Customization and personalization of sports betting products: Implications for responsible gambling

One of the most noticeable product innovations in sports betting in recent years is the increasing use of customer personalization, as evidenced in the strategies outlined in multiple annual reports by [1] [2] bookmakers (see, for example, Paddy Power Betfair plc, 2019 , William Hill plc, 2019 ), and noted by [3] gambling industry insiders . Personalization is used to "tailor information to an individual user's specific [4] needs and preferences" (p.1) . By personalizing their products, gambling operators seek to adjust their offer to the individual expectations of each customer. Related to personalization is customization, which is frequently (and erroneously) assumed to be a synonym. However, customization refers to the process conducted by users to 'make changes to the experience to meet their specific needs by configuring layout, [5] content, or system functionality'(p.1) . In essence, what differentiates customization from personalization is that the former is consumer-driven whereas the latter is company-driven

Ener3DMap-SolarWeb roofs: A geospatial web-based platform to compute photovoltaic potential

[EN] The effective exploitation and management of renewable energies requires knowledge not only of the energy intensity at the exploitation site but also of the influence of the geometry of the site and its surroundings. For this reason, the efficient processing and interpretation of combined geospatial and energy data is a key issue. This paper presents the development of a web-based tool for the automatic computation of photovoltaic potential on rooftops and on parcels without buildings. The tool called Ener3DMap-SolarWeb Roofs is based on Leaflet and supports WMS, GeoJSON, GeoCSV and KML formats, among others. With these data formats, base maps, geometric data from the rooftops automatically computed from LiDAR and imagery data with self-developed processing algorithms, cadastral data and a solar radiation model are integrated in the tool. These different types of data, the high level of automation and the different scales for which energy data is calculated (hourly, monthly and annually) are the main contributions of the presented tool compared to other existing solutions. The capacities of the tool are tested through its application to analyze the solar potential of rooftops with different shapes and for different solar panel configurations. The accuracy of the results is ensured through the integration of a validated methodology for the computation of geometry and a validated solar radiation model, PVGIS

Epidemiología del juego patológico en un programa de tratamiento profesional

The aim of the present study was to observe the sociodemographic andpsychological features in a sample of pathological gamblers in a professional treatment programme. All patients sought treatment in the Pathological Gambling Unit of the Department of Psychiatry at Ciutat Sanitaria i Universitària de Bellvitge, Barcelona (Spain). The sample was composed of 172 subjects diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994) for pathological gambling. A questionaire dealing with biographical and socioTfamily matters (González Ibáñez, 1994) was handed out to them. This questionnaire contained inforrnation about biography, family, relationship with spouse/partner, social relationships, occupation, hobbies, illnesses and aspects of gambling. The evaluation of the subjects was perforrned in the Pathological Garnbling Unit. The results revealed the following profile: Male, with un average age of 40.43 years, married, with primary education, skilled manual worker, ernployed, without a family history of psychiatric illness and without psychiatric comorbidity, with current debts or debts in the past and in the main slot machine gamblers. Other findings are also presented and discussed.El objetivo del presente estudio fue observar las características sociodemográficas y psicológicas de un grupo de jugadores patológicos, en un programa de tratamiento profesional. Todos los pacientes solicitaron tratamiento en la Unidad de Juego Patológico del Servicio de Psiquiatría de la Ciutat Sanitària i Universitaria de Bellvitge, en Barcelona. La muestra se componía de 172 sujetos diagnosticados de juego patológico según los criterios DSM-IV (APA, 1994) a los que se les entregó un cuestionario de datos biográficos y sociofamiliares (González Ibáñez, 1994). Este cuestionario contiene información sobre datos biográficos, familiares, relación de pareja, relaciones sociales, trabajo, aficiones, enfermedades y aspectos relacionados con el juego. Los resultados mostraron el siguiente perfil: hombres, con una edad media de 40.43 años, casados, con estudios primarios, trabajadores cualificados, activos laboralmente, sin antecedentes psiquiátricos familiares y sin comorbilidad psiquiátrica, con deudas actuales o en el pasado y jugadores de máquinas recreativas con premio, en su mayoría. Asímismo se presentan y discuten otros resultados

