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In the context of rapid urbanization, accurately identifying the visual factors that influence environmental safety perception is crucial for improving urban transportation environments and enhancing pedestrian safety. With the increase in urban population density and traffic flow, optimizing urban environmental design to elevate residents' sense of safety has become a key issue in urban planning and management. However, the existing studies face numerous challenges in conducting large-scale quantitative analysis of environmental safety perception in complex scenarios, such as difficulties in data acquisition and limitations in analytical methods. This study addresses these challenges by applying image semantic segmentation and object detection techniques to extract key visual elements from street view images, combined with manual scoring and deep learning methods, to construct a road safety perception dataset. Using a LightGBM model and the SHAP interpretation framework, in this study, we identify the critical visual factors influencing environmental safety perception. An empirical study was conducted in Macau, a modern city where Eastern and Western cultures intersect, and tourism thrives. The findings reveal that: ① The overall environmental safety perception in the eight parishes and surrounding roads of Macau is relatively high, with significant regional differences in safety perception scores around Macau's parish roads; ② The proportions of buildings, sidewalks, roads, and trees in images are the four primary factors influencing environmental safety perception; ③ The proportions and quantities of visual elements interact with each other, and their reasonable distribution helps form clear spatial visibility and creates conducive activity spaces, thereby enhancing the perception of environmental safety. Through empirical analysis, this study uncovers the mechanisms by which visual elements in urban street scenes affect environmental safety perception, providing scientific evidence for urban planning and transportation environment improvement. The research holds theoretical significance and offers practical references for urban design and management, demonstrating broad application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the generation of a large amount of medical waste brought a rude shock to the existing solid waste management system. Since masks constitute the most common household medical waste under the COVID-19 pandemic, their effective collection and treatment can significantly reduce the potential risks for secondary transmission, and this concern has attracted worldwide attention. Taking Macau City as a case study, this research tried to identify factors that can influence residents' behavioral intentions toward the source separation of COVID-19 waste masks. The extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model is used to examine the influence factors of the source separation behaviors of 510 respondents. The results show that the main factors that positively affected respondents' behavioral intentions toward waste-mask source separation are: cognitive attitude, convenience, and perceived behavioral control, and among these, cognitive attitude has the highest influence. Subjective norm is also proved to be the weak factor to improving behavioral intention. Policy advocacy, and demographic variables have no significant effect on behavioral intention. The results of this study can help decision makers and managers formulate effective strategies to increase residents' participation in the source separation of waste masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the development and evolution of multilingual languages in Macau over the past 400 years, as well as the relationship and interaction of these languages with Macau society. The complex relationship between translation and society in multilingual societies is also discussed. By doing so, this study attempts to fill the current research gap by investigating the formation and evolution of multilingualism in a multicultural context from a historical perspective. To understand the evolving changes in Macau's languages and the relationship with society at large, this paper provides a review of the evolution of the multilingual society in Macau from a historical perspective while analyzing the features of Macau's multiple languages in different historical periods and revealing the influence of multilingualism on Macau's development. This review argues that there are three stages in the formation of a multilingual society and culture in Macau: Chinese as the predominant language in Macau (ancient times-1553), the early introduction of foreign languages and the official status of Portuguese languages in Macau (1553–1987), and Chinese, Portuguese, and English as the three mainstream languages in Macau (1987-present). Through a review of the past for insights into the formation of the multilingual society in Macau, the paper sheds light on the long history of Macau's Chinese and Portuguese cultures and their main linguistic influence on Macau's society and culture. Findings reveal that Macau could utilize its Portuguese characteristics and play an influential role in world communications, bridging the gap between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation policy, although an essential topic in the domain of language policy, has been understudied in China. Macau, as the earliest encounter point between the western and oriental cultures in Modern China, has been undeservingly neglected in this aspect, although its translation activities have never been interrupted since the Ming Dynasty. As such, this article sets out to trace the development of the