Southeast Asian travel destinations desolated by some Chinese

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Erik Nilsson

China Daily

Publication Date : 07-10-2014

Southeast Asian countries continue to lure Chinese tourists, but fewer are answering their call

The relative decline of Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia is to an extent a story of paradise lost-but is perhaps more so a testament to new paradises found.

Outbound Chinese travel to the region has plummeted this year-by nearly 40 per cent in Singapore's case.

Discussion surrounding the startling drop-the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' five-year tourism development plan is aimed toward Chinese and Indian visitor influxes-has largely honed in on a new, perceived undesirability of old favourite destinations.

Media point to territorial disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam; the disappearance of flight MH370; Thailand's instability; and Singapore losing influence as a gateway to aforementioned destinations.

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Southeast Asian travel destinations desolated by some Chinese

Pressing the accelerator on quantum robotics

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Oct 06, 2014 The theoretical work has focused on using quantum computing to accelerate the machine learning.

Quantum computing will allow for the creation of powerful computers, but also much smarter and more creative robots than conventional ones. This was the conclusion reached by researchers from Spain and Austria, who have confirmed that quantum tools help robots learn and respond much faster to the stimuli around them.

Quantum mechanics has revolutionised the world of communications and computers by introducing algorithms which are much quicker and more secure in transferring information. Now researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and the University of Innsbruck (Austria) have published a study in the journal 'Physical Review X' which states that these tools can be used to apply to robots, automatons and the other agents that use artificial intelligence (AI).

They demonstrate for the first time that quantum machines can respond the best and act the fastest against the environment surrounding them. More specifically, they adapt to situations where the conventional ones, which are much slower, cannot finish the learning and response processes.

"In the case of very demanding and 'impatient' environments, the outcome is that the quantum robot can adapt itself and survive, while the classic robot is destined to collapse," explains G. Davide Paparo and Miguel A. Martn-Delgado, the two researchers from UCM who have participated in the study.

Their theoretical work has focused on using quantum computing to accelerate ahead with one of the most difficult points to resolve in information technology: machine learning, which is used to create highly accurate models and predictions. It is applied, for example, to know how the climate or an illness will evolve or in the development of Internet search engines.

More creative quantum robots

"Building a model is actually a creative act, but conventional computers are no good at it," says Martn-Delgado. "That is where quantum computing comes into play. The advances it brings are not only quantitative in terms of greater speed, but also qualitative: adapting better to environments where the classic agent does not survive. This means that quantum robots are more creative".

The authors assess the scope of their study as such: "It means a step forward towards the most ambitious objective of artificial intelligence: the creation of a robot that is intelligent and creative, and that is not designed for specific tasks".

This work comes under a new discipline, the so-called 'quantum AI', an area in which the company Google has started to invest millions of dollars via the creation of a specialised laboratory in collaboration with the NASA.

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Pressing the accelerator on quantum robotics

BioEden the specialist tooth stem cell bank plan to shake up public perception as Stem Cell Awareness week takes hold.

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(PRWEB UK) 7 October 2014

Stem cell treatments take place in countries all around the world every day. Thousands of lives have already been saved, and advancements in this area of medicine means that future healthcare treatments look set to further prolong and improve life.

But specialist stem cell bank BioEden warn that there is a risk of thinking of stem cell therapy in terms of the future alone. 'The need to have a stem cell match is vital', says Group CEO Mr Tony Veverka. 'Without access to a stem cell match, the work of stem cell scientists could be at risk. That is the reason why BioEden was set up, to ensure that anyone could bank and have access to their own stem cells. We also wanted to ensure that the brilliant work being carried out by stem cell scientists and medical professionals could continue unhindered'.

BioEden's services are being promoted by Health Care Professionals including specialist insurance intermediaries, and dentists. This week to highlight Stem Cell Awareness week, members of their specialist teams will be on the road visiting dentists, schools and healthcare insurance companies.

'Let's make everyone aware of the opportunities they have to store their own cells during stem cell awareness week. Perhaps we need to re name it Stem Cell Self-Awareness week'.

