaviour of unsaturated and polyfunction fatty acid molecules derived from natural sources, or produced by total synthesis; to examine the physical behaviour of novel derivatives using modern spectroscopic techniques; and to test the biological activities of such compounds in vitro. Investigator: Professor M.S.F. Lie Ken Jie Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Lipid Research Fund Starting date: 1970.01 MODERN FATTY ACIDS CHEMISTRY OF THE NINETIES To explore the mechanisms of reaction involving multi-functional lipid moleucles and to utilise ultra modern chemical techniques to study the chemistry and physics of such molecules with the view of applying such compounds to industrial and medical us Investigator: Professor M.S.F. Lie Ken Jie Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Leung Kau Kui Research and Teaching Endowment Fund Starting date: 1990.05 SYNTHESIS OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS BY HYDROZIRCONATION WITH SCHWARTZ'S REAGENT To synthesize conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acids using bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium chloride hydride as the coupling reagent in chain extension and olefination reactions to obtain unsaturated fatty acids which are closely related to the natural leukotrienes. Investigator: Professor M.S.F. Lie Ken Jie Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 REACTIONS OF LIPID MOLECULES IN AQUEOUS MEDIA: AN ULTRASONIC APPROACH To study the effects of ultrasound energy on the rates of organic reactions, when water or aqueous organic media are used as the solvent; to determine the role of water during such reactions under concomitant ultrasonic irradiation involving hydrophobic substrates and organic reagents; to generate hydroxy free radicals from water by high frequency ultrasound and to study the reaction of such free radicals with polyunsaturated fatty acids; to study the chemical and physical properties of the newly formed fatty acid derivatives. Investigator: Professor M.S.F. Lie Ken Jie Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1997.01 DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF MORE EFFICIENT MODELS AND DESIGNS FOR CAPTURE-RECAPTURE STUDIES To develop a better experimental design for population size estimation and to assess the gains in precision therefrom. Investigators: Dr. C.J. Lloyd (Principal) Dr. P.S.F. Yip Department: Statistics Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 SURVEY OF HIGH ENERGY GAMMA-RAY SOURCES IN CELESTIAL BODIES, USING COSMIC-RAY AIR SHOWER TECHNIQUE To construct a ground-based gamma-ray telescope using an air shower array coupled to Cerenkov light detectors to observe high energy gamma-rays from distant active stars over the northern hemisphere. Investigators: Professor P.K. MacKeown (Principal) Professor X.Y. Gao Departments: Physics Yunan University, People's Republic of China Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1989.06 A STUDY OF THE VOLCANIC ROCKS OF HONG KONG To conduct research into volcanic rocks in Hong Kong. Investigator: Professor J.G. Malpas Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Hui Oi Chow Trust Fund Starting date: 1984.06 THE STUDY OF DUCTILE - BRITTLE DEFORMATION OF ROCKS IN HONG KONG AND NEARBY AREAS Determination of characteristics, depth and thermodynamic condition of brittle and ductile deformation in the main tectonic belts in Hong Kong and its vicinity; investigation of tectonic movements and their nature, slip sense and rate; measurement of modern crustal stress field. Investigator: Professor J.G. Malpas Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Hui Oi Chow Trust Fund Starting date: 1992.03 OPHIOLITES OF SOUTH WEST CHINA: HIGH PRESSURE METAMORPHISM AND THE ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF DIAMONDS IN OPHIOLITES To determine the magmatic and tectonic evolution of peridotites from the Luobusa and Donqiao ophiolites and the processes of diamond formation in alpine ultramafic rocks and in the ultramafic portions of ophiolites; to assess the diamond potential of selected ophiolites in China, Canada and in some Mediterranean occurrences. Investigator: Professor J.G. Malpas Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 TRACE ELEMENT PARTITION COEFFICIENTS DETERMINATION BY LAM-ICP-MS AND APPLICATION IN PETROGENETIC STUDY OF ISLAND ARC BASALTS To produce an accurate and reliable data set of partition coefficients for trace elements (REE, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, Y, U, Pb, Rb, Sr) critical