translation policy in Macau (from its establishment to its handover to China in 1999). In particular, we will focus on tracing the historical evolution and development of the translation policy in Macau in the time span of over 400 years since the Portuguese establishment in 1557. The purpose is to cast a critical eye on its experiences in translation policymaking, using examples from official regulations, existing studies, and bibliometric data. We reconceptualize translation policy to entail the aspects of translation management, translation practices, and beliefs. Overall, the translation policy of Macau contributes to remapping the translation policy of China as important footnotes to the fuller picture of several essential historical periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is virtually impossible to accurately measure employee theft across the casino industry using official statistics. In this paper, we use the self-report method for measuring crime to (a) estimate the prevalence, incidence, seriousness, and versatility of occupational offending in casinos in Macau, China—the largest casino gambling location in the world; and (b) identify characteristics which correlate with that offending. One in seven employees in our sample (14%; 38 out of 281) reported engaging in at least one of six offenses (theft in the workplace, falsification of documents, computer fraud, bribe offering, bribe accepting, and white-collar exploitation) in the 12 months prior to their survey response. The great majority of active offenders specialized in crime type: 61% of the active offenders in our sample (23 out of 38) committed just one of the six occupational crimes. Criminal "specialization" notwithstanding, offenders committed their crimes relatively frequently; occupational crimes were particularly costly to casinos in the long run; and these offenses varied in their severity and extent depending on crime type. Demographic characteristics of casino employees—in particular, male gender, occupational position, work schedule, and work-related experience—were associated with whether an employee engaged in workplace crime. Regarding psychological and lifestyle characteristics of employees, only financial pressure and gambling behavior were significantly related to occupational offending. Given that casinos are subject to high levels of surveillance relative to other places of employment, criminal motivation, and not just opportunity, could matter in terms of crimes committed by workers in the gaming industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study analyzes the use of translanguaging in co-learning activities involving four junior-one students in an English remedial class. The school advocates a policy of English immersion in the regular English class, although students may have difficulty understanding the teachers and interacting with them during the classes. In the remedial class, however, the policy is not strictly enforced, and, hence, students can leverage semiotic resources from their linguistic repertoires without restriction. All four learners constantly engage in translanguaging in interactive, co-learning activities, drawing upon semiotic resources from not only different languages (i.e., English, Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin) but also non-academic registers (i.e., trendy expressions, internet slang) and non-verbal modes (e.g., body gestures, facial expression). In this particular context, the major purpose of translanguaging is to enable the subjects to take up multiple roles (i.e., as a peer and as a 'little teacher') and enact different relationships with classmates/groupmates (i.e., peer-peer and teacher-student) in the class (i.e., Excerpts 1 and 2). In the case of a low achiever, translanguaging allows him to actively seek help from the other 'little teachers'; moreover, his use of Japanese, in which he takes pride, serves as a face-saving strategy. The preference for particular expressions (e.g., internet slang, trendy expressions, Japanese) reflects the students' hobbies, personal experiences and cultural preferences, thus building their individual image and identity in relation to the teacher and other students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hypotheses have been advanced to explain gambling prevalence and addiction among various populations-the exposure hypothesis and the adaptation hypothesis. This study tests these hypotheses in the context of casino employees in Macau. In the etiology of gambling, casino employees have been considered a unique segment of the population. Employees working in casinos are probably more exposed to gambling stimuli than any other group. The findings suggest that indicators of heavy involvement in casino gambling among casino employees were no higher than among other residents of Macau. In terms of gambling frequency, casino employees actually gambled less often than the general adult population in Macau. These results are in contrast to results from studies of gaming venue employees in Australia and Canada. The differing findings are probably attributable to particularities of Macau discussed in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aims to delineate the effects of family violence and parent–adolescent conflict on antisocial behavior exhibited by adolescents in the Chinese casino city of Macau. The social interaction perspective indicates the significance of coercive family processes in relation to adolescents' antisocial behavior, and the related moderating role of positive parenting behavior. How this process is experienced by Chinese Macau adolescents, who are influenced by traditional Chinese culture, is explored. Objectives: This article examines the relationship of family violence and parent–adolescent conflict with adolescents' antisocial behavior in Macau. It also examines the possible moderating role of parental support in this relationship. Method: Using a stratified proportional approach, a random sample of 1889 Grade 7 to Grade 12 students was taken from Macau high schools. The young people reported their neutral/positive behavior and delinquent behavior, family conflict, and emotional and instrumental support they received from parents. Results: Multiple regression analyses suggest that family violence and parent–adolescent conflict are correlated with adolescent antisocial behavior. Moreover, both instrumental and emotional support from parents can moderate the effect of family conflict on adolescents' antisocial behavior. Conclusions: Parents providing instrumental and emotional support to Macau Chinese adolescents is negatively correlated with adolescent antisocial behavior in Macau. In view of the long and unstable working hours of parents working in a gambling city, social workers in Macau could develop more innovative programs to support parents in Macau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macau is a window to understand the struggle between China and Taiwan in foreign territories. Located at the doorstep of a giant nation, the Portuguese administration in Macau was once successful in striking a balance between Taiwan which maintained diplomatic relations with Portugal until 1975 on the one hand, and China, a communist regime that Portugal opposed on the other. The overspill of Cultural Revolution to Macau in 1966 and 1967 destructed the delicate balance. The 1966 "December 3 incident" and the aftermath were celebrated by pro-Beijing social elites as a victory of patriotic movement against oppressive colonialism. This came at a cost of Macau's isolation from the major Chinese communities outside China, namely Taiwan and Hong Kong. The political radicalization was followed by expulsion of the pro-Taiwan elements, eviction of British and Hong Kong establishments and erosion of Portuguese sovereignty over Macau. The impact on Macau's political social development lingered for decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segmentation of gamblers is useful for understanding their distinctive characteristics and enforcing customized measures in harm minimization work. Previous research has commonly adopted gambling motivation and involvement as segmentation criteria. However, these criteria are less identifiable through observation. Gambling forms, used in recent gambling segmentation research, are more observable, facilitating the prevention and treatment work of governments and practitioners, as the identified segments have distinctive gambling disorder symptoms. As gambling is widespread in the Chinese population and little is known about this ethnic group in terms of gambling form segments, latent class analysis was used to classify 855 Chinese gamblers in Macau based on their participation in 11 gambling forms in the previous 12 months. The analysis identified three distinct segments: casino gamblers, lottery gamblers, and sociable gamblers. Socio-demographic differences between the three segments were revealed. Casino gamblers, compared with their counterparts, were more likely to have DSM-V symptoms, particularly escape and bailouts. Lottery gamblers and sociable gamblers only differed in one symptom, the latter having a higher probability of chasing their losses. Based on these results, Macau policymakers are advised to prioritize their harm minimization measures such as requiring casinos to provide training to workers to help to identify gambling disorder symptoms and that workers should intervene when the symptoms of escape and bailouts were identified from the gamblers. Special attention should be given to Macau casino gamblers who are male, unemployed, or with highest education of high school diploma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a questionnaire survey, this study aims to investigate the contributions of different sources in developing science teachers' practical knowledge of teaching with practical work. The framework of this study is based on the conceptualization of PCK and ten possible sources of science teachers' PCK related to teaching with practical work. The findings of this study can be summed in the following aspects. Firstly, among the ten possible sources, overall, the more important sources are "personal teaching practices and reflection" and "informal exchanges with colleagues"; the important sources are "reading teaching materials," "learning from online resources," and "pre-service training experience," while the least important ones are "in-service training experience" and "experience as primary and secondary school student." Secondly, for the five components of PCK of teaching with practical work, the contributions of the ten sources are different. Thirdly, three sources are found to be significantly different between teachers who have pre-service training experience and those who do not have. They are "classroom observation" (goals toward practical work), "in-service training experience" (laboratorial curriculum materials; instructional strategies), and "reading professional journals" (teaching assessment). In the last part of this paper, some explanations are provided for these findings and the limitation of this study is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of constructing a typology of the cultural tourists visiting a particular destination has interested the professionals since early 1990s. A number of typologies, often quite similar to each other, have been proposed and occasionally evaluated at various destinations. While most of the literature is purely conceptual, some works