When individuals are not good at grasping coincidence events in the gambling mechanism,they take particular note of lay beliefs in luck.Among the lay beliefs in luck,that concerning“strength of luck”is often specifi...When individuals are not good at grasping coincidence events in the gambling mechanism,they take particular note of lay beliefs in luck.Among the lay beliefs in luck,that concerning“strength of luck”is often specific for gambling behavior.We conducted a survey that compared gamblers and non-gamblers,and examined whether this way of thinking is related to gambling addiction.An Internet survey was completed by 550 people.A cluster analysis based on gambling frequency extracted three clusters(non-,moderate-,and heavy-gambler groups).The South Oaks Gambling Screen(SOGS)score was highest in the heavy-gambler group.Differences were seen in three items:a belief in differences in luck among individuals;a belief in the“flow of Tsuki(in luck)”;and conscious behaviors regarding luck.For all three,the scores of the moderate-and heavy-gambler groups tended to be higher than those of the non-gambler group.Regarding“strength of luck”and“strength of luck in gambling”,the heavy-gambler group perceived that they had the strongest luck,followed,in order,by the moderate-and non-gambler groups.These three factors could lead to sustained gambling behavior.Those who felt that their“strength of luck in gambling”was strong tended to be pathological gamblers.This result supports a previous study.展开更多
One in five Americans experience symptoms associated with at least one mental health disorder every year. These include behavioral addictions, which have long been overlooked despite their similar neural bases with su...One in five Americans experience symptoms associated with at least one mental health disorder every year. These include behavioral addictions, which have long been overlooked despite their similar neural bases with substance addictions. Gambling addiction, a type of behavioral addiction, deserves particular attention given the significant negative effects, this addiction has on financial and interpersonal health. The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature concerning the behavioral and neural processes involved in gambling addiction, including: the anticipation of reward, the role of dopamine, and the neural substrates of the decision-making processes involved in gambling addiction. Market research has also identified solutions that integrate applied neuroscience and self-tracking systems to monitor and manage mental health issues associated with gambling addiction. The authors then propose a gambling treatment-focused mobile app solution that addresses outstanding issues with a special design aimed at reversing plasticity in order to relieve the effects of gambling addiction. .展开更多
The tough U.S. stance on Iran could trigger another round of games that is more perilous than the one it played in Iraq The United States has taken a number of steps against Iran recently, arresting and detaining five...The tough U.S. stance on Iran could trigger another round of games that is more perilous than the one it played in Iraq The United States has taken a number of steps against Iran recently, arresting and detaining five Iranian consular staffers in Erbil, north Iraq,freezing all the assets of Bank Sepah within the United States and sending a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf region.News reports predicting a U.S. military strike on Iran have run wild, with some Arabic media speculating that Washington has decided to launch an attack from the sea before April.展开更多
The relapse of methamphetamine (meth) is associated with decision-making dysfunction. The present study aims to investigate theimpact of different emotions on the decision-making behavior of meth users. We used 2 (gen...The relapse of methamphetamine (meth) is associated with decision-making dysfunction. The present study aims to investigate theimpact of different emotions on the decision-making behavior of meth users. We used 2 (gender: male, female) × 3 (emotion:positive, negative, neutral) × 5 (block: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) mixed experiment design. The study involved 168 meth users who weredivided into three groups: positive emotion, negative emotion and neutral emotion group, and tested by the emotional IowaGambling Task (IGT). The IGT performance of male users exhibited a decreasing trend from Block 1 to Block 3. Female methusers in positive emotion had the best performance in IGT than females in the other two groups. In positive emotion, the IGTperformance of female meth users was significantly better than that of men. Female meth users in positive emotion had betterdecision-making than those in negative or neutral emotion. Female meth users in positive emotion had better decision-makingperformance than males in positive emotion. In negative and neutral emotions, there was no significant gender difference indecision-making.展开更多
