When Loss Reward: The Near-Miss Effect in Slot Machine Gamblin

An intriguing feature of near-miss outcomes in slot-machine gambling is that, while they are objectively losses, they motivate further play. The “near-miss effect” contradicts standard reinforcement theory in which failure should punish, rather than reward, responding. This critical review first examines neurophysiological research which seeks correlates and perhaps causes of this effect. The search for a neurophysiological substrate reveals that near-misses recruit similar reward-orientated brain regions to those involved in wins. However, two additional research traditions complicate this picture. The first seeks “cognitive distortions” that are held to motivate further play in the face of near-misses. The second claims that contextual factors, inherent in the programming of the machines and the physical arrangement of gambling milieux, modify responses to near-miss outcomes. A recurring theme in all research traditions is the role of a possible source of reinforcement separate from the effect of monetary wins and a potential link between this secondary reinforcement and arousal in players. The paper seeks to diversify the context of slot-machine gambling by arguing that that it is a form of consumer behavior and, as such, influenced by “informational” or symbolic reinforcement as well as by “utilitarian” or functional reinforcement. It compares the behavior of slotmachine gamblers and its consequences with those of economic consumers generally and proposes a framework within which the near-miss phenomenon can be comprehended

Relative sales and matching analysis of consumers' brand choices in open settings

The dissertation is a methodological exploration of the relevance of in-store behavioural experiments with relative sales and matching analysis to study consumers' brand choices in real open settings. Three extensive in-store experiments, using alternating treatment design with baseline—testing the effects of Place, Price, and Promotion—were performed in different types of stores (convenience, supermarkets, and budget) in order to investigate the application of the consumer behaviour analysis research framework to real open consumer settings. Four choice-based behaviour analytical analyses—relative sales analysis, amount matching, cost matching and probability matching—were performed on the data when applicable. The results show that the relative sales analyses for the in-store experiments often show orderliness and functionally interesting, and in some cases contradicting, buying behaviour patterns. As for previous correlational consumer behaviour analysis research there is—as should be expected—strong relationship between relative spending and relative buying (amount matching). Although methodologically peculiar, the application of this compelled matching relationship lies in the ability of the free parameters of the generalised matching equation to indicate dimensions of the substitutability of brands to some degree. Cost matching analyses, generally, did not show downward sloping curves, as is sometimes the case in previous studies. It, as well as amount matching, hides functional relations but can be appropriate if represented with a relative sales analysis, which gives clearer picture of behaviour-environment relationships than matching analysis. Results also show that the probability matching analysis, as applied in consumer behaviour analysis, gives misleading results. The ingathering of the study is a new in-store behavioural experimental project which can appraise consumer behaviour analytical advantages, fallacies, and verification seen with the lenses of in-store experimental techniques, and the inclusion of relative sales analysis to real and affluent consumer settings.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Relative sales and matching analysis of consumers' brand choices in open settings.

The dissertation is a methodological exploration of the relevance of in-store behavioural experiments with relative sales and matching analysis to study consumers' brand choices in real open settings. Three extensive in-store experiments, using alternating treatment design with baseline - testing the effects of Place, Price, and Promotion - were performed in different types of stores (convenience, supermarkets, and budget) in order to investigate the application of the consumer behaviour analysis research framework to real open consumer settings. Four choice-based behaviour analytical analyses - relative sales analysis, amount matching, cost matching and probability matching - were performed on the data when applicable. The results show that the relative sales analyses for the in-store experiments often show orderliness and functionally interesting, and in some cases contradicting, buying behaviour patterns. As for previous correlational consumer behaviour analysis research there is - as should be expected - strong relationship between relative spending and relative buying (amount matching). Although methodologically peculiar, the application of this compelled matching relationship lies in the ability of the free parameters of the generalised matching equation to indicate dimensions of the substitutability of brands to some degree. Cost matching analyses, generally, did not show downward sloping curves, as is sometimes the case in previous studies. It, as well as amount matching, hides functional relations but can be appropriate if represented with a relative sales analysis, which gives clearer picture of behaviour-environment relationships than matching analysis. Results also show that the probability matching analysis, as applied in consumer behaviour analysis, gives misleading results. The ingathering of the study is a new in-store behavioural experimental project which can appraise consumer behaviour analytical advantages, fallacies, and verification seen with the lenses of in-store experimental techniques, and the inclusion of relative sales analysis to real and affluent consumer settings