to understanding the petrogenesis of a variety of igneous rock suites but particularly those of island arcs. The primary mineral phases we will be analysing are pyroxenes (both clino- and orthopyroxene), amphiboles, spinels, and titanites. Such an accurate data set is not readily available and its value cannot be underestimated. Investigators: Professor J.G. Malpas (Principal) Dr. M. Sun Mr. G.M. Thompson Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.10 INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEMS OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE: A CASE STUDY To investigate the processes involved in the production of acid waters from the oxidation of massive sulphide bodies; the nature of toxicity, the fate of trace element contaminants from disused mines and the potential for mitigation. Investigator: Professor J.G. Malpas Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1997.07 MATERIALS PROPERTIES OF ELECTRONICALLY COUPLED BUT SPACIALLY SEPARATED METAL CENTERS Synthesis of molecular materials in which two transition metal centers are connected via organic pi systems. A special focus will be placed on two materials aspects: electronic communication between the two metal centers across the organic pi system nonlinear optical properties. Investigator: Dr. A. Mayr Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 COUPLING REACTIONS OF ALKYLIDYNE LIGANDS To explore bond-forming reactions between alkylidyne ligands and other terminal ligands. Investigator: Dr. A. Mayr Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 ISOCYANIDES AS SPACER LIGANDS IN DI-, AND POLYNUCLEAR TRANSITION METAL COMPLEX MATERIALS Synthesis of molecular materials in which two or more transition metal centers are electronically coupled via unsaturated isocyanide ligands. A special focus will be placed on two materials aspects: electronic communication between the two metal cent across the organic pi system and nonlinear optical properties. Investigator: Dr. A. Mayr Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 METAL-CARBON TRIPLE BONDS AS COMPONENTS IN NONLINEAR OPTICAL MATERIALS To develop a new class of nonlinear optical materials containing metal-carbon triple bonds as functional groups. Investigator: Dr. A. Mayr Department: Chemistry Source of funding: RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1996.10 STRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION THROUGH METAL-CARBON MULTIPLE BONDS To establish a structural basis for determining the extent of electronic coupling between metal centers across unsaturated organic groups in moleclar materials. Investigator: Dr. A. Mayr Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 HYDROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HONG KONG To establish an instrumented catchment with the aims of, first, examining natural water quality; secondly, investigating slope stability; and, finally, conducting experiments to evaluate the impact of man on the functioning of various components of the hydrologic cycle. Investigators: Dr. M.R. Peart (Principal) Departments: Geography and Geology Civil and Structural Engineering Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Dr. Stephen S.F. Hui Trust Fund Leung Kau Kui Research and Teaching Endowment Fund Starting date: 1988.12 HYDROLOGY AND WATER CHEMISTRY To study hydrology and water chemistry. Investigator: Dr. M.R. Peart Department: Geography and Geology Source of funding: Dr. Stephen S.F. Hui Trust Fund Hui Oi Chow Trust Fund Starting date: 1990.01 Completion date: 1996.09 URBANIZATION AND THE FLOOD HAZARD IN THE NORTH AND NORTHWESTERN NEW TERRITORIES To establish a long term record of flooding in the Northern New Territories in order to examine if urbanisation has been associated with an increased frequency of the flood hazard; to determine the rate of river channel bank migration to see if this may (1) pose a threat to property and (2) provide sufficient sediment to raise the channel (i.e. decrease depth) and increase the possibility of flooding. Investigator: Dr. M.R. Peart Department: Geography and Geology Source of funding: Lau Wong Fat Urbanization Research Fund Starting date: 1996.01 CHEMICAL DYNAMICS EXAMINED BY RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY To use resonance Raman spectroscopy to examine solvation and solvent effects on small polyatomic molecules and to study molecules of interest to environmental chemistry. Investigator: