Type of musical soundtrack affects behavior in gambling

Abstract Background and aims A long existing notion is that the presence of music might affect gambling behavior. In spite of this, little empirical research on the subject exists. The main aim of the present study was to corroborate and elaborate on the existing findings concerning gambling and music through a laboratory based experiment. Methods A nonclinical sample of 101 undergraduate students (72 females, 29 males) played a computerized gambling task in which either a high-tempo or a low-tempo musical soundtrack was present. Persistence in gambling, reaction time and evaluation of the game comprised the outcome variables. Results Low-tempo music was associated with increased gambling persistence in terms of overall number of bets placed, whereas high-tempo music was associated with intensified gambling in terms of faster reaction time per placed bet. Type of soundtrack was not associated with game evaluation. Discussion Our findings add to the existing knowledge by showing that both low-tempo and high-tempo music can be associated with more risky gambling behavior, the former by increasing gambling persistence and the latter by reducing reaction time for bets placed. Conclusions In sum, the existing studies provide compelling evidence that music can affect various aspects of gambling behavior. These findings may have clinical implications by educating gamblers on the effects of structural mechanisms in gambling on behavior

Onset of North Atlantic Deep Water production coincident with inception of the Cenozoic global cooling trend : comment

Hohbein et al. (2012) propose an early Mid-Eocene onset of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) production by interpreting a mounded deposit at the south-west end of the Faroe-Shetland Basin (FSB) as a contourite drift, which they term the ‘Judd Falls Drift (JFD)’. We argue that this deposit is not a contourite drift; we also question how their model of early NADW production fits with current understanding of the development of the Faroe-Shetland Basin and the wider Arctic–NE Atlantic region, neither of which was convincingly discussed by these authors

Tempo in electronic gaming machines affects behavior among at-risk gamblers

Background and aims: Electronic gaming machines (EGM) may be a particularly addictive form of gambling, and gambling speed is believed to contribute to the addictive potential of such machines. The aim of the current study was to generate more knowledge concerning speed as a structural characteristic in gambling, by comparing the effects of three different bet-to-outcome intervals (BOI) on gamblers bet-sizes, game evaluations and illusion of control during gambling on a computer simulated slot machine. Furthermore, we investigated whether problem gambling moderates effects of BOI on gambling behavior and cognitions. Methods: 62 participants played a computerized slot machine with either fast (400 ms), medium (1700 ms) or slow (3000 ms) BOI. SOGS-R was used to measure pre-existing gambling problems. Mean bet size, game evaluations and illusion of control comprised the dependent variables. Results: Gambling speed had no overall effect on either mean bet size, game evaluations or illusion of control, but in the 400 ms condition, at-risk gamblers (SOGS-R score > 0) employed higher bet sizes compared to no-risk (SOGS-R score = 0) gamblers. Conclusions: The findings corroborate and elaborate on previous studies and indicate that restrictions on gambling speed may serve as a harm reducing effort for at-risk gamblers

Stock Assessment of Norwegian Atlantic Halibut North of 62°N Latitude Using a Data-Limited Approach

