Demand for Lottery Products: A Cross-Country Analysis

Varieties of lottery games are played regularly in more than half of the world’s countries. When considering the probability of winning a lottery jackpot, we have a sense of the illogicality in buying a lottery ticket. This begs the question, why do people buy lottery products? This paper investigates the socio-economic and demographic features that help to explain the behavioural trend of lottery product purchasing throughout the world. With a multivariate linear regression analysis, this study uses macroeconomic data and qualitative variables to explain the variation of a country’s per-capita lottery sales. Some very interesting results were obtained. For example, the higher a country’s level of education, percentage of males and Christians, the higher are the lottery sales. The relationship between lottery sales and per-capita GDP is an inverted U: lottery sales increase simultaneously with increases in per-capita GDP up to a point and then start to decrease. These results are of interest because they suggest a link between certain socio-economic and demographic characteristics and consumer behaviour and may give a boost to the use of these characteristics in consumer research.Gambling; Lotteries; Education; Religiosity; Culture; Cross-country.

Lottery Sales and Per-capita GDP: An Inverted U Relationship

The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the relationship between per-capita sales and per-capita GDP is given by an inverted U. The paper considers that lottery sales increase together with increases in GDP up to a point where a country has reached a level at which the GDP is high enough and lottery sales become an inferior good and as a result, start to decrease. As there are other determinants of the expenditure on lottery products, the paper introduces into the regression analysis other explanatory factors as control variables. The paper uses a cross-country regression, using 2004 data for 80 countries. The results confirm the hypothesis, in addition to yielding other interesting findings: countries with higher levels of education sell fewer lottery products; lottery sales increase together with increases in the male to female ratio.Gambling; Per-capita GDP; Gender ratio; Religion; Education.

Why Do People Buy Lottery Products?

This paper examines the lottery sales of 99 countries by type of product in order to analyze the socioeconomic and demographic features that help to explain gambling consumption around the world. With a panel data analysis covering 13 years, this study explains the variation of a country’s per-capita lottery sales in general and by type of game: lotto, numbers, keno, toto, draw and instant. This paper found that the richer countries spend more than the poorer countries and the income elasticity of the demand for lottery products is greater than one. So, we may assert that there is an implicit progressivity tax in games when we consider countries rather than households. Several studies have also revealed an inverse relationship between education and the consumption of lottery products. This paper confirms this hypothesis for lotteries in general, but not for the specific lottery products.Gambling; Lotteries; Religiosity; Education; Culture; Age; Panel Data.

Digital Pygmalion: the symbolic and visual construction of the feminine in CoverDoll online magazine

This study aims to question and problematize the construction of gendered meanings and visual codes in the digital context. Rooted in the theoretical framework of cyberfemism, it analyzes the visual and linguistic content of CoverDoll, a monthly e-zine thematically devoted to sex dolls. The Pygmalion myth is proposed as the symbolic framework of CoverDoll, since the linguistic and pictorial devices that support a simulated subjectivity seem to reproduce its main backdrop: the feminine is constructed as alterity and a product of male desire. The analysis of CoverDoll’s portfolio and fictional discourses suggests the persistence of symbolic and aesthetical conventions despite technological ruptures. The operating mechanisms in the tradition of painting described by John Berger seem resiliently translated into the visual construction of the feminine in CoverDoll: the portrayed feminine figure addresses a masculine voyeur which is absent from the picture. The camera replaces the mirror as a symbolic device of the projected female’s narcissism, as the multiple references to the camera in the fictional discourses forge the idea of female vanity. The images displayed overall eroticize and objectify the artificial female bodies. The fictional narratives mobilize and intertwine a set of stereotypes that associate femininity with futility, seduction and caring

Penile Rehabilitation Following Radical Prostatectomy

Background. Radical prostatectomy is a first-line treatment for localised prostate cancer. Despite refinements in the operative techniques, sexual dysfunction, namely erectile dysfunction, remains an important possible complication. Penile rehabilitation aims to maximally improve the speed and extent of sexual function recovery and is now considered an integral part of patient management after radical prostatectomy with continued use in clinical practice. Yet, clear recommendations remain to be presented. Methods. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify publications relevant to penile rehabilitation following radical prostatectomy using PubMed and other databases. Both free text and MeSH terms were employed in a search restricted to English-language studies published until February of 2021. Only full-text articles were included in the final analysis. Additional relevant sources encompassed books of interest and articles found in reference lists. Results. Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy should be informed about the risk of sexual dysfunction, and not only erectile dysfunction. Early penile rehabilitation may elevate the potential of both erectile function recovery and dysfunction treatment, yet this trend remains controversial, and some patients may incur in significant financial expenditure without experiencing clear benefits. No recommendation for the use of any specific regimen is possible. First-line treatments include oral PDE5 inhibitors, alprostadil-based therapies, and vacuum devices. Penile prosthesis implantation is reserved for failure of conservative measures. Li-ESWT, and stem cell, gene and PRPbased therapies are promising novel modalities still under investigation. Both psychological and sexual counselling are advisable. Better quality research transcending the usual heteronormative standards is needed, including questions on libido and sexual bother or satisfaction. Clinicians should promote the involvement of both partners and encourage sexual adaptation as a goal of rehabilitation besides erectile recovery. Conclusion. Current evidence does not explicitly support any penile rehabilitation program. Oral PDE5 inhibitors remain the first-line choice, but treatment selection should ultimately reflect patient preference. Future directions should explore the potential of regenerative medicine and adopt sexual adaptation as the main goal of rehabilitation.Introdução. A prostatectomia radical é um tratamento de primeira linha para o cancro da próstata localizado. Porém, apesar de aperfeiçoamentos técnicos, tanto a disfunção sexual como a disfunção erétil permanecem importantes complicações pós-cirúrgicas, pelo que a reabilitação peniana visa otimizar a velocidade e extensão de recuperação da função sexual no pós-operatório. Contudo, ainda que hoje considerada parte integrante da gestão do doente e habitualmente utilizada na prática clínica, a reabilitação peniana carece de claras recomendações médicas. Métodos. Uma pesquisa bibliográfica abrangente foi realizada para identificar publicações relevantes para a reabilitação peniana pós-prostatectomia radical através da PubMed e demais bases de dados. Tanto termos livres como MeSH foram utilizados, tendo a pesquisa sido restrita a artigos em inglês, publicados até fevereiro de 2021. Apenas artigos completos foram incluídos na análise final, juntamente com livros de interesse e publicações encontradas nas listas de referências dos artigos selecionados. Resultados. Doentes com indicação para prostatectomia radical devem ser informados sobre o risco de disfunção sexual, e não apenas de disfunção erétil. De forma controversa, a reabilitação peniana precoce pode aumentar o potencial de recuperação da função erétil e do tratamento da disfunção, mas alguns doentes podem incorrer em gastos económicos significativos sem obter benefício, daí que não seja possível emitir recomendações para a aplicação de um regime terapêutico específico. Tratamentos de primeira linha incluem inibidores orais da PDE5, alprostadil e dispositivos de vácuo, reservando-se as próteses penianas para situações de fracasso das medidas conservadoras. Li-ESWT e terapias baseadas em células estaminais, plaquetas e genes constituem novas modalidades promissoras em investigação, sugerindo-se ainda aconselhamento psicológico e sexual. Todavia, é necessária investigação de melhor qualidade que transcenda os padrões heteronormativos habituais, incluindo questões sobre líbido e satisfação sexual. Na prática clínica, deve promover-se o envolvimento de ambos os parceiros e a adaptação sexual como meta de reabilitação para além da recuperação da função erétil. Conclusão. Não há evidência que suporte qualquer protocolo específico de reabilitação. Ainda que inibidores orais da PDE5 permaneçam como escolhas de primeira linha, a seleção do tratamento deve sempre refletir a preferência do doente. No futuro, deve ser explorado o potencial da medicina regenerativa e adotada a adaptação sexual como objetivo principal da reabilitação

Copper compounds (Schiff bases) as DNA-Interacting agents

Tese de mestrado em Química Inorgânica Médica (Aplicações em Diagnóstico e Terapia), apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2011O cobre e o zinco são elementos ubíquos apresentando um papel essencial nos sistemas biológicos. Estas características, aliadas à sua química redox extremamente rica torna-os excelentes aliados no desenho de novos complexos com actividades anti-tumorais [1]. Os conhecimentos adquiridos sobre a estrutura química e processos bioquímicos envolvidos na formação e desenvolvimento de tumores permite-nos conceber novas estratégias para a sua prevenção e tratamento. São conhecidos vários tipos de interacção dos compostos com o ADN, sendo uma das mais estudada a oxidação do ADN através da geração de espécies radicalares de oxigénio (ROS) [2]. À alguns anos foi sintetizado um complexo mononuclear de cobre(II), [CuII(pyrimol)-Cl] (onde pyrimol significa 4-metil-2-N-(2-piridilmetilen)aminofenolato). Este complexo revelou propriedades de clivagem do ADN extremamente promissoras [3]. Verificou-se também que os produtos de coordenação deste ligando com cloreto de zinco (II) ou acetato de zinco (II) também apresentava uma capacidade oxidativa de corte do ADN [4]. De acordo com as propriedades únicas evidenciadas por este ligando, foram desenhados novas bases de schiff baseadas no mesmo, tendo sido preparados os seus respectivos produtos de coordenação quer com cobre (II) quer com zinco (II). As propriedades de interacção com o ADN foram estudadas com o auxílio de várias técnicas, tais como electroforese em gel de agarose, microscopia de forças atómicas, ensaios competitivos de fluorescência e ensaios de viscosidade.Copper and zinc are ubiquitous compounds and they play an important role on biological systems. These characteristics, allied with the rich redox-active metal chemistry can be useful tools to design new complexes that can act as anticancer drugs [1]. We have different ways to damage DNA. The cleavage of the DNA strands can be achieved through the oxidation of the sugar moieties by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2]. A few years ago, a simple mononuclear copper(II) complex, namely [CuII(pyrimol)-Cl] (where pyrimol stands for 4-methyl-2-N-(2-pyridylmethylene)aminophenolato was prepared, which showed unique DNA-cleaving properties [3]. In addition, the reaction of zinc(II) chloride or zinc(II) acetate with the ligand Hpyrimol has led to coordination compounds that are capable of cleaving DNA in an oxidative manner [4]. Considering this unique behavior of Hpyrimol, new Schiff-base ligands inspired by Hpyrimol have been designed, and coordination compounds with copper(II) and zinc(II) have been prepared. The potential DNA-Cleaving and interacting properties of these complexes has been investigated using gel electrophoresis, Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM), ethidium bromide fluorescence competition binding assays and viscosimetry measurements

