Has gambling changed after major amendments of gambling regulations in Germany? A propensity score analysis

Aims: This study examined changes in general population gambling in the light of two major amendments of the German gambling regulation, the Fifth Amendment of the German Gambling Ordinance (AGO) for commercial amusement machines with prizes (AWP) and the State Treaty on Gambling (STG) for gambling activities subject to the state monopoly. Methods: Applying cross-sectional data from the 2006 and 2009 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA), propensity-score-matched samples of 7,970 subjects and 3,624 12-month gamblers aged 18–64 years were used for analyses. Logistic regression was employed to examine changes in gambling controlling for possible confounding variables. Results: Overall participation in state gambling activities, participation in lotto as well as TV lottery decreased and gambling on Internet card games increased. No changes were found for any other gambling activity, 12-month prevalence of any gambling and pathological gambling. While weekly gambling declined, overall multiple gambling increased. Effects were similar in the total sample and among current gamblers. Conclusions: Prohibiting specific gambling activities, e.g., Internet gambling, seem to be insufficient approaches to change gambling behavior. Supply reduction might need to be enhanced by changes in game characteristics and implementation of early intervention measures. However, long-term consequences are uncertain and further monitoring is needed

Gamblers seeking treatment: Who does and who doesn't?

Abstract Background and aims As only a minority of pathological gamblers (PGr) presents for treatment, further knowledge about help-seeking behavior is required in order to enhance treatment utilization. The present study investigated factors associated with treatment participation in gamblers in Germany. As subclinical pathological gamblers (SPGr, fulfilling one to four DSM-IV-criteria) are target of early intervention due to high risk of transition to pathological gambling, they were subject of special interest. Methods The study analyzed data from a general population survey (n = 234, SPGr: n = 198, PGr: n = 36) and a treatment study (n = 329, SPGr: n = 22, PGr: n = 307). A two-step weighting procedure was applied to ensure comparability of samples. Investigated factors included socio-demographic variables, gambling behavior, symptoms of pathological gambling and substance use. Results In PGr, regular employment and non-German nationality were positively associated with being in treatment while gambling on the Internet and gaming machines and fulfilling more DSM-IV-criteria lowered the odds. In SPGr, treatment attendance was negatively associated with married status and alcohol consumption and positively associated with older age, higher stakes, more fulfilled DSM-IV criteria and regular smoking. Conclusions In accordance to expectations more severe gambling problems and higher problem awareness and/or external pressure might facilitate treatment entry. There are groups with lower chances of being in treatment: women, ethnic minorities, and SPGr. We propose target group specific offers, use of Internet-based methods as possible adaptions and/or extensions of treatment offers that could enhance treatment attendance

Slip length of the tribo system steel-polyalphaolefin-steel determined by a novel tribometer

Nowadays sealing systems are commonly designed by means of hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic theories. Although the analytical as well as the computational approaches have improved in meaning full manner since the last decades: For small sealing gaps, in the order of micrometers and below, a discrepancy between experimental investigated and theoretically predicted leakage flows occur. As a cause for the discrepancy a breakdown of the no slip boundary condition is suspected. Since in small sealing gaps the continuum hypothesis is violated and molecular effects have to be considered. One fundamental quantity to take molecular affects into account is the slip length. Within this paper a new measurement apparatus to evaluate the slip length for hydraulic applications is presented. The adjustable gaps between two planar surfaces are in the order of magnitude of 1 μm. In a first step the slip length for the system steel-oil –steel is investigated at three different temperatures: 18°C, 22°C and 25°C. The measured slip lengths are in the order of magnitude of ~100 nm

The mass and angular momentum distribution of simulated massive early-type galaxies to large radii

We study the dark and luminous mass distributions, circular velocity curves (CVC), line-of-sight kinematics, and angular momenta for a sample of 42 cosmological zoom simulations of massive galaxies. Using a temporal smoothing technique, we are able to reach large radii. We find that: (i)The dark matter halo density profiles outside a few kpc follow simple power-law models, with flat dark matter CVCs for lower-mass systems, and rising CVCs for high-mass haloes. The projected stellar density distributions at large radii can be fitted by Sersic functions with n>10, larger than for typical ETGs. (ii)The massive systems have nearly flat total CVCs at large radii, while the less massive systems have mildly decreasing CVCs. The slope of the CVC at large radii correlates with v_circ itself. (iii)The dark matter fractions within Re are in the range 15-30% and increase to 40-65% at 5Re. Larger and more massive galaxies have higher dark matter fractions. (iv)The short axes of simulated galaxies and their host dark matter haloes are well aligned and their short-to-long axis ratios are correlated. (v)The stellar vrms(R) profiles are slowly declining, in agreement with planetary nebulae observations in the outer haloes of most ETGs. (vi)The line-of-sight velocity fields v show that rotation properties at small and large radii are correlated. Most radial profiles for the cumulative specific angular momentum parameter lambda(R) are nearly flat or slightly rising, with values in [0.06,0.75] from 2Re to 5Re. (vii)Stellar mass, ellipticity at 5Re, and lambda(5Re) are correlated: the more massive systems have less angular momentum and are rounder, as for observed ETGs. (viii)More massive galaxies with a large fraction of accreted stars have radially anisotropic velocity distributions outside Re. Tangential anisotropy is seen only for galaxies with high fraction of in-situ stars. (Full abstract in PDF)Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables, accepted by MNRA

Few electron double quantum dot in an isotopically purified 28^{28}Si quantum well

We present a few electron double quantum dot (QD) device defined in an isotopically purified $^{28}$Si quantum well (QW). An electron mobility of $5.5 \cdot 10^4 cm^2(Vs)^{-1}$ is observed in the QW which is the highest mobility ever reported for a 2D electron system in $^{28}$Si. The residual concentration of $^{29}$Si nuclei in the $^{28}$Si QW is lower than $10^{3} ppm$, at the verge where the hyperfine interaction is theoretically no longer expected to dominantly limit the $T_{2}$ spin dephasing time. We also demonstrate a complete suppression of hysteretic gate behavior and charge noise using a negatively biased global top gate.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Du bist Christus, der Sohn des lebendigen Gottes (Mt 16, 16)

A fé cristã na Trindade de Deus não é de modo nenhum um aditamento a uma concepção de Deus universal conseguida por especulação filosófica ou por uma vivência religioso-mística. Na fé na Trindade exprime-se antes a experiência original de Deus manifestado ao homem no acontecimento de Cristo. Isto tem também consequências directas na compreensão que o homem faz da sua proveniência e ordenação para Deus. Toda a discussão acerca do mistério da Trindade é, por conseguinte, um debate sobre a verdadeira essência da fé cristã.The Christian faith of the Trinity of God is not in any sense an addition to a conception of the universal God achieved through philosophical speculation or through religious.mystic experience. Rather, in the faith in the Trinity there is an expression of the original experience of God manifested to mankind in the happening of Christ. This also has direct consequences for mankind’s understanding of his origins and quest for God. All of the discussion about the mystery of the Trinity is therefore a debate about the true essence of the Christian faith