use typological frameworks to empirically categorize cultural tourists at a particular destination sourcing from survey results, typically by administrating a questionnaire to inbound and outbound travelers. This work, to the contrary, constructs an empirical typology of international cultural tourists who have visited Macau based on their reviews on TripAdvisor. The aim of this work is to discover visitation patterns to the nucleus of Macau's culture by analyzing user-generated content data using text analysis approaches. This model can automatically indicate the probability of a visitor being one particular culture tourist type. The results of this work will offer insights into local tourism authorities and industries for better resource allocation and cultural tourism promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The rapid growth of vehicle sales and usage has highlighted the need for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in Macau, a special administrative region (SAR) of China. As the most primary vehicle type, light-duty vehicles (LDV, including light-duty gasoline vehicles (LDGVs) and light-duty diesel vehicles (LDDVs)) play a key role in promoting the GHG reduction and development of green transportation system in Macau.Methods: This study, on the basis of real-world tested and statistical data, firstly performed a streamlined life-cycle assessment (SLCA) on LDVs, to evaluate the potential GHG emissions and reduction through shifting to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs).Results and discussion: The results show that the mean GHG emissions from the LDGVs, LDDVs, and HEVs per 100 km were 25.16, 20.30, and 15.00 kg CO2 eq, respectively. Under the current electricity mix in Macau, EVs with the emissions of 12.39 kg CO2 eq/100 km can achieve a significant GHG emission reduction of LDVs in Macau. The total GHG emissions from LDVs increased from 124.99 to 247.82 thousand metric tons over the periods 2001-2014, with a 5.42% annual growth rate. A scenario analysis indicated that the development of HEVs and EVs—especially EVs—has the potential to control the GHG emissions from LDVs. Under the electricity mix of natural gas (NG) and solar energy (SE), the GHG emissions from EVs would drop by about 22 and 28%, respectively, by 2030.Conclusions: This study develops a useful approach to evaluate the potential GHG emissions and its reduction strategies in Macau. All the obtained results could be useful for decision makers, providing robust support for drawing up an appropriate plan for improving green transportation systems in Macau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful drug intervention policies rely on timely assessment of size of drug users and close monitoring of trend regarding drug abuse. Taking advantage of data collected by the Central Registration System for Drug Abusers of Macau (CRSDAM), this study applied open population capture-recapture models with data augmentation techniques to estimate the size of drug users and to identify influential factors on capture and survival probabilities from 2009 to 2014. In particular, the data augmentation technique was used to address missing data issues. The estimated size of drug users has been slowly declining from 2442 (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] 2042-2914) in 2009 to 807 (95% BCI 654-1000) in 2014 with a small fluctuation of 2251 (95% BIC 1950-2599) in 2011, and the estimated cumulative size of drug users is 6199 (95% BCI 5651-6873), which is correspondent to a prevalence rate of 1.20% of the current population aged 15 to 54. Although the estimated sizes of total, narcotic, and other drug users were declining, the size of stimulant users might be increasing. People who used narcotics as their first drug and who were reported by governmental agencies were more likely to stay in the registration system, while those who used needle injection were less likely to stay. Governmental agencies, higher education, and using needle injection were negatively associated with the probability of capture over time, while using narcotics as the first drug was positively associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The used electronic product (UEP) has attracted the worldwide attentions because part of e-waste may be exported from developed countries to developing countries in the name of UEP. On the basis of large foreign trade data of electronic products (e-products), this study adopted the trade data approach (TDA) to quantify the potential exports of UEP in Macau, taking a case study of personal computers (PCs). The results show that the desktop mainframes, LCD monitors, and CRT monitors have more low-unit-value trades with higher trade volumes in the past 10 years, while the laptop and tablet PCs, as the newer technologies, owned the higher ratios of the high-unit-value trades. During the period of 2005-2015, the total mean exports for used laptop and tablet PCs, desktop mainframes, and LCD monitors were approximately 18,592, 79,957, and 43,177 units, respectively, while the possible export volume of used CRT monitors was higher, up to 430,098 units in 2000-2010. Noticed that these potential export volumes could be the lower bound because not all used PCs may be shipped using the PC trade code. For all the four kinds of used PCs, the majority (61.6-98.82%) of the export volumes have gone to Hong Kong, followed by Mainland China and Taiwan. Since 2011, there was no CRT monitor export; however, the other kinds of used PC exports will still exist in Macau in the future. The outcomes are helpful to understand and manage the current export situations of used products in Macau, and can also provide a reference for other countries and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Macau is a Special Administrative Region in China that has experienced tremendous development in its gambling industry during its post-colonial years. To inform mental health planning, this study presents the first population estimates and correlates of the current depression in Macau.Methods: A population-representative sample of 1068 Macau Chinese citizens aged 18 or above responded to a household telephone survey in January, 2015. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured the current depression. Logistic regression models assessed the association between depression and potential correlates.Results: Overall, 8.0% (95% CI 6.3-9.7) of persons reported the current depression. A higher but non-significant proportion of women reported depression than men (9.3 vs. 6.6%) and older women reported higher prevalence (13.4%) than other demographic groups. Persons who were unemployed (OR = 4.9, 2.3-10.5), separated or divorced (OR = 3.1, 1.1-8.9), and reported poor self-rated health (OR = 5.0, 2.8-9.0), low quality of life (OR = 6.2, 3.1-12.7), lower social standing (OR = 2.4, 1.4-4.0), lower community trust (OR = 1.9, 1.2-3.1), lower perceived fairness (OR = 2.3, 1.4-3.8), lower social cohesion (OR = 3.8, 2.3-6.2), and lower social integration (OR = 3.0, 1.9-5.0) had greater odds of depression than their comparison group.Conclusions: The current study demonstrated the burden of depression among Macau adults disproportionately affects women during emerging adolescence and old age, and men during middle adulthood. Key strategies to improve mental health services in Macau are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a comparative study on adolescents in Hong Kong ( N = 1,830) and Macau ( N = 2,761), this article examines how differences in the wider economic contexts would affect the development of subjective well-being in adolescents. In particular, despite having similar levels of economic development, Hong Kong resembles a mature economy while Macau is still enjoying healthy growth due to the difference in the timing of economic booms experienced by the two Chinese cities. Therefore, it is suggested that adolescents in Hong Kong grow up under a constant pressure to be competitive within an increasingly limited economy, while their counterparts in Macau could expect to have a more comfortable time in the future. This crucial difference is hypothesized to be responsible for the observation that older adolescents in Macau are associated with higher hope and purpose in life, while the same cannot be said for those in Hong Kong. Subsequent analysis of the factors underlying the measure of hope further reinforces our arguments. This study carries strong implications for understanding how child well-being is affected by the wider economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme storm tide usually causes flooding of low-lying land in a coastal city. Hence, developing an efficient and accurate forecasting model for issuing a timely warning is important. In this study, an adaptive Kalman filter-based storm tide forecasting model was proposed and applied to the inner Harbor of Macau. The model is a dynamic linear regression model with the harmonic tidal prediction, wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric pressure as its input parameters. With persistence forecast of weather assumed during the prediction period, the model was tested with 40 cases of storm tide induced by tropical cyclones in Macau between 2005 and 2012. Success was found for forecasts with lead times up to 3 hours. The proposed adaptive model is considered a practical tool for storm tide forecast in small coastal cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing public attention has been brought to bear on the solid waste management in Macau, due to the continually increasing generation of amount and the limited space. In this study, we discussed residents' attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for solid waste management through a questionnaire survey. The results showed that Macau residents owned a relatively high environmental awareness. In regard to Macau environmental quality, most respondents (92.4 %) expressed their satisfactions on the current situation. About 50.2 % respondents thought that the solid waste pollution in Macau should be paid more attention than the other three environmental pollution ways (air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution). The survey data revealed the positive attitudes toward source separation in Macau. About 95.7 % respondents were willing to sort the solid waste at home, if the government required them to do it. In addition, for the question on how to improve the solid waste issues in Macau, 'Enhancing residents' environmental awareness' was considered as the most effective method, accounting for about 38.5 % respondents. In our study, most respondents (85.4 %) also provided positive answers to the questions about WTP. Using the logistic regression method, these survey results support the hypothesis that the probability of the respondents' saying 'yes' to the WTP question increases with education level. The monthly mean WTP was 38.5 MOP per household, and the annual WTP was approximately 79.7 million MOP for all of Macau. The results of our study can help managers develop more effective environmental management policies for solid waste disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education in Macau, China, is characterized by vocationalization of institutions, lack of faculty professionalization, and little or no shared governance. Using general statistics of higher education in Macau and a case study of one university, this paper illustrates not only the status of the profession but also the