The ‘Urbanforest’ and ‘Green space’ Classification Model in the Spatial Arrangement of Registro-SP, Brazil

The necessity of handling green areas relating to urban settings has become one of the vital environmental challenges in view of several accumulated environmental problems in the last few decades. In United States and Canada, many investments are being made for new techniques and instruments that are needed in environmental planning involving urban forest researches both in the local and national scale. However, there are few reports on urban forest classification connecting spatial characteristics, physical structures involving pattern and process. With the objective to classify urban green areas for integrated approach, this research have focused on urban pattern for an effective understanding of urban forest concept, green areas and urban vegetation types. The urban morphology in consistency with the urban forest Focus Chat (FC) recently designed has been applied to characterize spatial categories of urban vegetation involved in the urban arrangement of Registro-SP. Method has integrated zones, patterns and processes for technical analyses to contemplate the urban dynamics, occupation and land use. Categories of urban forest and vegetation types were derived for the urban planning and system management. The resulting pattern can be technically monitored in the use of suitable GIS (Geographical Information System) software for physical and environmental records.

Lottery Sales and Per-capita GDP: An Inverted U relationship

The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the relationship between per-capita sales and per-capita GDP is given by an inverted U. The paper considers that lottery sales increase together with increases in GDP up to a point where a country has reached a level at which the GDP is high enough and lottery sales become an inferior good and as a result, start to decrease. As there are other determinants of the expenditure on lottery products, the paper introduces into the regression analysis other explanatory factors as control variables. The paper uses a cross-country regression, using 2004 data for 80 countries. The results confirm the hypothesis, in addition to yielding other interesting findings: countries with higher levels of education sell fewer lottery products; lottery sales increase together with increases in the male to female ratio

Demand for Lottery Products: A Cross-Country Analysis

Varieties of lottery games are played regularly in more than half of the world's countries. When considering the probability of winning a lottery jackpot, we have a sense of the illogicality in buying a lottery ticket. This begs the question, why do people buy lottery products? This paper investigates the socio-economic and demographic features that help to explain the behavioural trend of lottery product purchasing throughout the world. With a multivariate linear regression analysis, this study uses macroeconomic data and qualitative variables to explain the variation of a country's per-capita lottery sales. Some very interesting results were obtained. For example, the higher a country's level of education, percentage of males and Christians, the higher are the lottery sales. The relationship between lottery sales and per-capita GDP is an inverted U: lottery sales increase simultaneously with increases in per-capita GDP up to a point and then start to decrease. These results are of interest because they suggest a link between certain socio-economic and demographic characteristics and consumer behaviour and may give a boost to the use of these characteristics in consumer research

Do lottery sales differ across income classes becoming an inferior good for rich countries?

Do the populations of low per-capita income countries participate with a stronger desire to win and spent relatively more money on lottery products? Is such a desire to buy lottery products constant, or does it decrease when the country reaches a higher per-capita income class? To answer these questions, this paper tests the hypothesis that per-capita lottery sales vary across income classes in addition to the hypothesis that the income elasticity of demand for lottery products differs across income class countries. Using an econometric model with significant control variables, the results confirm the hypothesis that per-capita lottery sales vary positively with income classes and that lottery spending differs between classes. The results also show that the lower income-class countries spend more than the higher income-class countries, suggesting, but not confirming, that the lottery may be an inferior good in countries having the highest levels of per-capita GDP