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There are several characteristics that can be used to identify Acheulean workshops. However, the direct flaking of raw-material outcrops can be an important step in Acheulean lithic production that is missing from the current trait list. Here, we define and introduce the first systematically documented evidence of what we refer to as ‘flake harvesting’ at Wonderboom in Gauteng, South Africa. The presence of flakes and cores from the excavated Acheulean deposit, with similar dimensions and in similar condition to those associated with the nearby flake-harvesting localities, indicate that the behaviour was associated with the Acheulean. We explain that collecting flakes in this manner is different from quarrying, and provide a recording protocol that can be applied to other localities. This could help to explore whether the behaviour has been missed previously, or whether it is a uniquely localised development. We provide a summary of Acheulean workshop traits reported by other researchers, demonstrating that several of these traits are present at Wonderboom, so that the site can now be thought of in terms of a workshop, amongst other things, and flake harvesting can be added to the list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work on large samples of southern African archaeological lithics, probably used to tip hunting weapons amongst other things, and ethno-historical bone and iron weapon tips of known use exposed limitations in the tip cross-sectional area (TCSA) method's robustness for hypothesising about variation in ancient weapon-delivery systems. Here, we list some of the limitations and discuss a few recently published improvements in tip cross-sectional area ranges and data presentation. Our main contribution is the meaningful enlargement of datasets obtained from hafted weapon tips and/or weapon tips of known use mostly from sub-Saharan Africa. We briefly discuss why this region is relevant for studying trends in the evolution and development of hunting weapons. Our new data are used to strengthen and constrain the different TCSA ranges used as proxies for poisoned arrow tips, un-poisoned arrow tips, javelin tips, stabbing-spear tips, and to suggest a working TCSA range for thrusting-spear tips. We demonstrate that the calibrated TCSA ranges have robust statistical integrity as proxies for the different weapon-delivery systems they represent. Apart from the dart-tip category, the TCSA method has now been improved to accommodate more nuanced and accurate interpretations, while further strengthening hypothesis building about ancient weapon systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to discrimination has been linked to lower HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and poor HIV care outcomes among Black Americans. Coping has been shown to mitigate the harmful effects of discrimination on health behaviors, but the use of cultural relevant Africultural coping strategies is understudied as a moderator of the association between intersectional discrimination and ART adherence among Black Americans. We used adjusted logistic regression to test whether Africultural coping strategies (cognitive/emotional debriefing; collective; spiritual-centered; ritual-centered) moderated associations between multiple forms of discrimination (HIV, sexual orientation, race) and good ART adherence (minimum of 75% or 85% of prescribed doses taken, as measured by electronic monitoring in separate analyses) among 92 sexual minority Black Americans living with HIV. Mean adherence was 66.5% in month 8 after baseline (36% ≥ 85% adherence; 49% ≥ 75% adherence). Ritual-centered coping moderated the relationship between each of the three types of discrimination at baseline and good ART adherence in month 8 (regardless of the minimum threshold for good adherence); when use of ritual coping was low, the association between discrimination and adherence was statistically significant. The other three coping scales each moderated the association between racial discrimination and good ART adherence (defined by the 75% threshold); cognitive/emotional debriefing was also a moderator for both HIV- and race-related discrimination at the 85% adherence threshold. These findings support the benefits of Africultural coping, particularly ritual-centered coping, to help sexual minority Black Americans manage stressors associated with discrimination and to adhere well to ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the prevalence and typology of unmet needs and the association between unmet needs and HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication adherence among a sample of Black people living with HIV(PLHIV) (N = 304) in Los Angeles, CA. We found a high prevalence of unmet needs, with 32% of participants reporting having two or more unmet needs. The most common unmet needs category was basic benefits needs (35%), followed by subsistence needs (33%), and health needs (27%). Significant correlates of unmet needs included food insecurity, history of homelessness, and history of incarceration. A greater number of unmet needs and any unmet basic benefits needs were each significantly associated with lower odds of HIV ART medication adherence. These findings provide further evidence linking the social determinants of health and social disenfranchisement to ART medication adherence among Black PLHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With this contribution, we provide a species and edible part list for the foodplant