For more information visit http://www.bioeden.com

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BioEden the specialist tooth stem cell bank plan to shake up public perception as Stem Cell Awareness week takes hold.

TMI! Day11: Juice Detox Fast for Nutrition,Weightloss,Creative Blocks,Spiritual Enlightenment – Video

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TMI! Day11: Juice Detox Fast for Nutrition,Weightloss,Creative Blocks,Spiritual Enlightenment
I stink - one of the many detox effects AKA healing crisis. My all natural fix for stinky pits is.....................................ACV - Apple Cider Vinegar! I #39;ve also added a few of the...

By: Lynnette Astaire

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TMI! Day11: Juice Detox Fast for Nutrition,Weightloss,Creative Blocks,Spiritual Enlightenment - Video

Private Inflatable Room Launching to Space Station Next Year

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TORONTO A privately built inflatable room for astronauts on the International Space Station is on track to launch into orbit next year.

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is expected to head to space inside SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft in 2015, according to a senior representative for the company Bigelow Aerospace, which is building the module. Once BEAM gets to the space station, the robotic Canadarm2 will install it on the Tranquility node's aft port to test out expandable-habitat technology.

NASA is paying Nevada-based Bigelow $17.8 million to send the demonstration module to the station, where it will be in place for at least a couple of years. Here at the International Astronautical Congress Thursday (Oct. 2), Bigelow representative Mike Gold said BEAM provides an example of what the company, and private firms in general, can do in low-Earth orbit (LEO). [Photos: Bigelow's Inflatable Space Station Idea]

"LEO will become a commercial domain," said Gold, Bigelow's director of D.C. operations and business growth.

"Maybe it's difficult to see at this point, but we go back to telecom there was a time when every communications satellite was owned by the government," he added, noting that today, private companies are now responsible for this space domain and that it touches every aspect of people's lives, such as cellphones. "This will happen when it comes to crew operations."

The BEAM mission will allow Bigelow to collect even more data about how its expandable habitat modules perform on orbit. The company blasted two other modules to orbit as stand-alone missions in 2006 and 2007 and plans to launch a private space station someday.

Private work in space, Gold noted, is hampered by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which restrict the sharing of technology with other countries, particularly China. Citing "Star Trek," Gold joked that Scottish engineer Montgomery Scott would have had trouble speaking openly with Hikaru Sulu (from Japan) if ITAR were in force on the Enterprise.

After gravity, Gold said, ITAR is the second-greatest barrier to getting something off Earth. China, in particular, is the "third rail" of ITAR, Gold said, urging other companies to help him speak to government officials in an attempt to make changes.

"We cannot fight the New Space vs. Old Space battle with so few companies," he said. "The pie is too small. We need to come together as space enthusiasts."

Speaking on the same panel as Gold, Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's chief of human exploration and operations, said commercial operations are needed on the International Space Station because NASA "owes the taxpayers some return."

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Private Inflatable Room Launching to Space Station Next Year

Q&A on the News

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Q: I know its still up there because a computer was recently delivered to the International Space Station, but we never get word that it is flying over us. It seems like forever since we were made aware of a flyover.

Dr. James C. and Marjorie S. Waggoner, McDonough

A: A NASA website spotthestation.nasa.gov provides times and dates when the International Space Station can be viewed from many areas of the world through its Location Lookup menu. The website also provides tips on spotting the space station and includes a section to sign up to receive email or text alerts when it can be viewed in your area.

The website shows several opportunities this week when the space station can be seen from the McDonough area, including four-minute period around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday and three minutes each about 8:33 p.m. Thursday and 7:45 p.m. Friday. The International Space Station is about the size of a football field and can be seen from earth without a telescope.

Q: What is the combined population of the countries with golfers who participated in the Ryder Cup, compared to the population of the United States?