Evaluación y tratamiento cognitivo-conductual de jugadores patológicos de máquinas recreativas con premio

Pathological gamblers form a heterogeneous group with various biopsychosocial features, which leave them susceptible to addiction to gambling. More homogeneous subgroups could be identified based on the specific weight of these factors and on rhe type of gambling chosen for their addiction. The aims of the study were to identifi the possible existence of subgroups of pathological gamblers in tems of certain psychological and psychopathological variables in a sample of 60 subjects diagnosed with this disorder according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994). Furthemore, we tried to present un initial descriptive study on the progress of the subjects treated. Several questionnaires and structured interviews were used to evaluate the subjects SCL-90-R, Zuckerman's Sensation-Seeking Scale, Social Support Scale, Eysenck's Impulsiveness Scale 17, among others). Cluster analysis was pelfomed in treating the data. Three homogeneous groups were differentiated in relation to the level of psychopathology exhibited, since the psychological features evaluated were maintained in the three groups.Los jugadores patológicos formarían un grupo heterogéneo con unas características biopsicosociales que les harían vulnerables a la adicción al juego y podrían identificarse unos subgrupos más homogéneos, a partir del peso específico de estos factores y del tipo de juego elegido para su adicción. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron identificar la existencia de posibles subgrupos de jugadores patológicos, en función de determinadas variables psicológicas y psicopatológicas, en una muestra de 60 sujetos diagnosticados de este trastorno, según criterios DSM-IV (APA, 1994). Asimismo, se pretendió presentar un primer estudio descriptivo sobre la evolución de los sujetos tratados. Se utilizaron diversos cuestionarios y entrevistas estructuradas para realizar la evaluación de los sujetos (Symptom Check List Revised, SCL-90-R; el Sensation Seeking Scale, SSS; Social Support Scale, Impulsiveness Scale de Eysenck, 17, entre otras). Se realizó un análisis de cluster para el tratamiento de los datos, que diferenció tres grupos homogéneos en relación al grado de psicopatologia que presentaban, mientras que las características psicológicas evaluadas se mantuvieron en los tres grupos

Probioticos: potencial para prevenir y curar

The History of probiotics soars to ancient times, when there wasn´t even a term to name several nourishments which had beneficial, almost curative effects on the organism. Nowadays, microorganisms whose effects are preventive of some pathologies or which decrease the damage caused by some illnesses are called “probiotics”. Probiotic microorganisms must verify certain specific characteristics such as innocuity, stability, real efficacy, easy administration, digestive tropism or colonization capacity, power to constitute a barrier against infections and improvement of immune usefulness. They are usually consumed preventively since they work by improving the nourish process and producing essential vitamins. However, its real reach is based on specific clinical practice, such as the treatment of digestive, genitourinary or immune pathologies. They even try to palliate the effects of cance

Numerical simulation of the optimization in the design of a hybrid steel-bamboo rigid floor in a self-supporting structure

Partiendo de una estructura autoportante, se pretende mostrar las consideraciones y modificaciones de diseño llevadas a cabo para desarrollar la optimización de un suelo rígido acero-bambú para dicha estructura. Se justifica la elección de los materiales a través de sus propiedades mecánicas y coste, mostrando las ventajas del empleo del bambú como material de construcción. Con el propósito de lograr el mejor resultado en la optimización del modelo, se emplea como metodología de trabajo la simulación numérica por medio de elementos finitos utilizando el software comercial Abaqus. Se llevan a cabo distintas configuraciones dentro de la estructura autoportante (empleando elementos de refuerzo) y en la propia configuración geométrica de los paneles de bambú y de su soporte de acero, generando tres modelos diferentes (A, B y C), de tal forma que sea posible, en las tres opciones, elaborar un análisis que relacione tanto los esfuerzos generados como el desplazamiento y la deformación que sufre la base sometida a estudio. Finalmente se realiza una comparación de los resultados obtenidos por medio de las simulaciones, para concluir cuál de ellos consigue la optimización más adecuada del modelo, observándose cambios significativos en la flecha y ciertas variaciones en los esfuerzos internos

Thermodynamic analysis of a dual power-hydrogen production system based on chemical-looping combustion