structural, cultural, and individual factors which influence that status. The findings have an important implication for the development of higher education in Macau in the post-colonial era. At a time of universal corporatization and commercialization in higher education, this study explores a challenge that higher education faces everywhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against a background of climate change, Macau is very exposed to sea level rise (SLR) because of its low elevation, small size, and ongoing land reclamation. Therefore, we evaluate sea level changes in Macau, both historical and, especially, possible future scenarios, aiming to provide knowledge and a framework to help accommodate and protect against future SLR. Sea level in Macau is now rising at an accelerated rate: 1.35 mm yr over 1925-2010 and jumping to 4.2 mm yr over 1970-2010, which outpaces the rise in global mean sea level. In addition, vertical land movement in Macau contributes little to local sea level change. In the future, the rate of SLR in Macau will be about 20% higher than the global average, as a consequence of a greater local warming tendency and strengthened northward winds. Specifically, the sea level is projected to rise 8-12, 22-51 and 35-118 cm by 2020, 2060 and 2100, respectively, depending on the emissions scenario and climate sensitivity. Under the +8.5 W m Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP8.5) scenario the increase in sea level by 2100 will reach 65-118 cm-double that under RCP2.6. Moreover, the SLR will accelerate under RCP6.0 and RCP8.5, while remaining at a moderate and steady rate under RCP4.5 and RCP2.6. The key source of uncertainty stems from the emissions scenario and climate sensitivity, among which the discrepancies in SLR are small during the first half of the 21st century but begin to diverge thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a close reading of a recent paper entitled 'A comparative analysis of scientific publications in management journals by authors from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau: 2003-2012' in Scientometrics, some potential problems regarding the data and conclusion of this paper are found. Several comments are made to this paper after replicating the data collection and analysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many national governments have employed strategic communication in promoting their external images. Though somewhat a sub-nation since its handover to China in 1999, the Macau Special Administrative Region Government (MSARG) finds it imperative to apply strategic communication to its place branding in its regional and international communities. Taking on the former Portuguese colony for an in-depth analysis, this study describes the perception of, knowledge about, and practice on strategic communication by the MSARG communication officials. The findings, though limited, seem reconcilable with the analytical assumptions of strategic communication studies in the west. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the political transition in 1999, the economic performance of Macau skyrocketed within a short period of time. Globalisation and the changing political, economic and social landscapes have all exerted influence on higher education. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of globalisation on public higher education in Macau after the change of sovereignty. The method of study is to analyse facts and figures provided by official sources. Five major dimensions are explored. First, the demand for higher education has increased. Second, government expenditure on higher education has multiplied. Third, the amount of resources coming from the private sector has been boosted. Fourth, the degree of internationalisation has been enhanced. Fifth, there is an aspiration from the government to establish a world class university. In many parts of the world, governments have decreased their expenditure on higher education. In Macau the experience is different. The Macau government generates large amounts of revenue from taxation, and therefore, it is able to increase its investment in higher education. However, it is noted that although educational opportunities are plentiful, distribution of resources is seriously uneven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the results of some empirical studies, casinos and gambling are widely considered to be breeding grounds for a range of deviant behavior and criminal offenses. As one writer expressed it, 'the world of gambling offers a portfolio of anonymous expenditure' which allows for money laundering and other illegal activities associated with the legal operation of casinos. This paper examines economic and white-collar criminal activities and case histories of offenses related to Macau's growing casino industry, now the highest revenue generating in the world. A Portuguese colony from 1557 until 1999 when it was returned to China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own governing officials operating under the PRC maxim of 'one country, two systems.' The dramatic recent growth of the casino industry in Macau offers a unique opportunity to examine issues of economic crime and law enforcement within the context of the People's Republic of China's recently acquired political and economic stewardship in this SAR. The paper documents white-collar and organized crimes that present new challenges and risks to China now that Macau has become an international marquee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposals for casinos usually focus on numbers of jobs without considering their quality. We surveyed 1,506 Macau residents, modelling happiness and job satisfaction. Being employed is shown to be important