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Erroneous gambling-related beliefs (EGRBs) can be defined as beliefs that imply a failure to recognise how commercial gambling activities are designed to generate a guaranteed loss to players. In theorising about how EGRBs develop, previous reviews have proposed that EGRBs are extensions of decision-making heuristics and associated biases. We propose an alternative generative mechanism: one in which gambling games make substantial wins seem possible through problem-solving and eventual correct strategic action. EGRBs are then beliefs in the possibility of correct strategic action (illusions of control) that develop as players trial candidate strategies—strategies selected based on various broader beliefs. We further propose that EGRBs can be classified based on what is theorised in cognitive science about categories of general human beliefs about the world. For example, it has been theorised that human beliefs about supernatural forces and randomness have certain similarities across cultures, and so we propose that there exists a category of supernatural EGRBs, as well as a category of EGRBs based on broader beliefs about the nature of randomness. We review evidence for this classification scheme and discuss how it can be applied in researching and treating gambling disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:A pilot study to identify the predictors of improvement in emotional and behavioural functioning of siblings of children with special needs following participation inSibworkS, a six-week manual-based, cognitive–behavioural group programme. Method:Data from 36 participants from a recent evaluation of theSibworkSprogramme was used. Measures were administered pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and three months post-intervention. Treatment effects were measured using change scores for siblings on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – Parent Version (SDQ). Seven predictors were analysed: symptom severity of the child with special needs, participant age and gender, sibling birth order, family socio-economic status, participant baseline SDQ score and participant use of additional support services. Results:The overall model significantly predicted change in SDQ scores at post-intervention and follow-up (adjustedR2 = 0.41 and 0.40). At both evaluation points, SDQ change scores were significantly predicted by baseline SDQ score. Furthermore, symptom severity of the child with special needs was a significant predictor at three months post-intervention. Conclusions:Poorer emotional and behavioural functioning among participants and symptom severity of the child with special needs were associated with greater intervention effects. These results indicate thatSibworkSis likely to be beneficial for siblings who have difficulties adjusting, and siblings of children with more severe special needs.Implications for RehabilitationSiblings of children with disability are at increased risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties.Sibworks is a manualised group-based intervention for the siblings of children with a disability.Poorer emotional and behavioural functioning among participants and symptom severity of the child with special needs were associated with greater intervention effects.SibworkS is likely to be beneficial for siblings who have difficulties adjusting and siblings of children with more severe disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peculiarities of the alkaline hydrolysis of graft copolymers dextran-polyacrylamide with different molecular weights of the main polysaccharide and long grafted chains are studied by the potentiometric titration method. It is established that the degree of copolymers modification depends on the conformation of grafted polyacrylamide chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]