Introduction: Online gambling is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. With its well-crafted visual and audio marketing, it is attracting more and more young people in Africa, where problems linked to employment an...Introduction: Online gambling is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. With its well-crafted visual and audio marketing, it is attracting more and more young people in Africa, where problems linked to employment and poverty are undermining youth. The consequences of gaming-related practices for health in general, and mental health in particular, are not negligible. The aim of this study was to measure the extent of the phenomenon within an urban community in Benin. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with analytical aim conducted in the general population of Parakou, northern Benin, from December 2021 to November 2022. A self-administered questionnaire incorporating DSM 5 criteria for pathological gambling was used to collect data. Results: A total of 576 subjects divided into 30 clusters of 19 to 20 individuals consented to participate in the study. The proportion of gamblers was 30.56%. The prevalence of pathological gambling calculated according to DSM 5 criteria was 24.65% [21.31% - 28.33%] in the general population. The prevalence of severe pathological gambling was estimated at 8.16% [5.96% - 10.44%] in the general population. The prevalence of anxiety was 28.30% ([24.62% - 31.98%]), compared with 15.10% ([12.18% - 18.02%]) for depression. Factors with a significant association with pathological gambling were: age, access to online gambling, access to video games, exposure to gambling advertisement, having gambling friends, debt accumulation. A statistically significant link was also found between pathological gambling and anxiety/depression. Conclusion: The reality of pathological gambling in northern Benin calls for effective preventive action among vulnerable groups at national level, involving various actors at different levels.展开更多
Introduction: The addiction to games of chance and money is frequently encountered among some players. The general objective of this study was to describe the level of the gambling addiction among the players of the T...Introduction: The addiction to games of chance and money is frequently encountered among some players. The general objective of this study was to describe the level of the gambling addiction among the players of the Togolese National Lottery (LONATO) in the city of Lomé. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study through non-random sampling by convenience surveys, conducted on October 09, 2019 in 20 LONATO plying sites which affected 611 players. The screening was done using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) questionnaire. Results: Of the 611 players surveyed, 55% were aged 18 to 35 years with an average age of 36 years and the extremes ranging from 14 to 78 years. The male gender was in the majority (84.26%). The prevalence of pathological gambling was 62.52%. Among the pathological gamblers, 16.89% had a family history of pathological gambling, 19.00% had a mood disorder, 28.50% had excessive alcoholism, and 17.15% consumed another psychoactive substance. Cannabis was the most consumed substance (6.87%) followed by tobacco (6.07%) and soporific (6.07%). More than half of players (62.03%) thought that pathological gambling is not a disease. Conclusion: The pathological gambling is a global phenomenon and a reality in Togo. Raising everyone’s awareness will reduce its negative impact on the players.展开更多
Heavy rainfall is one of the most frequent and widespread severe weather hazards that affect Sylhet city. In Sylhet, nine natural channels locally called “chara” are mainly responsible for the drainage of heavy rain...Heavy rainfall is one of the most frequent and widespread severe weather hazards that affect Sylhet city. In Sylhet, nine natural channels locally called “chara” are mainly responsible for the drainage of heavy rainfall to the Surma River. The present condition of this natural drainage is not feasible due to the unplanned land development and manipulation by people. So water logging is a common scenario of Sylhet city. Many parts of Sylhet city are experiencing the severe inundation problem due to heavy rainfall. Time series analysis of rainfall data (1974-2015) is important for knowing and predicting of rainfall variation. Mann-Kendall analysis showed no trend for monthly and yearly rainfall data. The rainfall intensity of Sylhet is higher than other districts of Bangladesh. In this study, IDF (Intensity Duration Frequency) curve has been developed that is commonly used in engineering planning and design. By using IDF curve, ArcGIS software, DEM map, and normal discharge, maximum discharge for a different point of Mongoli chara and Bolramer chara has been calculated (for 25 years return period). Discharge through Mongoli chara and Bolramer chara has been represented in ArcMap using ordinary kriging. To keep the catchment of those chara free from inundation and water logging problem, this calculated discharge needed to be managed.展开更多
