Examining Resident Perceptions of Negative Gambling Impacts with Factual Evidence

This study attempts to establish a dialogue between perceived negative impacts associated with borrowing money to gamble and the resulting bankruptcies in three ways: matching local resident opinions with evidence they are asked to provide; determining causal effects of evidence on perceptions; and confirming the bankruptcy issues by using historical data. The results of the study are mixed. On one hand, they indicate a close tie between borrowing perceptions and real facts. However, on the other hand, they also report that bankruptcy related perceptions are not based on evidence and suggest that several factors are at play besides the casino gambling revenue. An empirical time series analysis of historical data illustrates and supports this contention. These results have important policy implications for regulators and operators of the casino industry

Exploring Social Exchange Theory Dynamics in Native American Casino Settings

The proliferation of Native American casino (NAC) gambling over the past few decades has generated a concern over the social, economic, and environmental impacts. This study examined the local resident perceptions of casino gambling impacts and their subsequent support for the NACs within the Social Exchange Theory (SET) framework. It further applied a similar framework to the non-NAC settings. While majority of the impact constructs failed to generate support for the NACs in the presence of intervening variables, a significant application of SET appeared among the non-NAC communities. Benefits were found to be significant for facilitating higher levels of support for the nonNACs. Overall, the results indicated that SET is not a universal phenomena and nature of casino ownership is more likely to influence residents\u27 level of support

Perceived Impacts of Gambling: Integration of Two Theories

This study explores the race and educational attainment variations on resident perceptions and support for a proposed casino development. In addition, it investigates the influence of perceived benefits and costs on casino gambling support. The findings indicate that residents who are likely to receive personal benefits from gambling development tend to believe that its socioeconomic benefits outweigh the associated costs. Respondents\u27 race is found to exercise a significant influence on their perceptions of benefits and costs, and casino development support. This study integrates two separate research streams of social exchange theory and social representation theory, and in doing so makes a major theoretical contribution in tourism and gaming literature

Exploring Casino Impact Perceptions of a Unique Population

This study is an investigation of the impact perceptions of Social Service Providers, Law Enforcement Officers, and Economic Development Officers to acquire a wide spectrum of community views. In doing so, this study advances the literature by examining this unique population\u27s perceptions of casino gambling impacts and factors driving those perceptions, and their support for casinos in general using the social exchange theory framework. The results suggest that officers who have worked with gamblers tend to agree more with the economic benefits. A partial support for social exchange theory is also noted. The results have important implications for the casino operators, casino opponents, and the policy makers

Transformative Potential of Yoga Tourism

The purpose of this study was to test the transformative potential of yoga retreat programs, using cyclical transformative model integrated with PERMA (positive emotions, engagement, relatedness, meaningfulness and accomplishment) dimensions in Rishikesh (a historical yoga town), India. A mixed method technique was used to collect data. The results report that multiple benefits are sought by wellness tourists. Their expectations soar as they engage with the program/environment, after they arrive at the site. Some elevated experiences, such as happiness, produce short-term benefits; but some enduring transformative benefits also happen and these stay for a long time upon return home. The transformative process evolves and is cyclical in nature, as the participants share and engage with their community, upon return. This study suggests that the restorative and therapeutic potential of yoga tourism should be tapped by the destination marketing organizations, as they endeavor to reconstruct tourism for the intra- and post-pandemic times

Analysis of Process Parameters of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technique

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the RP technique in which a plastic filament is melted in the extruder of the 3D printer and deposited on the build platform of the 3D printer to form the object layer by layer. Part quality and mechanical properties of the FDM fabricated parts extensively depends on process variable parameters such as layer thickness, raster angle, part orientation, raster width, air gap. Hence, selection and optimization of FDM process parameters is vital. The aim and objective of this article is to study and determine the influence of these parameters on processed part through the research work carried out so far. A number of optimization techniques and designs of experiments for the determination of optimum process parameter have been studied

Planning a Slow Food Tourism Corridor in a Suburban Town in the United States

As the new normal continues, transformational thinking with a focus on sustainable and responsible development of alternative forms of tourism is taking roots. Interest in slow tourism is surging in the pandemic times due to the growing demand for immersive experiences as consumer seek self-enrichment. Based on review of limited literature, this study develops a slow tourism model with a predetermined set of indicators modified to make them location specific. These indicators relate to three broad dimensions: authenticity, equity and social capital. In summary, this study examines slow tourism in a suburban town of Arizona (United States). It also aims to suggest a slow tourism corridor to promote locally-grown produce and authentic heritage. Based on the study results, a slow food corridor will suggest a sustainable tourism trail with heritage touch points that hold potential to promote cooperation between the various stakeholders of slow food tourism

Surgical Treatment of Liver Metastases in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a distinctive entity, and nearly 10% of patients already have liver metastases at presentation. The management of neuroendocrine liver metastases (NEN-LM) is complex with differing patterns of metastatic presentation. An aggressive approach should be used to resect the primary tumor, to remove regional lymph nodes, and to resect or treat appropriate distant metastases (including liver tumors). Despite having an indolent course, NENs have a significantly reduced survival when liver metastases are untreated. Though a wide range of therapies are now available with a multimodal approach to the treatment, surgical treatment offers the only chance for a significant survival prolongation and/or improvement of symptoms and quality of life. A review of the existing surgical modalities for NEN-LM is discussed in this paper