for 'happiness'. But job attributes also matter, confirming the work domain as influential on wellbeing. Casino employees report similar happiness as others. However, despite relatively high pay, they report low overall job satisfaction. The particular aspects of their jobs that they rated generally negatively tended to be those inherent in casino employment rather than easily modifiable by managerial action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the tremendous growth in the worldwide electronic information and telecommunication industries, there continues to be an increasing awareness of the environmental impacts related to the accelerating mass production, electricity use, and waste management of electrical and electronic products (e-products). Although Macau is a small region with a total land area of about 29.5 km and a population of 557,000 in 2011, there are two personal computers (PCs) for every household in Macau. Methods: This paper aims to describe the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to investigate the environmental performance of PCs in Macau. An assessment of the PC (focusing on the desktop PC) was carried out using a detailed modular LCA based on the international standards of the ISO 14040 series. The LCA was constructed using SimaPro software version 7.2 and expressed with both the Eco-indicator'99 method and the Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen method. Life cycle inventory information was compiled by Ecoinvent 2.2 databases, combined with literature and field investigations of the actual situations. Results and discussion: The established LCA study showed that the manufacturing and the use of such devices are of the highest environmental importance. In the manufacturing stage, the desktop contributes the most to the total environmental impacts (44.89 Pt), followed by the LCD screens (about 27.53 Pt), while the CRT screen, keyboard, and mouse are of minor importance. During the use phase, the environmental impact is due entirely to the consumption of electricity generated by coal, oil, natural gas, and hydropower. The electricity generated by coal is by far the most important, accounting for about 66 % of the total environmental impact, followed by oil and gas. Within the EoL treatment phase, using incineration, there will be little environmental impact. When adopting recycling technology in the EoL phase, apparent environmental benefits will be generated due mainly to avoiding emissions to water (arsenic ions and cadmium ions) and to air (SO) in the primary production phase. For the competing technologies of CRT and LCD screens, the environmental impacts are different in different phases, but the total impacts over their entire life cycle are similar. Conclusions: Results from a life cycle assessment can be used to compare the relative environmental impacts of competing technologies; it can also help designers and managers to focus efforts toward making environmental improvements to a particular technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the initial findings of an ongoing, long-term investigation into subjective quality of life in Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China. Data were collected via quarterly public surveys (2007 to 2009; n = 8,230), as part of the Macau Quality of Life Report. The main aims of the study were to: (a) ascertain the public's satisfaction with life and with the regional situation in Macau; (b) confirm the utility of the International Wellbeing Index (IWI) as a measure of subjective life quality; and (c) contribute to ongoing discussion in the literature on quality of life in China. The data indicated moderate levels of personal (PWI = 64.4; range 63-66.7) and national (NWI = 59.7; 57.4-63.7) wellbeing across the study period, which implies that residents in Macau are generally satisfied with life. The lowest scores were reported in the first quarter of 2009, a period of great economic uncertainty in Macau and the world, but were positioned within the normative range. The IWI demonstrated good psychometric performance, consistent with previous studies in China and the West, which confirmed its utility. These findings are discussed in relation to the IWI's theoretical underpinnings and the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ims: To examine the relationship among sociodemographic changes, economic instability and the availability of health resources to the birth rate in Macau. Subjects and methods: A retrospective design was used where yearly data were collected from Macau for the period from 1957 to 2006. The birth rate was the dependent variable, and sociodemographic factors, economic status and health resources were the three main explanatory variables. Results: Results showed that higher marriage rates (beta = 0.13, p = 0.015), a higher birth rate in the previous year (beta = 0.89, p = 0.001), greater public health care expenditure (beta = 0.41, p = 0.009), lower levels of educated women (beta = −0.19, p = 0.021) and fewer people working in the gambling industry (beta = −0.73, p = 0.012) were associated with a higher birth rate. Conclusions: Regression estimates support our hypothesis that the sociodemographically disadvantaged are at a significantly higher risk for live births. In contrast, greater public health care expenditure significantly increases the birth rate, as has been shown in previous studies. Based on these findings, it is suggested that more efforts be directed towards removing barriers that impede access to health care services and increasing preventive health for disadvantaged populations, particularly during periods of economic recession. In addition, efforts should be made to expand and improve the coverage of prenatal and infant health care