Landings of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) have increased significantly in later years. More fishing boats are joining the open-access fishery, with an ever-increasing number of fishing gear. The Atlantic halibut is also a popular tourist and recreational fishery target species. Atlantic halibut is a large, late-maturing flatfish with life history traits that make the stock sensitive to overfishing. The stock has a long history of exploitation, and historical fisheries show that increased landings over time have been followed by significant reductions in landings. The current regulations of the Norwegian Atlantic halibut fishery north of 62°N consist of input regulations (minimum catch size, no-catch periods, and fishing gear restrictions). Management authorities suggest new management actions to ensure a sustainable fishery of the Atlantic halibut stock in a long-term perspective. The aim of this study was to perform a stock assessment of the Norwegian Atlantic halibut stock north of 62°N using a data-limited approach. The purpose was to use the Stochastic Surplus Production Model in Continuous Time (SPiCT) and empirical approaches (with Data Limited Methods Toolkit (DLMtool)) on the limited data to assess the stock status and propose a management advice. The potential effects of tourist- and recreational fisheries were also examined through alternative landings (+20% and +40%) scenarios. Landings in Norway north of 62°N and Norwegian coastal scientific survey data were used. Four survey indices were developed from the scientific survey, of which one was used in the full assessment. The SPiCT assessment fulfilled the technical criteria, and the halibut stock was given ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) category 2 MSY (maximum sustainable yield) advice. The DLMtool gave similar results and provided estimates of a new minimum catch size. The assessment showed that the stock is close to optimal levels and utilized around MSY. The stock is probably declining due to overfishing in recent years. The management advice for the Norwegian halibut stock north of 62°N is to reduce fishing by implementing a TAC at 2000-2424 tons. An increased minimum catch size of around 90-106 cm should be implemented (together with or independently of other measures) to fit the species' life-history traits better. Tourist- and recreational fisheries might have a negative effect on the halibut stock, especially locally. The findings in this thesis can contribute to better management of the Norwegian halibut stock north of 62°N.Landingene av atlantisk kveite (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) har økt signifikant de siste årene. Flere båter har blitt med i det åpne fiskeriet, og et stadig større antall fiskeredskaper er i bruk. Atlantisk kveite er også en populær målart for turist- og fritidsfiskerier. Arten atlantisk kveite er en stor flatfisk som blir sent kjønnsmoden, og som har livshistorietrekk som gjør at den er sensitiv for overfiske. Kveitefiske har en lang historie, og statistikk viser at økte landinger over tid følges av store reduksjoner i landinger. Dagens forvaltning av norsk atlantisk kveite nord for 62°N består av innsatsreguleringer (minstemål, fredningsperioder og restriksjoner av fiskeredskap). Nye forvaltningstiltak er blitt foreslått av fiskerimyndighetene for å sikre et bærekraftig fiske av kveitebestanden i et langtidsperspektiv. Formålet med denne studien var å gjennomføre en bestandsvurdering av den norske atlantiske kveitebestanden nord for 62°N ved bruk av en databegrenset tilnærming. Målet var å teste og tilpasse en anerkjent stokastisk produksjonsmodell (Stochastic Surplus Production Model in Continuous Time - SPiCT) samt en empirisk tilnærming (med Data-Limited Methods Toolkit - DLMtool) for å vurdere bestandsstatus og foreslå et forvaltningsråd. De mulige effektene av turist- og fritidsfiske ble også undersøkt gjennom alternative scenarioer for landinger (+20% and +40%). Landingene for at atlantisk kveite i Norge nord for 62°N og data fra kysttoktet ble brukt. Fire indekser ble utviklet fra toktdataene, hvorav en ble brukt i hele bestandsvurderingen. Bestandsvurderingen med SPiCT oppfylte de tekniske kriteriene, og kveitebestanden ble gitt MSY-råd (maksimal bærekraftig fangst) etter det internasjonale havforskningsrådets (ICES) bestandskategori 2. DLMtool ga tilsvarende resultater og forslag til nytt økt minstemål. Bestandsvurderingen viste at bestanden er i tilnærmet optimal tilstand og utnyttet rundt MSY. Bestanden minsker trolig på grunn av overfiske de siste årene. Forvaltningsrådet for den norske atlantiske kveitebestanden nord for 62°N er å redusere fiske ved å innføre en kvote på mellom 2000-2424 tonn i fiskeriet. I tillegg foreslås det å øke minstemålet til mellom 90-106 cm (i tillegg til, eller uavhengig av andre forvaltningstiltak) som er bedre tilpasset arten. Turist- og fritidsfiske kan ha en negativ effekt på kveitebestanden, særlig lokalt. Funnene i denne oppgaven kan bidra til en bedre forvaltning av dem norske atlantiske kveitebestanden nord for 62°N