Validación de técnicas de conservación de pepino en el año 2022

La presente investigación se basó en estudiar la Validación de técnicas de conservación de pepino. El desarrollo del estudio se llevó a cabo en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua UNAN MANAGUA en su recinto FAREM-Estelí, en el laboratorio de la carrera de Agroindustria. Para los tratamientos en estudio se obtuvieron resultados cuantitativos donde se aplicó un DCA (Diseño Completamente al Azar) desarrollándose 3 tratamientos con 3 repeticiones por cada tratamiento. Para los productos se realizaron diferentes operaciones para obtener diferentes líquidos de cobertura con una proporción de 40 % de líquido de cobertura y 60 % fruta, en el equilibrio se realizaron los parámetros de manufactura como: pH, solidos solubles (Brix), concentración de sal y evaluación sensorial de los atributos color, olor, sabor y textura. En la evaluación de los tratamientos se encontró diferencias estadísticas significativas de p= 0.0024 donde se demostró la relación de estadística de la concentración de sal y pH con la vida útil. Las conservas de pepino lograron alcanzar los parámetros establecidos para productos en conserva; para el análisis sensorial se aplicó un formato de escala hedónica con 10 panelistas, siendo la técnica de salmuera la de mayor aceptabilidad y en conclusión se logró elaborar las conservas a base de pepino (Salmuera, Salmuera acidificada y Agridulce) con buenas características organolépticas. Se concluyó que la conserva de pepino con líquido de cobertura en salmuera presento mejor aceptación por parte de los degustantes referente a los demás tratamientos (salmuera acidificada y agridulce)

Concert recording 2015-11-19

[Track 01]. Partita. Prelude ; [Track 02]. Capriccio ; [Track 03]. Sarabande ; [Track 04]. Bourree ; [Track 05]. Schezo / Arthur Butterworth -- [Track 06]. Introduction and dance / J.E. Barat -- [Track 07]. Concert pierce no. 1 / Joseph Turrin -- [Track 08]. Sonata. Allegro ; [Track 09]. Aria / Bruce Broughton -- [Track 10]. Variations on the Carnival of Venice / J.B. Arban -- [Track 11]. Concerto for bass tuba. Allegro moderato ; [Track 12]. Romanza / Ralph Vaughan Williams -- [Track 13]. Concerto, op. 114 / Derek Bourgeois -- [Track 14]. Milori blue. Simply ; [Track 15]. Presto / Jonathan Newman

(Table T1) Diatom stratigraphy of ODP Site 184-1143

Diatoms from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 184 Site 1143 in the southern South China Sea were analyzed for this paper. We found that diatoms are barren or scarce from 27.94 to 304.04 meters below seafloor. The intervals with age-diagnostic species indicate a middle Miocene age from 472.18 to 469.98 mcd, a late Miocene age or younger at 389.42 mcd, and a late Pliocene to Holocene age from 26.7 to 0.0 mcd

Protein misfolding and the pathogenesis of ABCA4-associated retinal degenerations

Mutations in the ABCA4 gene are a common cause of autosomal recessive retinal degeneration. All mouse models to date are based on knockouts of Abca4, even though the disease is often caused by missense mutations such as the complex allele L541P;A1038V (PV). We now show that the PV mutation causes severe human disease whereas the V mutation alone causes mild disease. Mutant ABCA4 proteins expressed heterologously in mammalian cells retained normal cellular localization. However, basal and all-trans-retinal-stimulated ATPase activities were reduced substantially for P and PV but only mildly for V. Electron microscopy revealed marked structural changes and misfolding for the P and PV mutants but few changes for the V mutant, consistent with the disease severity difference in patients. We generated Abca4PV/PV knock-in mice homozygous for the complex PV allele to investigate the effects of this misfolding mutation in vivo. Mutant ABCA4 RNA levels approximated WT ABCA4 RNA levels but, surprisingly, only trace amounts of mutant ABCA4 protein were noted in the retina. RNA sequencing of WT, Abca4−/− and Abca4PV/PV mice revealed mild gene expression alterations in the retina and RPE. Similar to Abca4−/− mice, Abca4PV/PV mice showed substantial A2E and lipofuscin accumulation in their RPE cells but no retinal degeneration up to 12 months of age. Thus, rapid degradation of this large misfolded mutant protein in mouse retina caused little detectable photoreceptor degeneration. These findings suggest likely differences in the unfolded protein response between murine and human photoreceptors and support development of therapies directed at increasing this capability in patients