Dr. D.L. Phillips Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1993.07 CORRECTION OF EXPERIMENTAL SPECTRAL INTENSITIES FOR THE WAVELENGTH SENSITIVITY VARIATION OF THE DETECTION SYSTEM To extract accurate spectral intensity data from resonance Raman, emission, and transient absorption spectroscopy experiments. In order to obtain these accurate spectral intensities, the raw data must be corrected for the wavelength variation of the detection system response using the spectrum obtained for a calibrated spectral intensity lamp. Investigators: Dr. D.L. Phillips (Principal) Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1993.12 Completion date: 1996.09 VIBRATIONAL REORGANISATIONAL ENERGIES OF PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS OF MOLECULAR COMPLEXES WITH SUBSTITUTED AROMATIC DONORS AND CYANO COMPOUND ACCEPTORS INVESTIGATED BY RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY To obtain resonance Raman spectra of several model photoinduced electron transfer complexes made up of substituted aromatic donors andcyano compound acceptors; by taking a variety of resonance Raman spectra of electron donor-acceptor complexes with systematically differing structures and rates of electron transfer we can start to address questions on how the initial complex geometry and the distortion in this geometry in the excited state affects the mechanism and rates of electron transfer reactions; the appropriate method of analysing the resonance Raman spectra of the many different classes of donor-acceptor complexes will also beaddressed in developing resonance Raman spectroscopy to become a general tool in characterising photoinduced electron transfer reactions; we hope to contribute to a new vibrational mode specific level of understanding different classes of electron transfer reactions and to better predictive models of the rates of electron transfer to help establish the suitability of new materials for imaging processes. Investigator: Dr. D.L. Phillips Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.09 SITE SPECIFIC AND BOND SELECTIVE PHOTOCHEMISTRY INVESTIGATED BY USING NANOSECOND TIME-RESOLVED RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY To investigate the ground state vibrational frequencies and excited state structure via intensity analysis of several alkyl and aromatic radicals using nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy. Investigator: Dr. D.L. Phillips Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 ELECTRONIC EXCITED STATES AND PHOTOCHEMISTRY INVESTIGATED BY RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY To investigate the structure and dynamics of electronic excited states associated with photodissociation reactions and examine the structure of the photoproducts formed from these reactions. Investigator: Dr. D.L. Phillips Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 INVESTIGATION OF FEMTOSECOND SOLVATION AND SOLVENT EFFECTS ON BOND BREAKING IN DIHALOALKANES AND NITROALKANES FROM RESONANCE RAMAN INTENSITY ANALYSIS To obtain experimentally based subangstrom and femtosecond information about solvation and solvent effects on how a chemical bond is broken. Investigator: Dr. D.L. Phillips Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.09 REE AND HFSE CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY PROTEROZOIC KUANDIAN COMPLEX Study of the Kuandian Complex will enhance our understanding of crustal evolution in a particularly important period - the early proterozoic. This study is aimed to fill a world-wild gap in knowledge of magmatic activities in this significant time period. Investigator: Dr. M. Sun Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1994.07 MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CENOZOIC BASALTS AND MEGACRYSTS FROM HAINAN ISLAND Geochemical data from megacrysts and host basalts will greatly enhance our understanding of mantle evolution. Study of fluid inclusions in the megacrysts and phenocrysts will help us in approaching mechnaism of magma genesis and differentiation. Investigator: Dr. M. Sun Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 PETROCHEMICAL STUDY OF VOLCANIC ROCKS OF LANTAU FORMATION, LANTAU ISLAND, HONG KONG A detailed petrochemical study will significantly enhance our understanding of volcanic rocks in Lantau Island, in term of lithological relationships, geochemical characteristics, magmatic evolution history in Hong Kong and vicinity areas. Data from this study will provide fundamental background for development of Lantau