Chemical-looping hydrogen generation (CLHG) is a chemical-looping combustion variant that allows simultaneous production of power and hydrogen. A thermodynamic analysis from the exergy method point of view of an integrated syngas-fueled CLHG cycle is carried out with the aim of contributing to the conceptual understanding and development of CLHG systems. The cycle working point is optimized in a range of conditions. The proposed system shows a very interesting potential for power, hydrogen and process heating coproduction with high efficiency

Do online gambling products require traditional therapy for gambling disorder to change? Evidence from focus group interviews with mental health professionals treating online gamblers

Online gambling has signifcantly altered the situational and structural characteristics of gambling products, to the extent that online gamblers might be substantially diferent from traditional ofine gamblers. A growing body of literature has identifed the evolving features of online gambling and the individuals who engage in it. However, beyond understanding the individual characteristics of this subgroup, relatively less efort has been made to examine whether existing cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches are still entirely relevant for online problem gamblers, or whether changes are needed to adapt according to gambling mode of access. To understand what kind of challenges online gambling poses to mental health professionals dealing with disordered gamblers, four focus groups comprising 28 Spanish participants were carried out. All the treatment providers had ongoing experience with online gamblers undergoing treatment, and included clinical psychologists, mental health social workers, and a medical doctor. The data were examined using thematic analysis. The analysis identifed fve main themes that characterised online gamblers: (1) being of younger age, (2) lack of conficts at home and at work/educational centre, rarely presenting violent or aggressive behaviour, (3) gambling disorder only being identifed by overdue debt, (4) co-occurring conditions with technology-related abuse rather than other substance-related addictions, and (5) skill-based gambling. The study highlights mental health workers' perceived insecurities about how to best treat online gamblers, and discusses the specifc characteristics that CBT for gambling disorder might need to incorporate to adjust for this particular group of gamblers

Aplicaciones terapéuticas del eculizumab

Introducción: El eculizumab es un anticuerpo monoclonal de tipo IgG diseñado para el tratamiento de la hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna (HPN), en el que su diana farmacológica forma parte del sistema del complemento. Su mecanismo de acción ha permitido implementarlo en el tratamiento de enfermedades huérfanas, como el síndrome urémico hemolítico atípico (SUHa), trastorno del espectro de la neuromielitis óptica (TENMO) y miastenia gravis, cuya incidencia, es baja. Asimismo, es viable en el tratamiento de Guillain Barré y el síndrome antifosfolípido catastrófico (CAPS). Objetivo: Evidenciar aplicaciones terapéuticas del eculizumab y beneficios más significativos en algunos padecimientos. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó búsqueda bibliográfica en el periodo 2010-2021, en bases de datos: Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed y Scielo, utilizando como palabra clave “eculizumab”. Posteriormente, se afinó la búsqueda utilizando palabras claves asociadas a enfermedades tratadas con este medicamento. Resultados: Se identificó el mecanismo de acción del fármaco y su efecto sobre la patogénesis de hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna, síndrome urémico atípico, miastenia gravis generalizada refractaria, trastorno del espectro de la neuromielitis óptica, síndromes antifosfolípidos catastrófico y Guillain-Barré. Conclusiones: El eculizumab tiene una alta seguridad y capacidad para tratar y disminuir síntomas de diversas enfermedades que involucran el sistema del complemento.Introduction: Eculizumab is an IgG type monoclonal antibody designed to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and its pharmacological target is a member of the complement system. Its mechanism of action has permitted its use in the treatment of orphan diseases such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myasthenia gravis, all of which have a low incidence. Likewise, eculizumab is a viable treatment for Guillain Barré and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAS). Objective: To describe the therapeutic applications of eculizumab and its most significant benefits in some illnesses. Materials and methods: A bibliographic search was carried out during the 2010-2021 period in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed y Scielo databases using the keyword eculizumab. Then, the search was refined by using keywords associated with diseases treated with this medication. Results: The mechanism of action of the antibody and its effect on the pathogenesis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, refractory generalized myasthenia gravis, neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and Guillain Barré were identified. Conclusions: Eculizumab has high safety and capacity in treating and diminishing symptoms of diverse illnesses, which involve the complement system.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de FarmaciaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA