Estimating the Indirect Gaming Contribution of Bingo Rooms

Using data from two repeater market hotel casinos, the relationship between bingo and slot business volumes is explored. Contrary to conjecture supplied by industry executives, the results fail to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between daily bingo headcount and coin-in. This result was found in three different analyses, including one· attempt to estimate the impact of bingo headcount on low-denomination coin-in. This study advances the literature by challenging the assumption that bingo rooms produce substantial indirect slot profits. Given the minimal direct contribution to property cash flows, if any, the results suggest that bingo rooms are not always the highest and best use of valuable casino floor space

A grounded theory of the balancing act South Asian mothers engage in to negotiate a healthy family lifestyle

Introduction Overall the evidence is consistent and robust that UK South Asian communities are at elevated risk of lifestyle related disease. A potential worsening of obesity related risk in South Asian children carries implications for persisting disparities in chronic disease across generations making it advantageous to target this specific group for obesity prevention. Psychosocial factors are particularly important in obesity and key to understanding the determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviour, and factors that might influence behaviour modification in South Asians. The study aims to identify beliefs and perceptions that contribute to health risk and health protective behaviours in young UK South Asian families and to develop a theory which can be used to define specific objectives that lead to effective behaviour change to improve health outcomes for this population. Design Grounded theory methodology was applied to investigate how factors influence South Asian mother’s decisions to engage in health behaviours for themselves and their children taking into account specific beliefs and practices influencing health behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with seven female participants who were mothers to young children aged 5-12 years of age. Results The grounded theory is underpinned by three categories that emerged out of analysis of the data; cultural identity, health beliefs and barriers. These categories and their properties, tell the story of the influences and pressures on South Asian mothers as they attempt to negotiate a healthy family lifestyle. The data emerged to form a grounded theory of the balancing act South Asian mothers engage in to negotiate a healthy family lifestyle. Conclusions This study contributes to an improved understanding of the unique factors influencing young South Asian family’s health behaviours and recognition of the need to help them to find a healthier lifestyle balance. In addition, it has revealed how these factors relate to the initiation and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and will be of use to health professionals and service providers when designing interventions to address and prevent health inequalities among this group. Emphasising the need to involve both the family and their community in interventions, in order for them to be effective. Limitations of these findings and their implications for future research and practice are considered

GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES IN VIRUS PRODUCING AND LOW/NON VIRUS PRODUCING EBV-BAC CONTAINING CELL LINES

Our lab studies Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); therefore, we need a supply of cells that steadily produce virus for use in our experiments. Currently virus harvesting is unpredictable, as transfection of 293SL cells with a given Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) may produce cell lines that vary widely in the amount of infectious virus produced, with most lines producing no virus at all. Using quantitative real time PCR we quantified EBV mRNA expression pertaining to 16 specific targets including latent, lytic, and promoter transcripts. This was to determine if there was a correlation between the pattern of virus gene expression and the capacity of a cell line to produce virus. Such a correlation could be used to develop a screening assay predictive of a cell line's potential for virus production. We found that the genes most useful for creating a PCR-based screening assay were the genes belonging to the EBNA3 family. The public health significance of the steady production of Epstein-Barr virus would be that experiments could be conducted on quicker time tables, which in turn may increase the rate of knowledge obtained about EBV

Characteristics of low and high project leader task performance and task qualified groups in selected Tennessee counties

The purpose of this study was to show the relation between 4-H project leaders\u27 personal characteristics and those who performed a low or high number of tasks. The study was also to show the relation between 4-H project leaders\u27 personal characteristics and leaders who felt qualified to perform a low or high number of tasks- The study was also intended to show the relation between the frequency agents provided information to leaders, by various teaching methods, and agents with a low or high percent of leaders who performed a high number of tasks. Some of the major findings were: (1) leaders who were in the high task performance group were more likely to be females, to be housewives, teachers, laborers, or professionals; (2) leaders with more leadership experience, with the exception of the number of years served, were more likely to be in the high task performance group than leaders with little or no leadership experience; (3) leaders who had received more training were more likely to perform a higher number of tasks than leaders who received little or no training; (4) leaders who had received more training were more likely to feel qualified to perform a higher number of tasks than leaders who had received little or no training; (5) the frequency with which agents had provided information to leaders, by various teaching methods, was not significantly related to whether or not an agent had a low or high percent of leaders who performed a high number of tasks. Recommendations made included (1) further studies be done concerning the frequency of providing information to leaders by various teaching methods; (2) further studies be done concerning information provided to leaders; and (3) the findings be made available for use by the county and state 4-H staffs