Island, and benefit geological education in Hong Kong. Investigator: Dr. M. Sun Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Dr. Stephen S.F. Hui Trust Fund Starting date: 1995.11 GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF PRECAMBRIAN META-IGNEOUS ROCKS IN SHANXI AND HEBEI PROVINCES, CHINA Geochemical study of the metamorphosed basaltic and felsic rocks formed in precambrian times in the Shanxi and Hebei Provinces, China, to characterise the origin and tectonic settings of these rocks. This will in turn enhance our understanding of crustal evolution in the Sino-Korean Craton. Investigator: Dr. M. Sun Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 PALEOCLIMATE STUDY BY USING CORAL SR/CA THERMOMETER FOR SOUTH CHINA SEA Climate change is a major issue in environmental sciences. In order to make a correct long-term climate forecast, a crucial task for enivornmental scientists is to record climate changes in the past for reference. Investigators: Dr. M. Sun (Principal) Professor X.H. Li Professor B.F. Nie Departments: Earth Sciences Institute of New Geological Technology, Academia Sinica, People's Republic of China Oceanography Institute of South China Sea, Academia Sinica, People's Republic of China Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1997.01 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF GRANITIC INTRUSIONS IN KUNLUN MOUNTAINS, NORTHWESTERN CHINA To reveal the tectonic evolutionary history of the Kunlun Mountain region, by precise isotopic dating and geochemical study of some important granitic plutons intruded in Caledonian, Hercynian, and Indosinian times. Investigator: Dr. M. Sun Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1997.07 INTERNAL SOURCE ELECTRON HOLOGRAPHY To develop direct methods based on the principle of internal source electron holography to determine the structure of surfaces. The holographic methods will produce 3-dimensional atomic images of individual atoms with an unprecedented resolution. Investigator: Professor D.S.Y. Tong Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 SURFACE CRYSTALLOGRAPHY BY DIFFRACTION AND IMAGING TECHNIQUES To study two fundamental aspects of solids in the surface region: surface dynamical processes such as magnetic excitations in crystalline slabs, ultrathin-layered materials and chemisorbed systems on substrates and aspects of the geometric structure which are intimately connected to the dynamical excitations. Investigator: Professor D.S.Y. Tong Department: Physics Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.10 ACCURATE MULTIPLE SCATTERING APPROACH FOR PHOTOEMISSION FROM CORE LEVELS OF ADSORBED ATOMS OR MOLECULES ON SOLID SURFACES To develop an accurate multiple scattering method for interpreting angle-resolved core-level photoemission spectra. Investigator: Professor D.S.Y. Tong Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RADIONUCLIDES RELEASED FROM A NUCLEAR POWER STATION To study the contribution from various kinds of radiation exposures, internally and externally, and their significance to the annual radiation dose received by the general public in this part of the world. The results obtained in the study can also be used to access the potential biological effects, if any, to man from radioactive materials released to the environment as a result of the operation of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. Investigator: Dr. W.M.Y. Tso Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1986.07 RADIATION DOSE CONTRIBUTED BY RADON DECAY PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG To determine the local population dose due to radon decay products, which is the recognised major component of human exposure to radiation, and assess its health effects on the local community. Investigators: Dr. W.M.Y. Tso (Principal) Dr. J.K.C. Leung Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Run Run Shaw Research and Teaching Endowment Fund Starting date: 1987.04 MITIGATION METHODS FOR INDOOR RADON IN HONG KONG To investigate the pathways of radon ingress into room air in typical dwellings and offices in Hong Kong; to investigate the various possible mitigation methods, including the installation of active devices, to reduce the radiation dose due to indoor radon. Investigators: Dr. W.M.Y. Tso (Principal) Dr. J.K.C. Leung Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council RGC Fundable Projects (Block Grant Funded) Starting date: 1994.10 DEVELOPMENT OF LUMINESCENCE DATING METHODS FOR YOUNG POTTERY SAMPLES To develop new methods for dating pottery aged less than 500 years. Investigator: Dr. W.M.Y. Tso Department: Radioisotope Unit Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 TIME-DEPENDENT TRANSPORT IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL QUANTUM WIRE STRUCTURES To investigate the temporal behavior of ballistic transport in two-dimensional quantum wire structures. In particular, we will study several very important time scales, e.g. classical transit time, dwell time, and delay time, etc. which are very important for the electronic device applications. We will also study these time scales when turning on the magnetic field. Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1995.01 Completion date: 1996.12 RANDOMLY DILUTED ELASTIC NETWORK To understand the critical behavior of the elastic netowrk near the critical point. Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 QUANTUM TRANSPORT IN MESOSCOPIC SYSTEM To study the nature and the origin of quasi-bound states in a two-dimensional quantum wire structure and their relation with the bound states; to study the spectra of quasi-bound states in open quantum-dots; to study the dynamic conductance of interacting systems such as one-dimensinal tunnelling diode and two-dimensional quantum wires. Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 INTERBAND RESONANT TUNNELING AND TRANSPORT To understand the transport property of InAs/AlSb/GaSb heterostructures Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 QUANTUM CHAOS IN THE PRESENCE OF MAGNETIC FIELD It is well known that in the conductance measurement of a quantum dot at low transmittance, each electron eigenstate corresponds to a peak in the Fermi energy dependence of the conductance. This allows one to make a real spectroscopy of electorns in quantum dots. However, most experiments measure the conductance as a function of external magnetic field instead of the Fermi energy. We will study how does the peaks in magnetoconductance correspond to the eigenspectrum of the quantum dot. Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1996.12 FREQUENCY DEPENDENT TRANSPORT IN MESOSCOPIC SYSTEM To understand the long range Coulomb interaction in mesoscopic conductor when frequency is low. Investigator: Dr. J. Wang Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS ON THE AC RESPONSES OF FLUX MOTION IN HIGH TC SUPERCONDUCTORS To study the various responses fo the mixed frequency input in high Tc superconductors for the first time. Investigator: Dr. Z.D. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1995.01 Completion date: 1996.09 THEORETICAL STUDIES ON TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTING AND MESOSCOPIC SYSTEMS To get detailed and clear theoretical underandings of the vortex motion in different cases, the issues, such as ac responses, pulse input effects, quantum vortex creep, backflow effects due to other vortices and simulation of the vortex motion including collective effects, will be tackled. Investigator: Dr. Z.D. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 TOPOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE EFFECT IN THE PRESENCE OF QUANTUM DISSIPATION To study the topological interference effect in the presence of quantum dissipation. The obtainable results will be used to account for a recent experiment for the first time. Moveover, a new quantum Monte Carlo approach will be developed to study the topological effect in interacting systems at finite temperatures. Investigator: Dr. Z.D. Wang Department: Physics Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 SCATTERING EFFECT ON THE TRANSPORT OF A NORMAL-METAL-SUPERCONDUCTOR JUNCTION Based on the Bogolinbor-de Gennes theory, to obtain profound understanding of scattering effect on the transport in superconductor junction systems. Investigators: Dr. Z.D. Wang (Principal) Mr. H.X. Tang Mr. J.X. Zhu Department: Physics Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS ON D-WAVE GINZBURG-LANDAU EQUATIONS To give profound understanding on the vortex dynamic of the d-wave superconductors and to make a valuable contribution to the field. Investigator: Dr. Z.D. Wang Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 STUDIES OF THE DYNAMICS CHARACTERISTICS OF SINGLE-SCREW EXTRUSION BY A VISIBLE TECHNIQUE To investigate the dynamics characteristics of an extruder screw including material conveying, melting and homogenization. Investigator: Dr. A.C.Y. Wong Department: Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1997.01 