Despite uncertainty over the international order,China and the US are increasingly creating a bipolar world.Compared with the former US?Soviet Union bipolarity,primary components of the Sino-US bipolar structure are e...Despite uncertainty over the international order,China and the US are increasingly creating a bipolar world.Compared with the former US?Soviet Union bipolarity,primary components of the Sino-US bipolar structure are economy,trade,finance,technology,culture,development model,and value.The complexity of the new bipolarity is a test for national strength,strategy and wisdom.Continuing to analyze the development of the international order will be crucial to assessing the international strategic situation and diplomatic policy-making.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gambling disorder is characterized by excessive and recurrent gambling and can have serious negative social consequences.Although several psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches have been used to t...BACKGROUND Gambling disorder is characterized by excessive and recurrent gambling and can have serious negative social consequences.Although several psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches have been used to treat gambling disorder,new treatment strategies are needed.Growing evidence suggests that dopamine D3 receptor plays a specific role in the brain reward system.AIM To investigate if blonanserin,a dopamine D3 receptor antagonist,would be effective in reducing gambling impulses in patients with gambling disorder.METHODS We developed a study protocol to measure the efficacy and safety of blonanserin as a potential drug for gambling disorder,in which up to 12 mg/d of blonanserin was prescribed for 8 wk.RESULTS A 37-year-old female patient with gambling disorder,intellectual disability,and other physical diseases participated in the pilot study.The case showed improvement of gambling symptoms without any psychotherapy.However,blonanserin was discontinued owing to excessive saliva production.CONCLUSION This case suggests that blonanserin is potentially an effective treatment for patients with gambling disorder who resist standard therapies,but it also carries a risk of adverse effects. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.展开更多
Cybercrimes have become an eye-catching social problem in not only China but also other countries of the world. Cybercrimes can be divided into two categories and different kinds of cybercrimes shall be treated differ...Cybercrimes have become an eye-catching social problem in not only China but also other countries of the world. Cybercrimes can be divided into two categories and different kinds of cybercrimes shall be treated differently. In this article, some typical cybercrimes are introduced in detail in order to set forth the characteristics of those cybercrimes. However, to defeat cybercrimes, joint efforts from countries all over the world shall be made.展开更多
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to decision-making deficits as well as to heightened levels of (reactive) aggression and criminal behavior in a...The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to decision-making deficits as well as to heightened levels of (reactive) aggression and criminal behavior in a group of Dutch male prisoners. Characteristics of aggression were assessed using three self-report questionnaires as well as systematic staff observations, complemented with data from criminal records. A semi-structured interview was conducted to rate lifetime prevalence of TBI and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was completed to assess risky decision-making. Out of the total of 133 participants, 74 (55.6%) reported having sustained one or more incidents with potential TBI. Statistical comparisons between offenders with and without TBI indicated that the offenders with TBI reported significantly higher levels of (reactive) aggression on two out of three questionnaires than offenders without TBI (p-values ranging from 0.003 to 0.008), but no significant differences were found on staff observations of aggression and on the IGT. The higher conviction rates in offenders with TBI compared to the non-TBI group showed a trend. The confirmed relationship between TBI and higher aggressive tendencies is especially relevant for forensic populations due to the high prevalence rates of TBI in offenders. How this relates to specific cognitive processes remains unclear. The lack of a statistical difference between offenders with and without TBI on the IGT is in contrast with literature in non-offender samples, but seems to be in line with other studies in forensic populations.展开更多
文摘When individuals are not good at grasping coincidence events in the gambling mechanism,they take particular note of lay beliefs in luck.Among the lay beliefs in luck,that concerning“strength of luck”is often specific for gambling behavior.We conducted a survey that compared gamblers and non-gamblers,and examined whether this way of thinking is related to gambling addiction.An Internet survey was completed by 550 people.A cluster analysis based on gambling frequency extracted three clusters(non-,moderate-,and heavy-gambler groups).The South Oaks Gambling Screen(SOGS)score was highest in the heavy-gambler group.Differences were seen in three items:a belief in differences in luck among individuals;a belief in the“flow of Tsuki(in luck)”;and conscious behaviors regarding luck.For all three,the scores of the moderate-and heavy-gambler groups tended to be higher than those of the non-gambler group.Regarding“strength of luck”and“strength of luck in gambling”,the heavy-gambler group perceived that they had the strongest luck,followed,in order,by the moderate-and non-gambler groups.These three factors could lead to sustained gambling behavior.Those who felt that their“strength of luck in gambling”was strong tended to be pathological gamblers.This result supports a previous study.
