Increasing Chinese Tourist Gamblers in Macao: Crucial Player Characteristics to Identify and Exploit

Casinos are today considered major tourist attractions and are a strategic component in the development of a tourism destination. Tourist gamblers are an important market segment providing a reliable source of revenue for casinos. It is necessary to understand the characteristics of these gamblers and to design services and products that cater for their needs. In this study a survey of 402 Chinese tourist gamblers indicated that they have distinctive characteristics, gambling motivations, behaviors and preferences that must be considered and catered to for depth of understanding and devising ways to attract, keep and increase these important customers. Management and marketing implications for local casino operators and destination marketers are drawn

Opportunities and constraints in the development of fisheries enterprises

Fisheries sectors of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEECIS) countries have faced difficult times during the process of economic transition to the free market system. This Symposium brought together representatives from Government and the emerging private sector in the region to present their experiences and discuss the issues involved in a number of areas of common interest. The Symposium was organised by the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, in collaboration with FAO EASTFISH, from funding provided by the UK Department for International Development. These Proceedings of a Regional Symposium for CEECIS Countries Opportunities and Constraints in the Development of Fisheries Enterprises present over 30 papers that focus on a number of key themes relevant to the development of viable fisheries enterprises. The six sessions cover Finance for Fisheries Enterprises; Business Management Training; Quality Assurance and Hygiene in Relation to International Trade Compliance; Total Quality Management and HACCP; The Marketing of Fish and Fish Products; and New and Added Value Product Development. Also included are the very positive discussions generated by the 53 participants representing 20 countries all but four of which were from the CEECIS region. The Proceedings will be of particular interest to fisheries managers of emerging developing enterprises and administrators involved in changing the roles and responsibilities of government to support the development of privately owned enterprises. The symposium has brought forward a series of new and challenging problems for enterprise managers and administrators in areas where they had little previous training or experience

Smooth, undisturbed dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Perseus Cluster core: Implications for dark matter content

Using deep HST/ACS observations of the core of the Perseus Cluster, we identify a large population of dwarf elliptical galaxies down to M_V = -12. All these dwarfs are remarkably smooth in appearance, showing no evidence for internal features that could be the result of tidal processes or star formation induced by the cluster potential. Based on these observations and the relatively large sizes of these dwarfs, we argue that at least some must have a large dark matter component to prevent their disruption by the cluster potential. We further derive a new method to quantify the dark matter content of cluster dSphs without the use of kinematics, which are impossible to obtain at these distances. We find that mass-to-light ratios for dwarfs in the core of the Perseus Cluster are comparable to those found for Local Group dSphs, ranging between M/L ~ 1 and 120. This is evidence that dwarf spheroidals reside in dark matter subhalos that protect them from tidal processes in the cores of dense clusters.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Astronomische Nachrichten (proceedings of Symposium 6 of JENAM 2008, Vienna

Developing the practice of pre-service physical education teachers through a dyad model of lesson study

This article reports on a dyad model of lesson study aimed at scaffolding the theory and practice of learning to teach physical education. Participants were pre-service teachers (PSTs) completing a 38-week Master’s-level Postgraduate Certificate in Education in eastern England, training to teach the secondary age range (11–18 years). A total of 40 PSTs volunteered to participate in the study during their school-based training. A three-year cross-sectional case-study framework involving three distinct cohorts of PSTs allowed for a comparison of data, captured through computer-mediated communication. Dialogue through email communications and electronic evaluations was analysed inductively. Three substantive themes were identified as a result of the PSTs’ experiences: (a) developing confidence in the classroom through collaboration with a peer; (b) developing physical education pedagogies to support students’ individual learning needs; and (c) developing physical education pedagogies to support assessment of students’ progress. The dyad lesson study model provided a safe and non-hierarchical platform for collaboration between PSTs. Peer-to-peer reflection on aspects of their own practice instilled confidence and enhanced understanding, particularly in relation to understanding students’ individual learning needs to promote progress and assessing such progress. Dyad lesson study positively supported PSTs’ professional development against prescribed Teachers’ Standards beyond the formal hierarchical rules and structures associated with the school-based training process. Such collaborative conversations can help to minimise professional isolation for PSTs during their school-based training and address the juxtaposition of connecting the theory of learning to teach with a holistic view of student learning in practice

Clinical effectiveness of the START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) psychological intervention for family carers and the effects on the cost of care for people with dementia: 6-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

Background: The START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) intervention reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms of family carers of relatives with dementia at home over 2 years and was cost-effective. Aims:To assess the clinical effectiveness over 6 years and the impact on costs and care home admission. Method: We conducted a randomised, parallel group, superiority trial recruiting from 4 November 2009 to 8 June 2011 with 6-year follow-up (trial registration: ISCTRN 70017938). A total of 260 self-identified family carers of people with dementia were randomised 2:1 to START, an eight-session manual-based coping intervention delivered by supervised psychology graduates, or to treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome was affective symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, total score (HADS-T)). Secondary outcomes included patient and carer service costs and care home admission. Results: In total, 222 (85.4%) of 173 carers randomised to START and 87 to TAU were included in the 6-year clinical efficacy analysis. Over 72 months, compared with TAU, the intervention group had improved scores on HADS-T (adjusted mean difference −2.00 points, 95% CI −3.38 to −0.63). Patient-related costs (START versus TAU, respectively: median £5759 v. £16 964 in the final year; P = 0.07) and carer-related costs (median £377 v. £274 in the final year) were not significantly different between groups nor were group differences in time until care home (intensity ratio START:TAU was 0.88, 95% CI 0.58–1.35). Conclusions: START is clinically effective and this effect lasts for 6 years without increasing costs. This is the first intervention with such a long-term clinical and possible economic benefit and has potential to make a difference to individual carers