population of the Wonderboom landscape at the eastern end of the Magaliesberg range in Gauteng, South Africa, as a current proxy to hypothesise about past foraging behaviours. The greater Magaliesberg region is an ancient, relatively stable ecotone between the Grassland and Savanna Biomes, with its roots in the plateau uplift at ~ 4 Ma. We present the foraging landscape (foraging-scape) in a three-tier model at intervals of ~ 12.5 km, ~ 35 km, and ~ 70 km to assess proportional increases in foodplant species and edible parts when the foraging range is increased. We demonstrate that foraging within a ~ 12.5 km radius from the site provides an exceptionally rich foodplant landscape today. Thus, if the foodplant fitness potential during the Middle Pleistocene was roughly similar, it is reasonable to hypothesise that the Wonderboom foragers may have had little reason—apart from perhaps famine or drought—to go beyond a daily range for collecting plant foods. The Wonderboom ~ 12.5 km radius surface area is broadly similar to the footprint of the Cradle of Humankind ~ 40–70 km to its southwest. Directly comparing their foodplant species inventories shows that currently, 185 more foodplants grow around Wonderboom than in the Cradle. Our results suggest that the ecotone locality of Wonderboom, between the Grassland Biome to the south and the Savanna Biome to the north, may have had adaptive advantages in terms of its foodplant foraging potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIDS & Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We are not aware of any validated sexual health communication scales for use with young men who have sex with men (YMSM). We used data from an HIV prevention study in Lebanon with 226 YMSM aged 18–29 to assess the psychometric characteristics of our scale, Judgmental Communication with Peers about Sex (JCPS). The construct validity of the JCPS scale was supported by it being negatively correlated with general social support, percentage of alters perceived to be supportive, and the percentage of peers who are perceived to use condoms. The scale was positively correlated with gay-related discrimination, feeling part of the gay community, and gay social integration. These findings reflect a reliable, valid measure to assess judgmental sexual health communication between YMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived discrimination and medical mistrust are contributors to HIV inequities. The current study examined whether medical mistrust mediated the associations between perceived discrimination and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as well as care engagement in a sample of 304 Black adults living with HIV. Perceived discrimination and medical mistrust were measured using validated scales; ART adherence was electronically monitored for a month; care engagement was determined by medical record data. Results support significant total indirect effects from perceived discrimination (due to HIV-serostatus, race, sexual orientation) to ART adherence through three types of medical mistrust (towards healthcare organizations, one's physician, and HIV-specific mistrust). The total indirect effects were also significant for care engagement and were largely driven by mistrust towards one's own physician. Findings suggest interventions at the provider or healthcare organization levels should address medical mistrust to improve the health and well-being of Black Americans living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effects of a culturally adapted evidence-based HIV prevention intervention (Mpowerment), named "Tayf", on condom use and HIV testing among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Beirut. A 2-year implementation of Tayf was carried out independently and in parallel with a research cohort of 226 YMSM who were surveyed at baseline and months 6, 12, 18 and 24 after Tayf initiation. Primary outcomes were (1) any condomless anal sex with HIV-positive or unknown status partners in the past 3 months, and (2) HIV testing in the past six months. Hierarchical logistic regression models examined the association of Tayf participation with the outcomes averaged across all assessments, and the moderating effect of Tayf participation on change in the outcomes over the follow-up period. A total of 331 YMSM attended at least one event, including 33% of the cohort. Tayf participation was associated with a higher rate of any condomless sex with HIV-positive or unknown status partners averaged across the five assessments, but there was no moderating effect of Tayf participation on change in this outcome over time. Tayf participation was associated with higher HIV testing when averaged across all assessments, but its interaction with time showed that the strength of this association diminished over time. In conclusion, Tayf proved feasible and acceptable in Beirut, but with limited effects. Further work is needed, including innovative publicity and marketing strategies, to bolster effects in high stigma settings where security and legal risks are prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the recently discovered desert kites of South Africa in terms of landscape-based data derived from LiDAR scanning that enable us to compare the morphometric and topographic characteristics of the individual kite funnels. We report on a least-cost-path analysis, and use both older and younger ethno-historical and ethno-archaeological observations to help understand possible animal and human interaction with the Keimoes kite