文摘One in five Americans experience symptoms associated with at least one mental health disorder every year. These include behavioral addictions, which have long been overlooked despite their similar neural bases with substance addictions. Gambling addiction, a type of behavioral addiction, deserves particular attention given the significant negative effects, this addiction has on financial and interpersonal health. The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature concerning the behavioral and neural processes involved in gambling addiction, including: the anticipation of reward, the role of dopamine, and the neural substrates of the decision-making processes involved in gambling addiction. Market research has also identified solutions that integrate applied neuroscience and self-tracking systems to monitor and manage mental health issues associated with gambling addiction. The authors then propose a gambling treatment-focused mobile app solution that addresses outstanding issues with a special design aimed at reversing plasticity in order to relieve the effects of gambling addiction. .
文摘The tough U.S. stance on Iran could trigger another round of games that is more perilous than the one it played in Iraq The United States has taken a number of steps against Iran recently, arresting and detaining five Iranian consular staffers in Erbil, north Iraq,freezing all the assets of Bank Sepah within the United States and sending a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf region.News reports predicting a U.S. military strike on Iran have run wild, with some Arabic media speculating that Washington has decided to launch an attack from the sea before April.
基金supported by grants from the National Social Science Foundation of China(19BGL230)the Key Project of Social Science Planning in Jiangxi Province(23JY01).
文摘The relapse of methamphetamine (meth) is associated with decision-making dysfunction. The present study aims to investigate theimpact of different emotions on the decision-making behavior of meth users. We used 2 (gender: male, female) × 3 (emotion:positive, negative, neutral) × 5 (block: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) mixed experiment design. The study involved 168 meth users who weredivided into three groups: positive emotion, negative emotion and neutral emotion group, and tested by the emotional IowaGambling Task (IGT). The IGT performance of male users exhibited a decreasing trend from Block 1 to Block 3. Female methusers in positive emotion had the best performance in IGT than females in the other two groups. In positive emotion, the IGTperformance of female meth users was significantly better than that of men. Female meth users in positive emotion had betterdecision-making than those in negative or neutral emotion. Female meth users in positive emotion had better decision-makingperformance than males in positive emotion. In negative and neutral emotions, there was no significant gender difference indecision-making.
文摘Introduction: Online gambling is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. With its well-crafted visual and audio marketing, it is attracting more and more young people in Africa, where problems linked to employment and poverty are undermining youth. The consequences of gaming-related practices for health in general, and mental health in particular, are not negligible. The aim of this study was to measure the extent of the phenomenon within an urban community in Benin. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with analytical aim conducted in the general population of Parakou, northern Benin, from December 2021 to November 2022. A self-administered questionnaire incorporating DSM 5 criteria for pathological gambling was used to collect data. Results: A total of 576 subjects divided into 30 clusters of 19 to 20 individuals consented to participate in the study. The proportion of gamblers was 30.56%. The prevalence of pathological gambling calculated according to DSM 5 criteria was 24.65% [21.31% - 28.33%] in the general population. The prevalence of severe pathological gambling was estimated at 8.16% [5.96% - 10.44%] in the general population. The prevalence of anxiety was 28.30% ([24.62% - 31.98%]), compared with 15.10% ([12.18% - 18.02%]) for depression. Factors with a significant association with pathological gambling were: age, access to online gambling, access to video games, exposure to gambling advertisement, having gambling friends, debt accumulation. A statistically significant link was also found between pathological gambling and anxiety/depression. Conclusion: The reality of pathological gambling in northern Benin calls for effective preventive action among vulnerable groups at national level, involving various actors at different levels.
文摘Introduction: The addiction to games of chance and money is frequently encountered among some players. The general objective of this study was to describe the level of the gambling addiction among the players of the Togolese National Lottery (LONATO) in the city of Lomé. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study through non-random sampling by convenience surveys, conducted on October 09, 2019 in 20 LONATO plying sites which affected 611 players. The screening was done using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) questionnaire. Results: Of the 611 players surveyed, 55% were aged 18 to 35 years with an average age of 36 years and the extremes ranging from 14 to 78 years. The male gender was in the majority (84.26%). The prevalence of pathological gambling was 62.52%. Among the pathological gamblers, 16.89% had a family history of pathological gambling, 19.00% had a mood disorder, 28.50% had excessive alcoholism, and 17.15% consumed another psychoactive substance. Cannabis was the most consumed substance (6.87%) followed by tobacco (6.07%) and soporific (6.07%). More than half of players (62.03%) thought that pathological gambling is not a disease. Conclusion: The pathological gambling is a global phenomenon and a reality in Togo. Raising everyone’s awareness will reduce its negative impact on the players.
