An improved background segmentation method for ghost removals

With ongoing research assessment in higher education and the introduction of master’s‐level work in initial teacher education, the growing need for teacher educators to develop research identities is discussed in relation to mentoring and support in two universities. Twelve interviews—with three teacher educators and three research mentors from each university—were carried out, in order to identify effective mentoring practices and other forms of support, as well as any barriers or problems encountered in developing a research profile. An innovative aspect of the methodological approach is that beginning researchers from the teacher education faculty in both universities undertook the interviewing and co‐authored the article. The need for an entitlement to and protection of research time is stressed, as well as a range of supportive practices within an active research culture. It is argued that this aspect of teacher educators’ professional development requires as much attention as the pedagogical aspects of their rol

Low cost propulsion systems for the developing world

Space has often been referred to as the final frontier. It is the curiosity of what lies beyond our planet that drives us to turn to the skies. This quest for knowledge and the chance of travelling to the heavens has compelled people to devote their lives to space science, innovation and analysis of our ever-expanding universe. Today the most significant impact of rocketry comes in the form of manned spaceflight. Vehicles like the Space Shuttle and Soyuz began the trend of greater commercialization of manned rocketry, enabling widespread access to space. Whilst the curiosity of what lies beyond may have propelled the development of the space tourism industry, its current operational cost is estimated as $20-$28 million per passenger per flight. Although the vision of providing low cost space travel still exists, its application is hindered by the costs associated with current space vehicles and mission operations. Furthermore, if we are to better understand our universe and are keen on commercializing space, we would require the space tourism industry to operate in a similar fashion to the aviation industry. As most current launch vehicles rely on chemical propulsion, the level of uncertainty in the market drives their fuel costs. In order to reduce the cost per flight, we must effectively increase the load factor per flight and operate multiple flights, enabling a greater number of paying passengers. In order to provide widespread access to space there needs to be a greater emphasis on the research and development of low cost Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) which predominantly rely on alternative fuel technologies, thereby reducing the overall cost per flight. Although progress would be slow, we would still be able to witness a boom in space tourism. This paper proposes the use of magnetic levitation and propulsion (Maglev) within a vacuum chamber as a viable low-cost propulsion technology. It aims to prove that such a system is capable of providing adequate thrust to future space vehicles. As Maglev systems allow for horizontal take-off and landing, such a launch system could be used in conjunction with current airports worldwide. Although the inception and creation of such a system may seem expensive, the long-term fiscal costs are relatively lower than current day systems. This is primarily because such a system relies on electrical power, whose supply and generation costs are much lower than that of chemical propellants. Also, the maintenance costs associated with the Maglev track are minimal, as during take-off there is no physical contact between the track and the launch vehicle. Similar to the aviation industry, the success of future space exploration programs and space tourism relies on international cooperation and alliances. This not only ensures that no one country dominates access to space, but also nurtures healthy competition by providing a level playing field. By implementing the afore mentioned system in politically stable developing nations, we ensure employment, innovation and motivation, all achieved through an international alliance. This system would not only ensure a faster urban development within these countries, but would also bring the vision of space science and exploration to a larger global audience. This paper discusses the overall cost analysis for a vacuum operated Maglev system, the various options available for the generation of power required by such a system and how the system’s long term costs can be aligned with the aviation industry

Investment guidance for the Chinese medical device market

The medical device market is one of the most attractive and profitable areas in the global economy. Since China opened its doors to the world it has attracted increasing amounts of foreign investment. The Chinese medical device market is currently one of the most promising and fastest growing markets, which is the second largest market in the world with 200 billion yuan (RMB) total sales in 2013. This paper illustrates the geographical distribution of the Chinese medical device industry, combined with the location quotient (LQ) assessment, to reveal the medical device industry’s professional level and degree of concentration in each province, providing guidance for investors who are interested in medical device investment in China. The LQ and market share (MS) matrix reveals that the best investment regions in China are: Bohai Economic Rim, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta Economic Zones

Understanding Chinese gamblers’ adoption of online casinos based on e-marketing mix model

This paper presents a quantitative study of online casino adoption based on the e-marketing mix model. The Internet has changed the business context of many industries. Online casino is one such rapidly growing industry. Different e-marketing approaches have been widely adopted by online casinos to attract more customers. In China, there are twice as many online gamblers as there are online shoppers. Due to the high population in China, the market potential is huge. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of Chinese gamblers’ perceptions of e-marketing mix elements on their adoption of online casinos. The results can provide a reference for investors to develop more effective online casino businesses