NONLINEAR OPTICAL (NLO) POLYMERS FOR ELECTRO-OPTIC APPLICATIONS Nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers for electro-optic applications. Investigators: Dr. W.T. Wong (Principal) Dr. L.M.L. Leung Departments: Chemistry Chemistry, The Hong Kong Baptist University Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITIES OF ALKYLIDYNE CLUSTERS OF TRIRUTHENIUM AND TRIOSMIUM To design and synthesise triruthenium and triosmium alkylidyne carbonyl clusters with a good leaving attached to the apical carbon; to study the reactions of alkylidyne clusters with unsaturated hydrocarbons; to develop soluble organometallic models for reactions catalysed by metals or metal oxides in heterogeneous systems; to construct supramolecules containing trinuclear alkylidne clusters. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS WITH NONLINEAR OPTICAL (NLO) PROPERTIES To design and develop new synthetic routes to organometallic compounds with nonlinear optical properties; to establish relationship between the structural and stereochemical properties and the nonlinear-optical behavior of these organometallic compoun to study the photophysical and photochemical properties of these new NLO systems. Investigators: Dr. W.T. Wong (Principal) Dr. N.J. Long Departments: Chemistry Chemistry, Imperial College, London, U.K. Source of funding: UK/HK Joint Research Scheme (British Council / Hong Kong Research Grants Council) Starting date: 1995.07 THE CHEMISTRY OF PALLADIUM AND OSMIUM MIXED-METAL CARBONYL CLUSTERS To design and synthesise mixed metal clusters containing palladium and osmium metals; to study the structural and bonding properties of these new mixed-metal cluster complexes; to understand the dynamic properties of these cluster molecules in solution; to investigate their chemical and electrochemical properties. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1995.09 THE CHEMISTRY OF RUTHENIUM NITRENE CARBONYL CLUSTERS To develop synthetic routes to ruthenium nitrene carbonyl clusters; to study the structural and chemical properties of the nitrene bound to multimetallic environment as a means to understand the nitrogen activation processes. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPLEXES OF TRANSITION METAL CLUSTERS To design and synthesise supramolecular complexes containing transition metal clusters and redox active or photo active subunits; to investigate the electrochemical and photochemical properties of these supramolecular systems; to study the chemical reactivities of these supramolecular complexes towards small molecules. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.09 POLYMER-SUPPORTED METAL CLUSTERS To prepare some polymer-immoblized cluster of the noble metals and study their chemical properties. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 THE CHEMISTRY OF METAL CLUSTERS CONTAINING AZO LIGAND To design and synthesise transition metal clusters containing azo ligand; to study the N=N bond cleavage reaction on the cluster core as a means to understand the nitrogen activation. Investigator: Dr. W.T. Wong Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 ATOMIC STRUCTURE STUDY OF SIC SURFACES WITH MULTI-TECHNIQUES To determine, using LEED structural analysis and allied techniques, the structure and composition of the ({3) x ({3) and 3 x 3 reconstructions of the local plane (0001) surface of hexagonal 6H SiC. Investigator: Dr. H.S. Wu Department: Physics Starting date: 1997.07 DESIGN OF NOVEL METAL-BASED MATERIALS WITH POTENTIAL PHOTO- AND ELECTRO-SENSORY FUNCTIONS To design, synthesize, and characterize various luminescent / redox-active inorganic / organometallic materials; to investigate the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and/or photophysical properties; to investigate the perturbation of their physical properties and their reactivities (photo-/or electrochemical) with various substrates of environmental and biological interests. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1994.07 Completion date: 1996.12 SOLUBLE POLYMETALLIC MATERIALS WITH ACETYLIDE AND SULFUR LINKAGES To design, synthesize, and characterize various soluble polymetallic acetylide and sulfide complexes with preferentially luminescent, liquid crystalline, redox, and/or electrical conducting properties; to investigate the spectroscopic, electrochemical, photophysical, and other physical properties (such as liquid crystalline properties and electrical conductivity); to correlate the observed physical properties and reactivities to the structural aspects of these compounds and to establish the structure-property relationship. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.07 INORGANIC /ORGANOMETALLIC PHOTOLUMINESCENT COMPLEXES - ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOMEDICAL PROBES To design, synthesize, and characterize various luminescent inorganic/organometallic complexes; to investigate the spectroscopic and photophysical properties; to investigate the perturbation of their spectroscopic and photophysical properties, and their reactivities with various substrates of environmental and biomedical interests; to compare and evaluate the selectivity and specificity of these complexes as luminescent probes for the various substrates. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Croucher Foundation Starting date: 1995.09 TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES - INORGANIC MATERIALS WITH LUMINESCENT AND LIQUID CRYSTALLINE PROPERTIES To synthesize various transition metal based materials; to characterize the newly synthesized transition metal complexes structurally and spectroscopically; to investigate their luminescent behaviour and their liquid crystalline properties with special emphasis on the mesophase characterization using various physical techniques; to correlate their physical properties with the structural variation on the metal-containing liquid crystalline materials. Investigators: Dr. V.W.W. Yam (Principal) Professor D.W. Bruce Departments: Chemistry Chemistry, University of Exeter, U.K. Source of funding: UK/HK Joint Research Scheme (British Council / Hong Kong Research Grants Council) Starting date: 1996.01 LUMINESCENT ORGANOCOPPER(I) AMINODIPHOSPHINE DONOR-ACCEPTOR COMPLEXES To design and synthesize donor-acceptor type aminodiphosphine ligands and their luminescent copper(I) complexes, and to study their spectroscopic and photophysical properties. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 LUMINESCENT TRANSITION METAL ORGANOMETALLICS WITH POTENTIAL SECOND HARMONIC GENERATION AND/OR LIQUID CRYSTALLINE CAPABILITIES: FROM SIMPLE MOLECULES TO ORDERED ASSEMBLIES To design, synthesize, and characterize various luminescent transition metal organometallic complexes with potential second harmonic generation (SHG) and/or liquid crystalline capabilities; to investigate the spectroscopic, photophysical, second order nonlinear optical (NLO) and liquid crystalline properties; to incorporate the newly synthesized complexes in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films and to measure their properties; to correlate the observed photophysical, nonlinear optical and liquid crystalline properites to the electronic and geometrical aspects of the complexes and to compare their properties with those observed in LB films. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.09 LUMINESCENT TRANSITION METAL CHARGE-TRANSFER COMPLEXES WITH CROWN ETHER-CONTAINING LIGANDS To design and synthesize crown ether-containing ligands and their luminescent transition metal complexes, and to study their spectroscopic, photophysical and ion-binding properties. Investigator: Dr. V.W.W. Yam Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY OF ANTI-RHEUMATIC DRUGS BUCILLAMINE AND D-PENICILLAMINE To unravel the structural bases responsible for the immunosuppressive activities of anti-rheumatic drugs bucillamine and D-penicillamine. Investigators: Dr. D. Yang (Principal) Dr. W.C.S. Lau Departments: Chemistry Medicine Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1995.07 CHIRAL DIOXIRANE METHOD FOR ASYMMETRIC EPOXIDATION OF UNFUNCTIONALIZED OLEFINS To develop a general and highly enantioselective epoxidation method for trans-olefins and trisubstituted olefins. Investigator: Dr. D. Yang Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 CHIRAL DIOXIRANE METHOD FOR ASYMMETRIC EPOXIDATION AND ITS APPLICATION IN NATURAL PRODUCT SYNTHESIS To develop a chiral dioxirane method for enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized trisubstituted and trans-disubstituted olefins and to explore its application in the syntheses of biologically important natural products. Investigator: Dr. D. Yang Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1996.09 SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF STEROIDS 18-METHYL GROUP To investigate the oxidation of C-18 methyl group of steroids catalyzed by a neighboring C-20 carbonyl group. It should proivde efficient synthesis of complex steroids for