文摘Heavy rainfall is one of the most frequent and widespread severe weather hazards that affect Sylhet city. In Sylhet, nine natural channels locally called “chara” are mainly responsible for the drainage of heavy rainfall to the Surma River. The present condition of this natural drainage is not feasible due to the unplanned land development and manipulation by people. So water logging is a common scenario of Sylhet city. Many parts of Sylhet city are experiencing the severe inundation problem due to heavy rainfall. Time series analysis of rainfall data (1974-2015) is important for knowing and predicting of rainfall variation. Mann-Kendall analysis showed no trend for monthly and yearly rainfall data. The rainfall intensity of Sylhet is higher than other districts of Bangladesh. In this study, IDF (Intensity Duration Frequency) curve has been developed that is commonly used in engineering planning and design. By using IDF curve, ArcGIS software, DEM map, and normal discharge, maximum discharge for a different point of Mongoli chara and Bolramer chara has been calculated (for 25 years return period). Discharge through Mongoli chara and Bolramer chara has been represented in ArcMap using ordinary kriging. To keep the catchment of those chara free from inundation and water logging problem, this calculated discharge needed to be managed.
文摘Despite uncertainty over the international order,China and the US are increasingly creating a bipolar world.Compared with the former US?Soviet Union bipolarity,primary components of the Sino-US bipolar structure are economy,trade,finance,technology,culture,development model,and value.The complexity of the new bipolarity is a test for national strength,strategy and wisdom.Continuing to analyze the development of the international order will be crucial to assessing the international strategic situation and diplomatic policy-making.
基金Supported by The Grant from Council for Addiction Behavior Studies。
文摘BACKGROUND Gambling disorder is characterized by excessive and recurrent gambling and can have serious negative social consequences.Although several psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches have been used to treat gambling disorder,new treatment strategies are needed.Growing evidence suggests that dopamine D3 receptor plays a specific role in the brain reward system.AIM To investigate if blonanserin,a dopamine D3 receptor antagonist,would be effective in reducing gambling impulses in patients with gambling disorder.METHODS We developed a study protocol to measure the efficacy and safety of blonanserin as a potential drug for gambling disorder,in which up to 12 mg/d of blonanserin was prescribed for 8 wk.RESULTS A 37-year-old female patient with gambling disorder,intellectual disability,and other physical diseases participated in the pilot study.The case showed improvement of gambling symptoms without any psychotherapy.However,blonanserin was discontinued owing to excessive saliva production.CONCLUSION This case suggests that blonanserin is potentially an effective treatment for patients with gambling disorder who resist standard therapies,but it also carries a risk of adverse effects. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
基金This work was supported by National Social Science Foundation of China （No. 06BFX051） and Judicial Expertise Construction Project of 5th Key Discipline of Shanghai Education Committee （No. J51102）.
文摘Cybercrimes have become an eye-catching social problem in not only China but also other countries of the world. Cybercrimes can be divided into two categories and different kinds of cybercrimes shall be treated differently. In this article, some typical cybercrimes are introduced in detail in order to set forth the characteristics of those cybercrimes. However, to defeat cybercrimes, joint efforts from countries all over the world shall be made.
文摘The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to decision-making deficits as well as to heightened levels of (reactive) aggression and criminal behavior in a group of Dutch male prisoners. Characteristics of aggression were assessed using three self-report questionnaires as well as systematic staff observations, complemented with data from criminal records. A semi-structured interview was conducted to rate lifetime prevalence of TBI and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was completed to assess risky decision-making. Out of the total of 133 participants, 74 (55.6%) reported having sustained one or more incidents with potential TBI. Statistical comparisons between offenders with and without TBI indicated that the offenders with TBI reported significantly higher levels of (reactive) aggression on two out of three questionnaires than offenders without TBI (p-values ranging from 0.003 to 0.008), but no significant differences were found on staff observations of aggression and on the IGT. The higher conviction rates in offenders with TBI compared to the non-TBI group showed a trend. The confirmed relationship between TBI and higher aggressive tendencies is especially relevant for forensic populations due to the high prevalence rates of TBI in offenders. How this relates to specific cognitive processes remains unclear. The lack of a statistical difference between offenders with and without TBI on the IGT is in contrast with literature in non-offender samples, but seems to be in line with other studies in forensic populations.
