Cortisol Rise Following Awakening Among Problem Gamblers: Dissociation from Comorbid Symptoms of Depression and Impulsivity

Gambling pathology has been associated with elevated levels of distress, depression and impulsivity. The present investigation assessed whether these behavioral features would be evident among problem gamblers as they are among pathological gamblers. As well, given that gambling has been associated with increased life stress, as an objective index of ongoing distress, elevations of morning cortisol levels were assessed in problem and pathological gamblers relative to recreational gamblers, and their relations to depressive symptoms and impulsivity were assessed. Recreational, problem, and pathological gamblers (N = 140) completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, and provided saliva samples at awakening, 30 min, 3.5 h, and 5.5 h afterward. Consistent with the view that problem and pathological gambling are associated with elevated life stressors, the rise of morning cortisol from awakening to 30 min following awakening was greater than in recreational gamblers. Heightened impulsivity was evident among both problem and pathological gamblers, whereas depressive symptoms were only evident among pathological gamblers. In neither instance were these psychological indices related to the morning cortisol rise. Indeed, increased depressive symptoms were not evident among problem gamblers, despite the fact that elevated morning cortisol levels were evident. The elevated morning cortisol rise may be secondary to gambling problems or distress related to gambling problems. Furthermore, the sustained morning cortisol elevations may be indicative of allostatic overload, and could potentially be a harbinger for potential health risks among problematic gamblers.     

Arrovian impossibilities in aggregating preferences over non-resolute outcomes

Let A be a set of alternatives whose power set is . Elements of are interpreted as non-resolute outcomes. We consider the aggregation of preference profiles over into a (social) preference over . In case we allow individuals to have any complete and transitive preference over , Arrow’s impossibility theorem naturally applies. However, the Arrovian impossibility prevails, even when the set of admissible preferences over is severely restricted. In fact, we identify a mild “regularity” condition which ensures the dictatoriality of a domain. Regularity is compatible with almost all standard extension axioms of the literature. Thus, we interpret our results as the strong prevalence of Arrow’s impossibility theorem in aggregating preferences over non-resolute outcomes. This paper is part of a project entitled “Social Perception—A Social Choice Perspective”, supported by Istanbul Bilgi University Research Fund. It has been completed while Remzi Sanver was visiting Ecole Polytechnique, Paris. We are grateful to both institutions. We thank Nick Baigent, two anonymous referees and an anonymous associate editor for their valuable comments.     

Efficient semiparametric estimation in generalized partially linear additive models

In this paper we study semiparametric generalized additive models in which some part of the additive function is linear. We study the semiparametric efficiency under this regression model for the exponential family. We also present an asymptotically efficient estimation procedure based on the generalized profile likelihood approach.     

唤醒心中的天使

解放军战士雷锋是伟大的楷模。雷锋省吃俭用,生活朴素,穿着打补丁的袜子,人家喝汽水的时候他喝白开水,一分一分积攒下来的钱默默无闻地捐给灾区。在去医院看病的路上看到工地缺少搬砖人手,他竟忘却了自己带病的身体还和别人展开了搬砖比赛。吃苦在前、一生都为别人服务的他仅仅20多岁就离开了人世,但他的事迹传遍了整个中国,毛泽东主席还题辞"向雷锋同志学习",全中国掀起了学习雷锋的热潮。雷锋唤醒了我心中的天使!无论是中国人还是韩国人,全世界人类心中都有"天使",重要的是你是     

A dynamic multistate model of robustness and frailty

Dynamic multistate models can show realistic population dynamics over time, model complex cycles, and encompass the life history of a cohort. This paper uses a recently developed approach to obtain the analytic solution of a time‐dependent multidimensional differential equation. The illustrative robust/frail model presented shows that the assumption of fixed individual frailty can be abandoned in a two living state model that allows transitions between health statuses and nonproportional hazards of death.     

Online Donation Experiences,Donation Awareness,and Intention of Future Donation Among Teenagers in South Korea

Younger generations have become less likely to donate than older generations. Online fundraising might be a solution to encourage young donors. This study examines the mediating effects of online donation on the donation awareness of teenagers, as well as the pathway from online donation to an intention to donate in the future. Using data collected from 287 teenagers through an online survey, the study found that online donation experience has positive effects on the frequency of future donation, mediated by donation awareness. These results suggest that nonprofit organizations should consider online donation platforms to be important fundraising mechanisms in encouraging young donors. Future research is need in order to develop the theoretical models of online donation as well as investigate the applicability of the models, especially for young generations.     

Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Literacy and Vaccine Completion Among Asian American Pacific Islander Undergraduates: Implications for Cancer Health Equity

Abstract

Purpose: Low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among young Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women need to be addressed, particularly given the high incidence of cervical cancer in this population. The current study aims to investigate predictors of HPV vaccination in young AAPI and non-Latina white (NLW) women. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted of a health survey administered to college-aged women (N = 2,270) at a large public university in the Midwest. Andersen's behavioral model of health services utilization guided the study theoretically, and hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate research aim. Results: NLW women had a significantly higher rate of vaccine completion than AAPI women (NLW = 60.7%; AAPI = 38.6%). NLW women also scored higher on all 5 measures of HPV vaccine literacy than AAPI women. Both groups of undergraduate women reported that increasing age, knowledge about HPV, greater use of gynecological services, and knowing someone who had cancer were significant factors related to HPV vaccination completion. In the NLW group, father's income was also found to be a predictor of HPV vaccination completion. Conclusions: Rate and predictors of HPV vaccination completion vary between NLW and AAPI women. Greater promotion of HPV literacy and gynecological service use should be made to young AAPI women to increase their HPV uptake. Further research should examine sociocultural factors that could hinder or promote HPV vaccination in young AAPI women.     

Saving public pensions: Labor migration effects on pension systems in European countries

European countries have experienced population aging and consequent pressure on public pensions. Some European countries, therefore, have welcomed migrants, expecting that the inflow of people will ease the demographic and fiscal problems. It is important to ask if this policy approach has had the intended effects. This paper examines the effects of labor migration on public pension systems. Using error correction models (ECMs) with cross-country time-series data on European countries from 1981 to 2009, this analysis demonstrates that labor migration has deterred the reduction of public pension benefit levels and government expenditure on pension as well as the expansion of private pensions. This implies that labor migration eases the pressure on public pension systems. Migration contributory effects have been larger in countries with Bismarckian pension systems because those countries have experienced greater pressure on public pension systems than other countries.     

Independence distribution preserving joint covariance structures for the multivariate two-group case

We characterize the general nonnegative-definite and positive-definite joint observation covariance structures for the two-group case such that the two sample mean vectors are independent of the two corresponding sample covariance matrices. Also, the sample covariance matrices are distributed as independent noncentral or central Wishart random matrices. We derive and utilize a representation of the general common non-negative-definite solution to a particular system of matrix equations with idempotent coefficient matrices.     

Probability inequalities for continuous unimodal random variables with finite support

A paramecer-free Bernstein-type upper bound is derived for the probability that the sum S of n i.i.d, unimodal random variables with finite support, X₁ ,X₂,…,X_n, exceeds its mean E(S) by the positive value nt. The bound for P{S - nμ ≥ nt} depends on the range of the summands, the sample size n, the positive number t, and the type of unimodality assumed for X_i. A two-sided Gauss-type probability inequality for sums of strongly unimodal random variables is also given. The new bounds are contrasted to Hoeffding's inequality for bounded random variables and to the Bienayme-Chebyshev inequality. Finally, the new inequalities are applied to a classic probability inequality example first published by Savage (1961).