landscape. Our results highlight the hunters’ understanding of animal behaviours and migration patterns, and the minimum requirements for funnel construction. We show that all the sites were constructed within 2 km of seasonal water pans, and that elevation relative to the surrounding landscape was key to the placement of the kites. We further found that the Keimoes kite landscape was probably one of complex inter-connectedness, with dynamic human land-use patterns interlaced with concepts of inheritable custodianship across generations. The Keimoes kite funnels are most similar to those of the Negev Desert in the Levant, and demonstrate (against long-held opinion) that southern African hunter-gatherers in arid regions intentionally modified their landscape to optimise the harvesting of ungulates such as migrating gazelle—in this case the local, desert-adapted Springbok. Our landscape approach provides a nuanced understanding of these features within the southern African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the role different habitats play in the life histories of fishes is important for the development of holistic aquatic ecosystem management plans. We used otolith trace element analysis to reconstruct the life history of estuarine triplefin Forsterygion nigripenne and infer its habitat use. Analysis of otoliths using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed an elemental profile without prominent changes in elemental concentration. The otolith elemental profiles were not indicative of movement between waters with substantial Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca differences. The Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles were indicative of within—and near—estuary movements encompassing short time periods. Overall, the otolith microchemical profile was likely indicative of a life history closely associated with estuaries. However, it is difficult to rule out brief excursions to the marine environment given that may not have been of sufficient duration to be recorded in the elemental composition of the otolith. This suggests that F. nigripenne is the only species in southern New Zealand known to be closely associated with estuarine habitat for its entire life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest structure, defined as the three-dimensional vertical and horizontal distribution of canopy vegetation, has a great influence on the distribution patterns and abundance of forest primates. The complexity of this structural canopy produces a diverse range of microhabitats and distinct ecological niches, allowing ecologically similar species to coexist. Degradation of forests through anthropogenic factors significantly alters forest structure, and arboreal species such as gibbons are particularly vulnerable to these changes because of their reliance on canopy for survival. We investigated how forest structural variables influenced the density of two sympatric gibbon species (siamangs, Symphalangus syndactylus and lar gibbons, Hylobates lar) in Sikundur, a historically disturbed tropical lowland forest in north Sumatra. We used auditory sampling to establish group density in 10 locations and assessed structural characteristics of forest within 4–6 vegetation plots in each location. Lar gibbon group densities were 0.53–3.10 groups/km2 and siamang group densities were lower, with 0.0–1.0 groups/km2. The densities of both species were positively influenced by median height of first bole and the percentage of canopy connectivity. Lar gibbon group density was positively related to large (diameter at breast height 30–100 cm), tall (20–25 m) trees with a large crown area (100–300 m2), while siamang group density showed no significant relationships with these variables. These findings show canopy connectivity and height to first bole are significant structural variables for the continued presence of both gibbon species although, ecologically similar species can be influenced by different levels of structural disturbance. This canopy structural variation between sympatric species existing in the same ecosystem allows for home range overlap, low interspecific competition, and coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aspects of sexual identity development, including integration into gay community, have been found to be associated with sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM), but not in the Middle East. Method: Drawing on the minority stress model and integrated theory of health behavior, we examined the relationships between measures of sexual identity development and HIV protective behaviors (condomless anal sex and HIV testing) and the mediating roles of HIV knowledge, peer judgmentalism, and discrimination, in a sample of 226 young MSM in Beirut, Lebanon. A cross-sectional, mediation analysis was conducted using a bootstrapping approach and logistic regression models. Results: Fifteen percent of the sample reported recent condomless anal sex with partners whose HIV status was positive or unknown, and 82.3% had ever been tested for HIV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that greater integration into the gay community was significantly associated with having recent condomless anal sex with positive/unknown HIV status partners and having any history of HIV testing, after controlling for covariates. Knowledge of HIV risk was associated with gay integration as well as both condomless anal sex with positive or unknown HIV status partners and any history of HIV testing, but it only served as a (partial) mediator of HIV testing. Peer judgmental communication about sex and sexuality-related discrimination were related in bivariate analysis to gay integration and condomless anal sex, but they too did not prove to be significant mediators of the relationship between these two constructs. