Drought is growing increasingly severe with climate change, and Central and Eastern Europe is particularly vulnerable to drought impacts due to its extensive agricultural land use. Hungary has experienced several damaging droughts in recent decades, including the exceptionally dry year of 2011, when annual precipitation reached only 72
Research indicates a consistent inverse relationship between problem gambling (PG) severity and gambling refusal self-efficacy (GRSE), though the strength of this association may vary across samples and measures. This preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, examined the correlation between PG and GRSE and tested potential moderators. Five databases were searched in March 2024, and eligible studies were observational, peer-reviewed, written in English, and reported standardized measures of PG and GRSE. Twenty-one studies with 24 independent samples were included. Results showed a significant, negative, moderate association between PG and GRSE, with substantial heterogeneity. The number of participants and the type of GRSE measurement instrument showed significant moderating effects, while no such effects were detected for demographic or clinical factors. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments supported the robustness of the findings. Risk of bias assessment suggested moderate or high risk in most studies. Overall, lower GRSE is associated with more severe PG, highlighting the need for improved designs and measurement in future research.
Online gambling regulation has become more permissive in many regions, particularly in Western countries, and stakeholders are concerned about young people (aged ≤ 25) and other vulnerable consumers experiencing harm. Some regions continue to maintain an online gambling ban, whilst others have adopted regulatory policies with a focus on consumer protection and harm minimization. Following a systematic search strategy, we reviewed empirical evaluations of international gambling policies to better understand their implementation and possible impact. Legalization leads to increased gambling participation and harm and has limited impact on reducing participation in illegal gambling. Bans on online gambling are difficult, if not impossible, to enforce. So-called ‘responsible gambling’ interventions have limited or no impact on behavior, even though they are widely touted by industry interests. Policies specifically impacting youths focus on preventing underage gambling access. However, young people manage to circumvent these restrictions. Insufficiently regulated gambling advertising is shown frequently to children, including through sports sponsorship. We cannot recommend any gambling regulatory approach as being obviously better than its alternatives based on current evidence. Empirical evaluations of the gambling policies of many other countries have either never been conducted or never been reported in English. A policy that works in one country might not work as well in a different cultural context. More research is needed, and governments that have legalized gambling should impose a levy on gambling revenue to fund healthcare and independent scientific investigations to address and hopefully reduce harm.
This study investigates the development of a data-centric process model tailored to address the specific challenges associated with the manufacturing of Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors. These challenges include managing complex data flows, sensitivity to environmental factors, and the need for high precision in production. MEMS-based sensor production is a critical area in advanced manufacturing, yet conventional data science solution lifecycles provide only limited explicit guidance for the real-time adaptivity and tightly coupled calibration processes required in this context. The research aims to create an interdisciplinary solution for real-time anomaly detection, adaptive calibration, and context-sensitive feature selection. Using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, the study integrates design requirements, design principles, and design features into a nine-phase process model. The development of the artefact involves collaboration across roles, such as, domain experts, data scientists, data engineers, and project managers, to ensure practical applicability in industrial settings. Validated through three case studies: wafer map clustering, adaptive calibration, and smart feature selection, the proposed process model significantly reduces production bottlenecks, enhances accuracy, and optimizes resource allocation. Overall, the study contributes a novel, structured process model that addresses critical demands in MEMS manufacturing and illustrates how a DSR-grounded, domain-specific lifecycle can be instantiated in practice, while providing design knowledge that may inform tailored AI process models in other high-stakes, sensor-intensive production contexts.
The rapid expansion of online grocery shopping post-COVID-19 has intensified competition among digital food platforms, increasing the need for effective consumer retention strategies. Supporting local food distribution through dedicated mobile app features is one promising approach. This study examines consumer preferences for such features across six European countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom). Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, we analyse how autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supporting features influence preferences for local food purchases online. Using data from a discrete choice experiment embedded in an online survey (n = 3,473), we find substantial cross-country heterogeneity in consumer preferences. Autonomy-enhancing features, such as recipes and advanced search filters, are consistently valued, though with varying importance across markets. Gamified sustainability rewards show strong potential to enhance engagement, while relatedness-oriented features receive limited support. Overall, the findings underline the need for market-specific app design strategies and contribute to understanding psychological need fulfilment in online food grocery.
