Responsible gambling strategies for Internet gambling: The theoretical and empirical base of using pop-up messages to encourage self-awareness

Internet gambling is a rapidly growing phenomenon, increasing in types of games and gambling opportunities, number of sites, owners and jurisdictions. In response participation and revenue generated by Internet gambling is also rising, along with the incidence of Internet gambling problems. In the unregulated environment it is difficult for players to be assured appropriate safeguards to protect them from harm, however, responsible gambling strategies are essential to reduce to risks of online gambling. Currently there is wide variation in the extent to which responsible gambling strategies are implemented, and little empirical support for their efficacy. Based on theoretical conceptualisation and empirical evidence taken from gambling and Internet research, this paper proposes the use of pop-up messages encouraging self-awareness to effectively increase responsible gambling and reduce the incidence of problem gambling. The paper describes the rationale for this strategy and key principles for the most effective implementation of this strategy. The conclusions drawn have significant implications for key stakeholders including industry, policy decision makers, regulators, academics and community members.     

Tap water quality and performance of point-of-use treatment devices in Cairo, Egypt

Tap water quality was examined in six sampling events over a 2-year period in a residential community of Greater Cairo, Egypt. The sampling sites chosen had a granular activated carbon (GAC), reverse osmosis (RO) or distillation point-of-use (POU) treatment device so that the performance of these units for standard water quality parameters could be evaluated. Tap water satisfied Egyptian and international drinking water standards and guidelines for the majority of samples analysed. Exceptions were the violation of international limits for lead in 10 samples, and total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels that occasionally exceeded drinking water limits. Only the RO and distillation units achieved removal of total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity and hardness. However, GAC units are considerably less costly in the local market. All three POU units exhibited potential reduction of chemical contaminants such as trihalomethanes (THMs), improved taste via chlorine removal and improvement in clarity. Realization of these benefits, however, is conditioned upon proper operation and maintenance of the device.     

Modeling the effect of oxygen on vapor phase diamond deposition inside micro-trenches

For the same feed gas composition, radical species concentrations vary with depth inside micro-trenches during diamond deposition. However, the feed gas compositions are typically used for predicting diamond deposition vs. non-diamond deposition. So, any type of modeling for predicting diamond deposition quality and uniformity inside trenches and onto three-dimensional objects is not possible. In this regard, a simple modeling approach utilizing a recently constructed C–H–O ternary diagram, based on radical species composition by Eaton and Sunkara [Eaton and Sunkara, Diam. Relat. Mater., 9 (2000) 1320], demonstrated the diamond deposition process inside trenches. Specifically, the effect of oxygen in the feed gases on the depths at which diamond can be deposited is modeled under both Knudsen and Fickian diffusion conditions and compared with experimental observations. The results suggested that certain feed gas phase compositions (C/O ratio) help increase the aspect ratio (>2.0) at which diamond deposition can be achieved.     

Modelling the inactivation of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 using pulsed electric field

Microbial tests were conducted to determine the effect of pulsed electric field treatment on microbial inactivation of gram negative Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 suspended in simulated milk ultra filtrate (SMUF). Kinetic analysis of microbial inactivation due to combined pulsed electric field (PEF) and thermal treatments of E. coli was investigated. A generalized correlation for the inactivation rate constant as a function of both electric field intensity and treatment temperature was derived. Comparison between experimental and theoretical variation of E. coli concentration with time after PEF treatment in a complete recirculation mode was conducted using the inactivation kinetics developed from the single pass measurements.

Industrial relevance

PEF technology has a tremendous potential to replace thermal pasteurisation for products which are sensitive to temperature. In this work a pulsed electric field process was mathematically modelled and a generalized correlation for the inactivation rate constant as a function of electric field intensity and treatment temperature was derived. The correlation is needed for the design of industrial PEF systems.     

A study to optimize the potential impact of residential building energy audits

The Colorado College Energy Audit and Retrofit Program is a non-profit organization that teaches students the science and mechanics involved in energy audits and retrofit work through service–learning and community-based research projects. This approach represents a “win–win” scenario where the college contributes to maximize learning and minimize costs to the community. The method of identifying homes for energy audits has evolved from responding to homeowner requests to a proactive approach aimed at targeting older low-income neighborhoods and working with existing neighborhood associations. Recent work on the Mill Street Neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado is presented in which a sample of homes (N = 14) received thermal audits, complete with blower door tests and Energy-10 computer modeling. The results are tabulated, analyzed, and extrapolated over the entire 145 homes in the neighborhood. The normally distributed ACH _n values and the skewed distributions of R _aver values and building sizes are discussed. A method of identifying unusual occupant behavior, relative to the building quality, is presented where the Home Heating Index is compared to a Building Thermal Performance Index (R _aver/ACH _n ). Estimates from extrapolation of the data predict that an investment of $146,500 USD in retrofit materials will yield a total annual neighborhood savings in energy, utility costs and GHG emissions of 9.1 × 10⁶ kBtu (9.6 × 10⁹ kJ), $146,500 USD in retrofit materials will yield a total annual neighborhood savings in energy, utility costs and GHG emissions of 9.1 × 10⁶ kBtu (9.6 × 10⁹ kJ), 64,000 USD and 555 US tons (5.0 × 10⁵ kg), respectively, providing a simple payback time of 2.3 years. This efficient method of neighborhood energy audits provides data that could support neighborhood renewal grant proposals to purchase materials for follow-up retrofits and supports municipal demand-side management programs.     