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential sexual health benefits and vulnerabilities associated with increased integration into the gay community for young MSM in Beirut and the need to better understand how to increase HIV knowledge while limiting its potential to increase sexual risk behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, our research with young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Beirut showed high rates of recent condomless anal sex and low rates of recent HIV testing. In 2017, we collected data from YMSM to assess for temporal changes and sociodemographic correlates. Propensity score weighting was used to eliminate any sociodemographic differences between the 2012 (n = 164) and 2017 (n = 226) samples of YMSM (age 18-29) recruited with long-chain peer referral sampling. Regression analysis was used to examine sociodemographic correlates of recent condomless anal sex and HIV testing using the 2017 sample, and whether these behaviors differed between the samples. Compared to the 2012 sample, the 2017 sample was about half as likely to report any condomless anal sex in the past 3 months with partners whose HIV status was positive or unknown (14% vs. 23%; OR [95%CI] 0.56 [0.32, 0.98]), and nearly 2.5 times as likely to report HIV testing in the past 6 months (48% vs. 27%; OR [95%CI] 2.44 [1.46, 4.10]). In the 2017 sample, any recent condomless anal sex with partners whose HIV status was positive or unknown was associated with employment and Christian religious affiliation. Low income was the sole correlate of having recently tested for HIV. These findings suggest a temporal trend toward increased HIV protective behaviors among YMSM in Beirut over the past 5 years. Further inroads could be secured if HIV prevention programming targeted economic influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the minority stress model, we assessed depression and its relationship to structural and sexual minority-related stressors and social support in a sample of 226 young (age 18–29 years) men who have sex with men in Beirut, Lebanon. The sample was recruited with long-chain peer referrals and administered a survey that included the PHQ-9 measure of depression. Sixteen percent had current major depression based on our PHQ-9 criteria, and 33% reported any lifetime history of suicidal ideation (including 8% who had made an attempt); 69% had experienced any sexual minority-related discrimination in the past year. In bivariate analysis, structural (unemployment, no legal resident status) and sexual minority-related (greater number of types of discrimination experienced, greater discomfort with one's sexual orientation) stressors were associated with major depression, as was lower social support. Discomfort with one's sexual orientation was the only correlate of major depression when controlling for other stressors, social support and socio-demographics. These findings highlight a high level of depression, and the potential for community building and social solidarity for mitigating the effects of stressors based in personal security, internalized stigma, and discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIDS & Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Dali hominid site is well known as it contains a human cranium associated with stone artefacts and animal bones. Dating efforts have provided an age range of ~ 300–247 ka for these remains. Renewed study of the cranium in recent years has revealed a mix of archaic traits in the neurocranium and derived features in the face, and thus, this specimen may provide insight into our understanding of modern human evolution in China. However, the technological behaviour possessed by these people has remained unclear due to a lack of new and detailed research. In this paper, we re-examine the lithic assemblages from Dali, originally excavated in 1978 and 1980, and for the first time, we now provide a sound assemblage by removing those geofacts that have been used in past archaeological reports. Although the total number of artefacts is now smaller, our results show that core reduction strategies at Dali are primarily expedient, dominated by simple unifacial unidirectional flaking. In contrast, the formal tools exhibit relatively advanced technology, with artefacts that are diverse in type and characterized by a relatively standardized production strategy. In contrast to the widely accepted model for slow and conservative technological development in Chinese Palaeolithic technology, pre 40 ka, here, we suggest that there is evidence for gradual technological changes from the Early to Middle and early Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined whether internalized HIV stigma and perceived HIV stigma from social network members (alters), including the most popular and most similar alter, predicted condomless intercourse with negative or unknown HIV status partners among 125 African American HIV-positive men. In a prospective, observational study, participants were administered surveys at baseline and months 6 and 12, with measures including sexual behavior, internalized HIV stigma, and an egocentric social network assessment that included several measures of perceived HIV stigma among alters. In