biomedical applications. Investigator: Dr. D. Yang Department: Chemistry Source of funding: Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund Starting date: 1997.01 KETONE-CATALYSED OXIDATION OF UNACTIVATED C-H BONDS: SELECTIVE HYDROXYLATION OF STEROIDS To develop a selective ketone-based intra-molecular C-H bond oxidation method that allows for efficient synthesis of complex and expensive steroids from simple and commercially available ones. Investigator: Dr. D. Yang Department: Chemistry Starting date: 1997.07 AMINO ACID DATING OF QUATERNARY MARINE MOLLUSCS IN HONG KONG To carry out amino acid dating of Quaternary marine shell in Hong Kong to assist palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Dr. C. Murray-Wallacc Departments: Earth Sciences School of Geosciences, University of Wollongong, Australia Starting date: 1988.08 OXYGEN AND CARBON ISOTOPES IN QUATERNARY MARINE FOSSILS OF HONG KONG To study the distribution of oxygen and carbon isotopes in Quaternary marine fossils of Hong Kong to assist palaeonenvironmental reconstruction and as an indirect means of dating. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Professor X.X. He Dr. C. Wang Departments: Earth Sciences Academy of Geological Sciences, Ministry of Geology, People's Republic of China Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan Starting date: 1990.09 Completion date: 1997.06 VALIDITY OF LAST INTERSTADIAL RADIOCARBON DATES IN HONG KONG To test the validity of last interstadial radiocarbon dates in Hong Kong to assist palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Mr. M.J. Head Departments: Earth Sciences Quaternary Dating Research Centre, Australian National University, Australia Starting date: 1993.06 QUATERNARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AND ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF OFFSHORE SOILS IN HONG KONG To refine the geological model for Quaternary environmental changes for the offshore soils in Hong Kong with the aid of their engineering properties. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Ms. A.S.F. Choy Dr. A.M. Davis Mr. G. Huang Mr. B.J. Tolani Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Hong Kong Research Grants Council Starting date: 1995.09 CS-137 DATING OF OFFSHORE CORES IN HONG KONG To evaluate the impact of typhoons and trawling on coastal sedimentation in Hong Kong. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Professor W.H. Patrick Jr. Departments: Earth Sciences Wetland Biogeochemical Institute, Louisiana State University, U.S.A. Starting date: 1995.10 DATING OF SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCES FROM HONG KONG WATERS FOR QUATERNARY ENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION To refine the geological model developed for the offshore Quaternary of Hong Kong by Yim (1994) using a wide range of dating methods in order to obtain a better understanding of the variation in sedimentary sequences found and to carry out regional and global correlations. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Dr. A.M. Davis Mr. B.J. Tolani Department: Earth Sciences Source of funding: Committee on Research and Conference Grants Starting date: 1996.07 GEOCHEMISTRY OF GASES FROM OFFSHORE QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS IN HONG KONG To study the geochemical composition of gases present within offshore Quaternary sediments in Hong Kong. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Professor P. Philip Departments: Earth Sciences School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, U.S.A. Starting date: 1997.01 MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF OFFSHORE QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS IN HONG KONG To use magnetic properties of offshore Quaternary sediments in Hong Kong as a mean of providing age information to assist palaeo environmental reconstruction. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Dr. L.S. Chan Professor K. Verosub Departments: Earth Sciences Geology, University of California, Davis, U.S.A. Starting date: 1997.06 HOLOCENE RECORD OF TYPHOONS IN SOUTHERN CHINA AND APPLICATIONS To obtain a high resolution Holocene record of typhoons in Hong Kong and southern China (from the Changjiang Delta to the border with Vietnam) using coastal sediments and fossils, historical and archaeological records, and the instrumental record. Investigators: Dr. W.W.S. Yim (Principal) Dr. A.M. Davis Mr. G. Huang Department: Earth Sciences Starting date: 1997.07