Hubble Space Telescope survey of the Perseus Cluster - I: The structure and dark matter content of cluster dwarf spheroidals

We present the results of a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) study of dwarf galaxies in the core of the rich nearby Perseus Cluster, down to M_V=-12. We identify 29 dwarfs as cluster members, 17 of which are previously unstudied. All the dwarfs we examine are remarkably smooth in appearance, and lack internal features. Based on these observations, and the sizes of these dwarfs, we argue that some of the dwarfs in our sample must have a large dark matter content to prevent disruption by the cluster potential. We derive a new method, independent of kinematics, for measuring the dark matter content of dEs, based on the radius of the dwarf, the projected distance of the dwarf from the cluster centre, and the total mass of the cluster interior to it. We find that the mass-to-light ratios of these dwarfs are comparable to those of the Local Group dSphs, ranging between 1 and 120.Comment: accepted for publication by MNRA

1H MRS assessment of lipid composition at 3T and 7T

1H MRS assessment of lipid composition at 3T and 7

Social impacts of casino gaming in Macao: A qualitative analysis

The casino gaming sector has witnessed rapid growth worldwide in the past three decades. As the casino industry has been developing rapidly, it is important to understand the pros and cons of casino development and seek ways to minimize the potential negative impacts. This study investigates the social consequences of casino gaming in Macao since the liberalization of casino licensing in 2002, using a qualitative research method. The results reveal that the expansion of casino gaming did bring certain social benefits to the community, such as increased personal incomes and improvement in the city\u27s financial power, landscape, infrastructure and facilities, and the enlargement of entertainment and recreation facilities. There were also many negative social costs, including; uncontrolled urban development, reduction of public leisure and green spaces, heavy traffic and traffic congestion, a high drop-out rate among school students, increase in problem gambling and crime, increased demand for counselling services and public health treatment, deteriorating quality of life and finally the difficulties of many small and medium-sized businesses in competing with the larger casino businesses. The results indicate that the challenges outweigh the benefits. Policy implications for destination managers in Macao and in other locales intending to open casinos are offered

Health-related quality of life and physical recovery after a critical illness: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of a home-based physical rehabilitation program

Introduction: Significant physical sequelae exist for some survivors of a critical illness. There are, however, few studies that have examined specific interventions to improve their recovery, and none have tested a home-based physical rehabilitation program incorporating trainer visits to participants' homes. This study was designed to test the effect of an individualised eight-week home-based physical rehabilitation program on recovery. Methods: A multi-centre randomised controlled trial design was used. Adult intensive care patients (length of stay of at least 48 hours and mechanically ventilated for 24 hours or more) were recruited from 12 Australian hospitals between 2005 and 2008. Graded, individualised endurance and strength training intervention was prescribed over eight weeks, with three physical trainer home visits, four follow-up phone calls, and supported by a printed exercise manual. The main outcome measures were blinded assessments of physical function; SF-36 physical function (PF) scale and six-minute walk test (6MWT), and health-related quality of life (SF-36) conducted at 1, 8 and 26 weeks after hospital discharge. Results: Of the 195 participants randomised, 183, 173 and 161 completed the 1, 8 and 26 weeks assessments, respectively. Study groups were similar at Week 1 post-hospital; for the intervention and control groups respectively, mean norm-based PF scores were 27 and 29 and the 6MWT distance was 291 and 324 metres. Both groups experienced significant and clinically important improvements in PF scores and 6MWT distance at 8 weeks, which persisted at 26 weeks. Mixed model analysis showed no significant group effects (P = 0.84) or group by time interactions (P = 0.68) for PF. Similar results were found for 6MWT and the SF-36 summary scores. Conclusions: This individualised eight-week home-based physical rehabilitation program did not increase the underlying rate of recovery in this sample, with both groups of critically ill survivors improving their physical function over the 26 weeks of follow-up. Further research should explore improving effectiveness of the intervention by increasing exercise intensity and frequency, and identifying individuals who would benefit most from this intervention. Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN1260500016667

On the metallicity dependence of HMXBs

It is commonly assumed that high mass X-ray binary (HMXB) populations are little-affected by metallicity. However, the massive stars making up their progenitor systems depend on metallicity in a number of ways, not least through their winds. We present simulations, well-matched to the observed sample of Galactic HMXBs, which demonstrate that both the number and the mean period of HMXB progenitors can vary with metallicity, with the number increasing by about a factor of three between solar and SMC metallicity. However, the SMC population itself cannot be explained simply by metallicity effects; it requires both that the HMXBs observed therein primarily sample the older end of the HMXB population, and that the star formation rate at the time of their formation was very large.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS accepte