longitudinal multivariable models comparing the relative predictive value of internalized stigma versus various measures of alter stigma, significant predictors of having had condomless intercourse included greater internalized HIV stigma (in all models), the perception that a popular (well-connected) alter or alter most like the participant agrees with an HIV stigma belief, and the interaction of network density with having any alter that agrees with a stigma belief. The interaction indicated that the protective effect of greater density (connectedness between alters) in terms of reduced risk behavior dissipated in the presence of perceived alter stigma. These findings call for interventions that help people living with HIV to cope with their diagnosis and reduce stigma, and inform the targets of social network-based and peer-driven HIV prevention interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo evaluate the functional and morphological outcomes of postoperative systemic steroid therapy after successful macular surgery in eyes with macular edema due to idiopathic macular epiretinal membranes (ERMs).DesignProspective, randomized, investigator-masked, controlled clinical study.MethodsTwenty-eight patients scheduled for 23-gauge vitrectomy combined with ERM and inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for macular edema due to ERM were included in this single center trial. Patients were randomized to receive oral steroid therapy (Prednisolone, 100 mg per day for 5 days) or no oral steroid (control group) after surgery. Main outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA; Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study), central retinal thickness (CRT), retinal volume (RV), and macular morphology as determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Cirrus). Examinations were carried out preoperatively and at week 1, at months 1 and 3, postoperatively.ResultsAt month 3, mean BCVA improved to a eight-letter gain in each study group (P<0.01 compared with baseline for both groups), showing no statistically significant difference between both the groups (P=0.19). Morphologically, retinal surface folds resolved within 1 month after surgery in both treatment groups, followed by a progressive recovery of retinal layer integrity and a statistical significant (P<0.01) decrease in CRT and RV without significant differences between both groups (P=0.62, P=0.13, respectively, ANOVA between the groups).ConclusionThe early postoperative use of systemic steroid treatment after successful vitrectomy combined with ERM and ILM peeling does not seem to improve significantly the anatomic and functional outcomes in eyes with ERM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo compare retinal thickness (RT) measurement and segmentation performance of time domain (TD, Stratus) and spectral domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices (Cirrus, Spectralis) for imaging macular oedema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).MethodsIn this study, 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients with acute BRVO were included. A total of 18 unaffected fellow eyes served as control group. RT measurement was analysed in the five inner fields of the early-treatment diabetic retinopathy grid, and proportional segmentation errors were evaluated.ResultsCentral millimetre thickness (CMT) showed a mean difference of −64, −74, and −18 μm (P<0.001) in the control group and −31 μm (P=0.107), −92 μm (P<0.001), and −105 μm (P=0.016) in the BRVO group, between Stratus and Cirrus, between Stratus and Spectralis, and between Cirrus and Spectralis, respectively. Mean RT showed the highest variability between different devices in the area most intensively affected by BRVO-related ME. In eyes with BRVO, 14.6% of Spectralis, 20% of Stratus, and 36.6% of Cirrus scans demonstrated moderate and severe segmentation errors.ConclusionRT measurement in eyes with BRVO, by TD and SD OCT, is compromised by a significant rate of segmentation errors. Deviations are most pronounced in the areas most severely affected by ME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of photocatalysts in the remediation of contaminated water is now well established in the scientific literature, the most common photocatalyst being nano-dimensional particulate titanium dioxide. The generation of charge and charge transfer mechanisms on titanium dioxide are also well described, but this paper addresses the use of tungsten oxide and discusses its potential in water remediation when supported as a photoelectrocatalytic electrode. A photoelectrocatalytic cell is described and its performance in the context of the band structure of tungsten oxide is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimThe aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for eyes with non-proliferative idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT2) and acute vision loss.MethodsIn this interventional case series, treatment-naive eyes of 13 consecutive patients with IMT2 were included. Eyes with a recent onset of visual loss were treated with 0.04 ml IVB (n=7). Fellow eyes and eyes of patients without disease progression served as control group (CG) (n=12). Follow-up examinations included ophthalmoscopy, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography (FA).ResultsMean follow-up time was 32±5.7 months in the treatment group (TG) (n=7) vs 29±8.8 months in the CG (n=16). Mean BCVA increased from logMAR 0.47±0.32 at baseline to logMAR 0.33±0.31 (P=0.21) at the last