Efficacy of face-to-face versus self-guided treatments for disordered gambling: A meta-analysis

Background and aims In the light of growing traditional and novel forms of gambling, the treatment of disordered gambling is gaining increasing importance and practical relevance. Most studies have examined face-to-face treatments. Although trials implementing self-guided treatments have recently been conducted, these options have not yet been systematically examined. The primary objective of this meta-analysis, therefore, was to analyze the efficacy of all types of psychological face-to-face and self-guided treatments. Methods A multilevel literature search yielded 27 randomized controlled studies totaling 3,879 participants to provide a comprehensive comparative evaluation of the short- and long-term efficacies of face-to-face and self-guided treatments for disordered gambling. Results As expected, the results revealed significantly higher effect sizes for face-to-face treatments (16 studies with Hedges’s g ranging from 0.67 to 1.15) as compared with self-guided treatments (11 studies with Hedges’s g ranging from 0.12 to 0.30) regarding the reduction of problematic gambling behavior. The intensity of treatment moderated the therapy effect, particularly for self-guided treatments. Discussion and Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis favor face-to-face treatments over self-guided treatments for the reduction of disordered gambling. Although the findings broaden the scope of knowledge about psychological treatment modalities for disordered gambling, further research is needed to identify the reasons for these differences with the goal to optimize the treatment for this disabling condition

Treatments for Internet Addiction, Sex Addiction and Compulsive Buying: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Internet addiction, sex addiction and compulsive buying are common behavioral problems, which share similarities with gambling disorder and substance use disorders. However, little is known about the efficacy of their treatments. The objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of the treatments of such problem behaviors, and to draw parallels to gambling disorder and substance use disorders in terms of treatment response. METHODS: Literature search yielded 91 studies totaling 3,531 participants to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the short-term and long-term efficacy of psychological, pharmacological and combined treatments for internet addiction, sex addiction, and compulsive buying. RESULTS: Psychological, pharmacological, and combined treatments were associated with robust pre-post improvements in the global severity of internet addiction (Hedges's g: 1.51, 1.13, and 2.51, respectively) and sex addiction (Hedges's g: 1.09, 1.21, and 1.91, respectively). For compulsive buying, psychological and pharmacological treatments were also associated with a large-sized pre-post reduction in global severity (Hedges's g: 1.00 and 1.52, respectively). The controlled pre-post and within-group pre-follow-up effect sizes were in the similar range, with few exceptions. Moderator analyses suggest that psychological interventions are effective for reducing compulsive behaviors, especially when delivered face-to-face and conducted over extended periods of time. Combinations of cognitive-behavioral approaches with medications showed an advantage over monotherapies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that treatments for common behavioral addictions are effective in the short term, similar to those implemented for gambling disorder and substance use disorders, but more rigorous clinical trials are needed

Design of a 2.2 GeV Accumulator and Compressor for a Neutrino Factory

The proton driver for a neutrino factory must provide megawatts of beam power at a few GeV, with nonosecond long bunches each containing more than 1x1012 protons. Such beam powers are within reach of a high-energy linac, but the required time structure cannot be provided without accumulation and compression. The option of a linac-based 2.2 GeV proton driver has been studied at CERN, taking into account the space charge and stability problems which make beam accumulation and bunch compression difficult at such a low-energy. A solution featuring two rings of approximately 1 km circumference has been worked out and is described in this paper. The subjects deserving further investigation are outlined

Testis and Antler Dysgenesis in Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Kodiak Island, Alaska: Sequela of Environmental Endocrine Disruption?

It had been observed that many male Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) on Kodiak Island, Alaska, had abnormal antlers, were cryptorchid, and presented no evidence of hypospadias. We sought to better understand the problem and investigated 171 male deer for phenotypic aberrations and 12 for detailed testicular histopathology. For the low-lying Aliulik Peninsula (AP), 61 of 94 deer were bilateral cryptorchids (BCOs); 70% of these had abnormal antlers. Elsewhere on the Kodiak Archipelago, only 5 of 65 deer were BCOs. All 11 abdominal testes examined had no spermatogenesis but contained abnormalities including carcinoma in situ–like cells, possible precursors of seminoma; Sertoli cell, Leydig cell, and stromal cell tumors; carcinoma and adenoma of rete testis; and microlithiasis or calcifications. Cysts also were evident within the excurrent ducts. Two of 10 scrotal testes contained similar abnormalities, although spermatogenesis was ongoing. We cannot rule out that these abnormalities are linked sequelae of a mutation(s) in a founder animal, followed by transmission over many years and causing high prevalence only on the AP. However, based on lesions observed, we hypothesize that it is more likely that this testis–antler dysgenesis resulted from continuing exposure of pregnant females to an estrogenic environmental agent(s), thereby transforming testicular cells, affecting development of primordial antler pedicles, and blocking transabdominal descent of fetal testes. A browse (e.g., kelp) favored by deer in this locale might carry the putative estrogenic agent(s)