The external validity of Asperger disorder: Lack of evidence from the domain of neuropsychology.

The present study compared individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger disorder (AD) in intellectual, motor, visuospatial, and executive function domains. Participants with AD demonstrated significantly higher Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores, significantly larger Verbal–Performance IQ discrepancies, and significantly better visual–perceptual skills than those with HFA. Once the superior intellectual abilities of the AD group were controlled (both statistically through analysis of covariance and by examining IQ-matched subgroups of HFA and AD participants), no significant group differences in motor, visuospatial, or executive functions were evident, save a marginally significant trend toward poorer fine motor performance in the AD group. This suggests that AD may simply be "high-IQ autism" and that separate names for the disorders may not be warranted. The relation of these findings to theories of autism and AD are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unstable Networks Among Women in Academe: The Legal Case of Shyamala Rajender

Abstract.   Scientific networks are often credited with bringing about institutional change and professional advancement, but less attention has been paid to their instability and occasional failures. In the 1970s optimism among academic women was high as changing US policies on sex discrimination in the workplace, including higher education, seemed to promise equity. Encouraged by colleagues, Shyamala Rajender charged the University of Minnesota with sex discrimination when it failed to consider her for a tenure-track position. The widely cited case of this chemist was not, however, settled easily and involved nearly a decade of university grievance procedures and litigation that grew to a class action lawsuit. As the case gained national attention and internal resistance stiffened, the clusters of women who had been encouraging flickered, faded and sometimes regrouped. A negotiated settlement (consent decree) ended Rajender's case, and it opened the door for hundreds of others to present their grievances regarding gender discrimination. Networks and support groups proved important but also unstable for individuals who sought equity before and during the implementation of the decree. The Rajender case thus exposes the painful, balky and inevitably contentious process of fighting discrimination. It also demonstrates the power and limits of institutions and litigation, as well as the possibilities and disappointments of informal and formal women's networks.     

Autonomous detection of aerosolized biological agents by multiplexed immunoassay with polymerase chain reaction confirmation

The autonomous pathogen detection system (APDS) is an automated, podium-sized instrument that continuously monitors the air for biological threat agents (bacteria, viruses, and toxins). The system has been developed to warn of a biological attack in critical or high-traffic facilities and at special events. The APDS performs continuous aerosol collection, sample preparation, and detection using multiplexed immunoassay followed by confirmatory PCR using real-time TaqMan assays. We have integrated completely reusable flow-through devices that perform DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The fully integrated system was challenged with aerosolized Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Bacillus globigii, and botulinum toxoid. By coupling highly selective antibody- and DNA-based assays, the probability of an APDS reporting a false positive is extremely low.     

Positional and geometric isomer separation of FAME by comprehensive 2-D GC

The technique of comprehensive GC (GC×GC) was applied to the analysis of a standard mixture of FAME. The methodology involved the use of two directly coupled capillary GC columns providing different retention mechanisms, with a pulsing modulator located near their union. The first column was chosen to elute analytes based on b.p. variations, and the second column was based on polarity. Thus, the separation in the two dimensions was orthogonal, since solutes delivered simultaneously to the second column had similar b.p., and the second column separated these primarily on their differentiating mechanisms of polarity. Greater sensitivity of detection and narrower peak widths were obtained; here, peak response increases of about 20-fold were obtained, with pulsed peak widths of about 150 ms. Peaks were displayed in a 2-D contour plot to allow the complexity of the compounds to be seen and their b.p. and polarity properties to be readily recognized. Chromatographic separation of geometric and positional isomers of FAMF in the 2-D space is possible. Since retention can be related to the degree and manner of unsaturation and isomerization, and as peak positions are highly reproducible in the 2-D retention map, this is a useful aid for component identification in the absence of appropriate standards. In this work, two column combinations were used to examine the effects of polarity changes on component separation. Improved quantitation based on FID area measurement was demonstrated. A sample of marine oil gave 49 resolved, identified peaks, with at least an additional 20 peaks resolved but not identified.