visit in the TG and decreased from logMAR 0.25±0.39 to logMAR 0.30±0.40 in the CG (P=0.17). All patients in the TG showed stabilisation or improvement in vision in Snellen lines in contrast to the CG (χ2-test P=0.04). Patients received on average 2.3±1.3 IVB injections. Mean central millimetre thickness in TG and CG was 260±83 and 201±32 μm at baseline vs 237±69 and 199±29 μm at the last visit, respectively (P=0.23 and 0.77). FA revealed a significant decrease of the juxtafoveal staining size at month 3 (P= 0.004) and a slight reduction at the last visit (P= 0.11) in the TG.ConclusionDespite an overall moderate effect of IVB treatment, individual patients experience a marked functional and morphological long-term benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African-American, Latino, and White men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) may be a bridge of HIV transmission from men to women. Very little research has directly compared culturally specific correlates of the likelihood of unprotected sex among MSMW. The present study examined psychosocial correlates of unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status with male and female partners among 50 African American, 50 Latino, and 50 White HIV-positive MSMW recruited from AIDS service organizations in Los Angeles County. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine relationships of race/ethnicity and psychosocial variables (e.g., condom attitudes, self-efficacy for HIV disclosure, sexual identification) to unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status, for male and female partners separately. For female partners, different effects emerged by race/ethnicity. Among African-Americans, less exclusively homosexual identification and low self-efficacy for disclosure of HIV status to female partners were associated with unprotected sex without disclosure; among Latinos, less exclusively homosexual identification and negative attitudes about condoms were significant. Participants who were more exclusively homosexually identified, who held less positive condom attitudes, and who had low self-efficacy for disclosure to female partners were more likely to have unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status to male partners. Culturally tailored community-level interventions may help to raise awareness about HIV and bisexuality, and decrease HIV and sexual orientation stigma, thereby increasing African-American and Latino MSMW’s comfort in communicating with their female partners about sexuality, HIV and condoms. Addressing norms for condom use and disclosure between male partners is recommended, especially for homosexually identified MSMW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cue-reactivity has received increased attention in addiction research, though not for gambling in particular. We examined cue reactivity in 18 problem gamblers by accompanying them to a gaming casino and measuring their subjective urge to gamble over a 1-h period. Half of the sample was additionally exposed to a gambling-specific negative mood induction (NMI) manipulation via guided imagery. Overall, about two-thirds of the sample reported moderate to high-gambling urges during the casino exposure. Additionally, the NMI reduced cue-reactivity. Finally, gambling urges in both groups decreased over the course of the exposure sessions. These findings suggest that a majority of problem gamblers experience the urge to gamble when exposed to gambling cues and that the intensity of these urges decrease with time, especially in the presence of a gambling-relevant NMI. Cue exposure should be studied further as a potential tool in the treatment of problem gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has made it clear that problematic gambling is often accompanied by problematic alcohol use. Unfortunately, little is known about the nature of this association, especially as it relates to gambling treatment outcome. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of current alcohol use level and previous substance abuse treatment on the symptoms of a large cohort of pathological gamblers as well as on their response to treatment for pathological gambling. The sample included 464 men and 301 women recruited at six gambling treatment programs in Minnesota. Gambling treatment patients were assessed on a number of gambling problem severity and related clinical variables using the Gambling Treatment Outcome Monitoring System (GAMTOMS). Patients with frequent alcohol use had greater gambling involvement at baseline than infrequent alcohol users. Patients with a previous history of substance abuse treatment had more severe psychosocial problems, ostensibly resulting from their gambling behavior, than patients without past substance abuse treatment. A MANOVA with repeated measures showed that neither pretreatment alcohol use, nor past substance abuse treatment exerted significant effects on gambling treatment outcome. While the level of pretreatment alcohol use and a history of substance abuse treatment are markers for greater gambling problem severity, treatment outcome for pathological gambling was not adversely impacted by these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been recognized that gambling is an activity that is often combined with alcohol intake. Not only do the behaviors of drinking and gambling frequently co-occur, alcohol use disorders and pathological gambling are also commonly co-morbid conditions in both clinical and non-clinical samples. This article introduces a