Proton Drivers for Neutrino Factories: The CERN Approach

The paper describes the CERN approach for a proton driver for a Neutrino Factory. Two main layouts are presented: the so-called CERN Reference Scenario, based on a 2.2 GeV linac and an alternative one, based on a 30 GeV synchrotron. Both produce bunches of 1 ns (r.m.s.) and a beam power of 4 MW

Super-resolution lightwave tomography of electronic bands in quantum materials

Searching for quantum functionalities requires access to the electronic structure, constituting the foundation of exquisite spin-valley-electronic, topological, and many-body effects. All-optical band-structure reconstruction could directly connect electronic structure with the coveted quantum phenomena if strong lightwaves transported localized electrons within preselected bands. Here, we demonstrate that harmonic sideband (HSB) generation in monolayer tungsten diselenide creates distinct electronic interference combs in momentum space. Locating these momentum combs in spectroscopy enables super-resolution tomography of key band-structure details in situ. We experimentally tuned the optical-driver frequency by a full octave and show that the predicted super-resolution manifests in a critical intensity and frequency dependence of HSBs. Our concept offers a practical, all-optical, fully three-dimensional tomography of electronic structure even in microscopically small quantum materials, band by band

Intestinal B-cells license metabolic T-cell activation in NASH microbiota/antigen-independently and contribute to fibrosis by IgA-FcR signalling

BACKGROUND & AIMS The progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is aggravated by auto-aggressive T cells. The gut-liver axis contributes to NASH, but the mechanisms involved and the consequences for NASH-induced fibrosis and liver cancer remain unknown. We investigated the role of gastrointestinal B cells in the development of NASH, fibrosis and NASH-induced HCC. METHODS C57BL/6J wild-type (WT), B cell-deficient and different immunoglobulin-deficient or transgenic mice were fed distinct NASH diets (for example, choline-deficient high-fat diet, CD-HFD) or chow diet for 6 or 12 months, whereafter NASH, fibrosis, and NASH-induced HCC were assessed and analysed. Specific pathogen-free/germ-free WT and μMT mice (containing B cells only in the gastrointestinal tract) were fed a CD-HFD, and treated with an anti-CD20 antibody, whereafter NASH and fibrosis were assessed. Tissue biopsy samples from patients with NAFL, NASH and cirrhosis were analysed to correlate the secretion of immunoglobulins to clinicopathological features. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and scRNA-Seq analysis were performed in liver and gastrointestinal tissue for immune cells in mice and humans. RESULTS Activated intestinal B cells were increased in mouse and human NASH samples and licensed metabolic T-cell activation to induce NASH independently of antigen-specificity and gut microbiota. Genetic or therapeutic depletion of systemic or gastrointestinal B cells prevented or reverted NASH and liver fibrosis. IgA secretion was necessary for fibrosis induction by activating CD11b+CCR2+F4/80+CD11c-FCGR1+ hepatic myeloid cells through an IgA-FcR signalling axis. Similarly, patients with NASH had increased numbers of activated intestinal B-cells and showed a positive correlation between IgA levels and activated FcRγ+ hepatic myeloid cells as well extent of liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Intestinal B cells and the IgA-FcR signalling axis represent potential therapeutic targets for treating NASH. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic inflammatory condition on the rise and can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the 3rd most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this progressive disease that correlates with a marked risk of HCC mortality and carries a substantial healthcare burden. To date, among all the solid tumours, especially in HCC, the incidence and mortality rates are almost the same, making it crucial to find curative treatments for chronic diseases, such as NASH, which highly predispose to tumorigenesis. We have previously shown that NASH is an auto-aggressive condition aggravated, amongst others, by T cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that B cells might have a role in disease induction and progression. Our present work highlights that B cells have a dual role in NASH pathogenesis, being implicated in the activation of auto-aggressive T cells and the development of fibrosis via activation of monocyte-derived macrophages by secreted immunoglobulins (e.g., IgA). Furthermore, we could show that the absence of B cells prevented HCC development. B-cell intrinsic signalling pathways, secreted immunoglobulins, and interactions of B cells with other immune cells are potential targets in combinatorial NASH therapies against inflammation and fibrosis

The customer foresight territory

Customer foresight is a relatively new research field. We introduce the customer foresight territory by discussing its localization between customer research and foresight research. For this purpose, we look at a variety of methods that help to understand customers and future realities. On this basis we provide an overview of customer foresight methods and outline an ideal-typical research journey