programs in order to alleviate regional differences in the utilization of health care and improve the overall birth rate in Macau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical analysis of stormwater runoff data enables general identification of runoff characteristics. Six catchments with different urban surface type including roofs, roadway, park, and residential/commercial in Macau were selected for sampling and study during the period from June 2005 to September 2006. Based on univariate statistical analysis of data sampled, major pollutants discharged from different urban surface type were identified. As for iron roof runoff, Zn is the most significant pollutant. The major pollutants from urban roadway runoff are TSS and COD. Stormwater runoff from commercial/residential and Park catchments show high level of COD, TN, and TP concentration. Principal component analysis was further done for identification of linkages between stormwater quality and urban surface types. Two potential pollution sources were identified for study catchments with different urban surface types. The first one is referred as nutrients losses, soil losses and organic pollutants discharges, the second is related to heavy metals losses. PCA was proved to be a viable tool to explain the type of pollution sources and its mechanism for different urban surface type catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of broad literature on cross-border flows for higher education, this article examines the distinctive case of mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong and Macau. These territories are a sort of bridge between the fully domestic and the fully international. Hong Kong and Macau higher education plays a dual role, as a destination in itself for higher education and as a stepping-stone for students’ further international development. Patterns in Hong Kong are slightly different from those in Macau, and the territories may thus be usefully compared with each other as well as taken as a pair for comparison with other parts of the world. The paper begins by noting the literature on the ways that push and pull factors influence student mobility, and then turns to motivations in pursuit of academic and professional growth, economic benefit, individual internationalisation, and enhanced social status. The paper shows that flows of mainland Chinese students are driven by both excess and differentiated demand. Analysis of the distinctive features of this pair of territories adds to wider conceptual understanding of the nature of cross-border flows for higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China's deepening economic reform, higher education plays a crucial role in social stratification and mobility. External higher education is both a symbol of cultural capital and a means of fulfilling social mobility. This article examines the relationship between students' socioeconomic backgrounds and the opportunities derived from cross-border higher education, focusing on Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong and Macau. It shows that students with scholarships come from a range of social backgrounds, but that fee-paying students are only from relatively prosperous families. Higher education in Hong Kong and Macau promotes mobility for some, but preserves social stratification for others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review on the annual PM10 concentrations over a 10-year period shows that Macau is subjected to severe fine particulate pollution. Investigations of its variation in monthly and daily time scales with the local meteorological records reveal further details. It is found that a distinct feature of the Asian monsoon climates, the changes of wind direction, mainly controls the general trend of PM10 concentration in a year. The monsoon driven winter north-easterly winds bring upon Macau dry and particle enriched air masses leading to a higher concentration in that period while the summer south-westerly winds transport humid and cleaner air to the region leading to a lower PM10 value. This distinct seasonal feature is further enhanced by the lower rainfall volume and frequency as well as mixing height in winter and their higher counterparts in summer. It is also found that the development of tropical cyclones near Macau could also impose episode like PM10 concentration spikes due to the pre-typhoon induced stagnant air motion followed by the swing of wind direction to the northerly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in multitask prediction in chemoinformatics, helped by the increasing use of deep neural networks in this field. This technique is applied to multitarget data sets, where compounds have been tested against different targets, with the aim of developing models to predict a profile of biological activities for a given compound. However, multitarget data sets tend to be sparse; i.e., not all compound-target combinations have experimental values. There has been little research on the effect of missing data on the performance of multitask methods. We have used two complete data sets to simulate sparseness by removing data from the training set. Different models to remove the data were compared. These sparse sets were used to train two different multitask methods, deep neural networks and Macau, which is a Bayesian probabilistic matrix factorization technique. Results from both methods were remarkably similar and showed that the performance decrease because of missing data is at first small before accelerating after large amounts of data are removed. This work provides a first approximation to assess how much data is required to produce good performance in multitask prediction exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]