Petie Freeman, Roswell

A: The European Ryder Cup team included professional golfers from Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). The combined population of those countries is 274.2 million, using estimated figures for 2014. The U.S. has an estimated 319 million people, according to the Census Bureau. The European team defeated the U.S. team on Sept. 28 and has won eight of the past 10 Ryder Cup championships, dating to 1995.

Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? Well try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

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Q&A on the News

Station astronauts gear up for spacewalk Tuesday

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Space station astronauts will venture outside the complex Tuesday and again next week to move a failed ammonia pump to a more secure storage location, to replace an electrical component that will restore one of the lab's solar power channels to normal operation and to carry out a variety of maintenance tasks.

Astronauts Reid Wiseman and Alexander Gerst are gearing up for a spacewalk Tuesday. Photo credit: NASA The two U.S. spacewalks will set the stage for a complex series of eight to 10 NASA EVAs and module relocations next year that are needed to prepare the station for dockings by Boeing and SpaceX commercial crew ferry craft.

Two commercial crew docking adapters will be installed, one on the front end of the forward Harmony module where shuttles once docked and the other on the module's upper space-facing port. Harmony's Earth-facing port will remain available for use by visiting cargo ships.

A pressurized storage module now attached to the Earth-facing port of the central Unity module will be moved to the forward side of the Tranquility compartment where the multi-window cupola is located, making way for equipment that will enable visiting cargo ships berth at Unity.

The relocations will be carried out remotely using the station's robot arm, but multiple spacewalks will be needed to route and re-route power and data cables and to install a universal communications and navigation system that will be used by Boeing and SpaceX crew craft during station approaches and departures.

When the work is complete, the U.S. segment of the station will be able to accommodate two commercial crew vehicles and two cargo ships at the same time, providing fully independent access to the lab complex for the first time since the space shuttle's retirement in 2011.

"When you look out a little further as to how the EVAs stack up after the first of the year and out into the spring, we're really going to start this transformation of the space station," said Kenny Todd, space station integration and operations manager. "We're going to be doing the things we need to do on these EVAs to prep for moving some modules around.

"All that is in preparation for being able to support future commercial crewed vehicles coming to station. We're trying to get out in front of that. We'll be prepping for moving modules, we'll be installing a new docking adapter system. All of that will be happening throughout the next several months."

But first, NASA is staging a pair of spacewalks to complete unfinished business, to restore an electrical power channel to normal operation and to move camera lights and equipment needed for the upcoming commercial crew reconfiguration.

Flight engineer Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst plan to kick off the first spacewalk, U.S. EVA-27, at 8:10 a.m. EDT (GMT-4) Tuesday, exiting the Quest airlock module and making their way to the forward face of the station's solar power truss where the pump module is mounted on a robot arm transporter.

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Station astronauts gear up for spacewalk Tuesday

SPOTTED: SLS, Saturn V on CBSs The Big Bang Theory

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) A seemingly inconspicuous set design choice caught the attention of one Marshall Space Flight Center employee.

Rockets developed and worked on right here in the Rocket City decorate the home of one ofBig Bang Theorysmost popular science nerds.

Tucked in the background of Howard Wolowitzs home are models of the Saturn V rocket, Space Launch System, and NASAs Orion Spacecraft.

Weabsolutely love programs like that that give the cool factor to science and math, said Kim Henry, a spokesperson for Marshall Space Flight Center. Even here, somany people the next day after an episode will talk about things on the episode that were discussed that may relate to their job here.

NASA provides model rockets for educational and promotional purposes. Theywant people across the nation to get talking about whats to come for space exploration.

NASAson an exciting journey right now. Were going to deep space. Were eventually going to an asteroid and maybe even Mars, said Henry. [The SLS will]be the most powerful rocket weve ever built. Its exciting and we want the American public to know about it, to get behind it, get excited about it, to be a part of it.

Its not the first timeNASAs work got a nod from the show. Ina2012episode, Howard took a trip to the International Space Station.

You can catch the Big Bang Theory and maybe even a glimpse of the rockets on WHNT News 19 on Mondays at 7 p.m.

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SPOTTED: SLS, Saturn V on CBSs The Big Bang Theory