Evidence for a mid-Pleistocene change of ice-drift pattern in the Nordic seas

Sediment proxy records from a continuous, 1.5 million year long deep-sea sediment core from a site in the western Norwegian Sea were used to obtain new insights into the nature of palaeoceanographic change in the northern North Atlantic (Nordic seas) during the climatic shift of the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution (MPR). Red-green sediment colour and magnetic susceptibility records both reveal significant differences in their mean values when comparing the intervals older than 700 000 yr (700 ka) with those from the past 500 kyr. The timing and duration of these changes indicates that the MPR in the Nordic seas is characterised by a gradual transition lasting about 200 kyr. Together with further sedimentological evidence this suggests that the mid-Pleistocene climate shift was accompanied by a general change in ice-drift pattern. It is further proposed that prior to the onset of the major late Pleistocene glaciations in the Northern Hemisphere a significant proportion of the ice in the eastern Nordic seas originated from a southern provenance, whereas later it dominantly came from the surrounding landmasses

Large-scale sedimentation on the glacier-influenced polar North Atlantic Margins: Long-range side-scan sonar evidence

Long-range side-scan sonar (GLORIA) imagery of over 600,000 km² of the Polar North Atlantic provides a large-scale view of sedimentation patterns on this glacier-influenced continental margin. High-latitude margins are influenced strongly by glacial history and ice dynamics and, linked to this, the rate of sediment supply. Extensive glacial fans (up to 350,000 km³) were built up from stacked series of large debris flows transferring sediment down the continental slope. The fans were linked with high debris inputs from Quaternary glaciers at the mouths of cross-shelf troughs and deep fjords. Where ice was slower-moving, but still extended to the shelf break, large-scale slide deposits are observed. Where ice failed to cross the continental shelf during full glacials, the continental slope was sediment starved and submarine channels and smaller slides developed. A simple model for large-scale sedimentation on the glaciated continental margins of the Polar North Atlantic is presented

Cost and outcome of behavioural activation versus cognitive behavioural therapy for depression (COBRA): a qualitative process evaluation.

Published onlineJournal ArticleThis is the final version of the article. Available from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.OBJECTIVE: To explore participant views on acceptability, mechanisms of change and impact of behavioural activation (BA) delivered by junior mental health workers (MHWs) versus cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered by professional psychotherapists. DESIGN: Semistructured qualitative interviews analysed using a framework approach. PARTICIPANTS: 36 participants with major depressive disorder purposively sampled from a randomised controlled trial of BA versus CBT (the COBRA trial). SETTING: Primary care psychological therapies services in Devon, Durham and Leeds, UK. RESULTS: Elements of therapy considered to be beneficial included its length and regularity, the opportunity to learn and not dwelling on the past. Homework was an important, although challenging aspect of treatment. Therapists were perceived as experts who played an important role in treatment. For some participants the most important element of therapy was having someone to talk to, but for others the specific factors associated with BA and CBT were crucial, with behavioural change considered important for participants in both treatments, and cognitive change unsurprisingly discussed more by those receiving CBT. Both therapies were considered to have a positive impact on symptoms of depression and other areas of life including feelings about themselves, self-care, work and relationships. Barriers to therapy included work, family life and emotional challenges. A subset (n=2) of BA participants commented that therapy felt too simple, and MHWs could be perceived as inexperienced. Many participants saw therapy as a learning experience, providing them with tools to take away, with work on relapse prevention essential. CONCLUSIONS: Despite barriers for some participants, BA and CBT were perceived to have many benefits, to have brought about cognitive and behavioural change and to produce improvements in many domains of participants' lives. To optimise the delivery of BA, inexperienced junior MHWs should be supported through good quality training and ongoing supervision. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN27473954, 09/12/2011.This work was funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme grant number 10/50/14. DAR is also supported by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula

Stressors, social support and military performance in a modern war scenario

The present study examined differences in stressors, coping strategies, and military performance in two groups deployed in the same war scenario, but with operative and psychologically different challenges.publishedVersio

Karbonfangst og -lagring på norsk kontinentalsokkel: Hvilke ansvar oppstår i forbindelse med lekkasje av CO2, og hvor lenge strekker ansvarene seg i tid?

MasteroppgaveJUS399MAJUR-2MAJU