special issue of the Journal of Gambling Studies focusing on cutting edge findings on the relations between gambling and alcohol use behaviors and their associated disorders. We set the stage for the following series of six novel empirical papers and integrative commentary by reviewing the theoretical pathways through which alcohol use and gambling disorders may be linked. We conclude by describing some of the novel contributions of each of the empirical studies from within the context of these theoretical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of an increased risk for various psychiatric disorders among pathological gamblers far exceeds our understanding of the impact that this psychiatric comorbidity has on the outcome of treatment for pathological gambling. One major source of the problem is that treatment efficacy and effectiveness studies for pathological gambling typically have not addressed comorbidity's impact on outcome. This paper discusses epidemiological, clinical, health service delivery, and research issues pertaining to the intersection of pathological gambling treatment outcome and comorbid psychiatric disorders. It is argued that this topic suffers from major knowledge gaps in terms of the nature of comorbidity of pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders and the role of client characteristics on treatment outcome for pathological gambling. Research priorities are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The galactic superluminal source GRS 1915+105 was observed byBeppoSAX at several occasions from October 1996 to April 2000. In April 1999 the 2–10 keV light curve showed a long series of quasi regular pulses with a recurrence time of about 50 s. Some preliminary results of a spectral analysis are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have calculated, by means of Monte Carlo simulations, the properties of the radiation emerging from an X-ray illuminated cold accretion disk. These calculations can apply to AGNs, for which there is evidence of cold, optically thick matter near the central black hole. The resulting spectra show an intense iron fluorescent line and a high-energy bump above about 10 keV, where the scattering becomes important with respect to the photoabsorption; these features have been observed by GINGA in some bright Seyfert 1 galaxies. Our detailed results are indicative of the type of future observations which would lead to estimates of the geometrical parameters of the disk, its iron abundance and the mass of the black hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FIGARO II (French Italian Gamma-Ray Observatory) experiment has been launched successfully three times: in July 1986 from Milo (Trapani), in November 1988 from Charleville (Australia) and in July 1990 again from Milo. In the first flight the observational program was limited to the Crab pulsar PSR0531+21 only because of a telemetry failure: the high sensitivity of FIGARO II allowed an accurate study of the pulse shape as well as a phase-resolved spectroscopy. It was also possible to evaluate the dispersion measure of the Crab pulsar at the flight date from the time delay between gamma-ray and radio pulses. The major results of the second flight were a stringent upper limit to the low-energy gamma-ray flux from PSR 0833-45 (Vela pulsar)-well below the detection claimed by the UCR group -and the observation of a strong emission in the 0.511 MeV annihilation line from the inner region of our Galaxy. The data acquired in the third flight are still under analysis, but preliminary results suggest changes in the shape of the pulse profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stellar X-ray Polarimeter (SXRP) is a focal plane instrument which will be flown on the SPECTRUM-X-Gamma mission in 1993. The polarimeter is composed of two separate instruments: the first exploits the dependence on the polarization of the Bragg reflection from a graphite crystal, and of the Thomson scattering from a metallic lithium target. The second instrument makes use of the recently discovered polarization dependence of X-ray photoemission from CsI. The SXRP will permit sensitive measurements of several hundreds of known X-ray sources. X-ray polarization measurements will allow us to constrain the physical mechanisms and the geometries of several classes of galactic X-ray sources, such as X-ray pulsars, black-hole candidates and supernova remnants. Moreover, and for the first time, SXRP will be able to perform highly sensitive measurements of the brightest extragalactic sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: C is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We discuss the iron K line complex in NGC 1068. The line complex basically consists of three components, as previously reported. A new analysis of the ASCA data shows that cold reflection appears to dominate the observed X-ray emission above 4 keV based on the detection of ‘Compton shoulder’, a weak red wing of the 6.4 keV fluorescence iron K line, and a very flat continuum. The other two weaker lines at higher energies can be identified with FeXXV and FeXXVI and suggest an highly ionized X-ray mirror as well, although the line energies are systematically lower than those expected from the resonant lines, consistent with a redshift by 1.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Incorporating Patterns of Disperser Behavior Into Models of Seed Dispersal and Its Effects on Estimated Dispersal Curves" that was published online in the December 15, 2005 issue was presented.