Gamblers and their family members or friends (affected others) can experience stigma and shame due to gambling which can result in a reluctance to seek timely support. However, gamblers and affected others access intersecting health services and talk to friends or family, thereby providing opportunities for early intervention. Three sides of the coin is a group of storytellers with lived experience of gambling harm who use dramatic performance to share personal stories to enhance the understanding of gambling-related harm in allied professions and the broader community. They do this to encourage attitude and behaviour change so that gamblers and affected others receive empathy and support during encounters with these groups. A mixed-methods study was used to explore whether these performances were successful in increasing understanding and changing attitudes and behaviour of allied professionals and the community in the short and longer-term. Data collected immediately post-performance revealed that performances increased understanding of gambling, and improved attitudes and behavioural intent of audience members in relation to gamblers and affected others. Professionals also reported an increased willingness and confidence to discuss gambling harm with clients. Follow-up data demonstrated potential longer-term impact, with respondents continuing to report more positive attitudes towards those affected by gambling harm and professionals being confident to explore gambling issues in their clients and provide appropriate referrals. These finding demonstrate that performance based on lived experience can be a powerful education tool, encouraging deep connection to the issue, resulting in a nuanced understanding and sustained attitudinal and behavioural change.

BACKGROUND:People with gambling problems frequently report repeated unsuccessful attempts to change their behavior. Although many behavior change techniques are available to individuals to reduce gambling harm, they can be challenging to implement or maintain. The provision of implementation support tailored for immediate, real-time, individualized circumstances may improve attempts at behavior change.OBJECTIVE:We aimed to develop and evaluate a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) for individuals who require support to adhere to their gambling limits. JITAI development is based on the principles of the Health Action Process Approach with delivery, in alignment with the principles of self-determination theory. The primary objective was to determine the effect of action- and coping planning compared with no intervention on the goal of subsequently adhering to gambling expenditure limits.METHODS:Gambling Habit Hacker is delivered as a JITAI providing in-the-moment support for adhering to gambling expenditure limits (primary proximal outcome). Delivered via a smartphone app, this JITAI delivers tailored behavior change techniques related to goal setting, action planning, coping planning, and self-monitoring. The Gambling Habit Hacker app will be evaluated using a 28-day microrandomized trial. Up to 200 individuals seeking support for their own gambling from Australia and New Zealand will set a gambling expenditure limit (ie, goal). They will then be asked to complete 3 time-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) per day over a 28-day period. EMAs will assess real-time adherence to gambling limits, strength of intention to adhere to goals, goal self-efficacy, urge self-efficacy, and being in high-risk situations. On the basis of the responses to each EMA, participants will be randomized to the control (a set of 25 self-enactable strategies containing names only and no implementation information) or intervention (self-enactable strategy implementation information with facilitated action- and coping planning) conditions. This microrandomized trial will be supplemented with a 6-month within-group follow-up that explores the long-term impact of the app on gambling expenditure (primary distal outcome) and a range of secondary outcomes, as well as an evaluation of the acceptability of the JITAI via postintervention surveys, app use and engagement indices, and semistructured interviews. This trial has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-304).RESULTS:The intervention has been subject to expert user testing, with high acceptability scores. The results will inform a more nuanced version of the Gambling Habit Hacker app for wider use.CONCLUSIONS:Gambling Habit Hacker is part of a suite of interventions for addictive behaviors that deliver implementation support grounded in lived experience. This study may inform the usefulness of delivering implementation intentions in real time and in real-world settings. It potentially offers people with gambling problems new support to set their gambling intentions and adhere to their limits.TRIAL REGISTRATION:Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000497707; www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383568.INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID):DERR1-10.2196/38919.

This study explored women's gambling in response to male intimate partner violence (IPV). Twenty-four women were recruited through service providers and online advertising. All women had been victimised by IPV and all experienced problems relating to the gambling on electronic gaming machines (EGMs). Thematic analysis of their in-depth interviews identified three major themes. The main pattern of gambling and IPV (Theme 1) was where ongoing coercive control preceded the woman's gambling. Situational violence in response to gambling was also observed. Regardless of temporal sequence, a self-perpetuating cycle of gambling and IPV victimisation was typically apparent, with both issues escalating over time. Reflecting severe traumatic violence, push factors from IPV that motivated the women's gambling (Theme 2) included physical escape, psychological escape, hope of regaining control over their lives, and gambling to cope with the legacy of abuse. Pull factors attracting these women to gambling venues (Theme 3) appeared to have heightened appeal to these victims of IPV. These included venues' social, geographic and temporal accessibility, allowance for uninterrupted play on EGMs, and the addictive nature of EGMs. These push and pull factors led to these women's prolonged and harmful gambling while exacerbating their partner's violence. Concerted efforts are needed to assist women in this cycle of IPV and gambling, prevent violence against women, and reduce harmful gambling products and environments.

This study aimed to examine how problem gambling interacts with gendered drivers of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women to exacerbate this violence. Interviews were conducted with 48 female victims of IPV linked to a male partner's gambling; 24 female victims of IPV linked to their own gambling; and 39 service practitioners from 25 services. Given limited research into gambling-related IPV, but a stronger theoretical base relating to IPV against women, this study used an adaptive grounded theory approach. It engaged with existing theories on gendered drivers of violence against women, while also developing a grounded theory model of individual and relationship determinants based on emergent findings from the data. Gambling-related IPV against women was found to occur in the context of expressions of gender inequality, including men's attitudes and behaviors that support violence and rigid gender expectations, controlling behaviors, and relationships condoning disrespect of women. Within this context, the characteristics of problem gambling and the financial, emotional and relationship stressors gambling causes intensified the IPV. Alcohol and other drug use, and co-morbid mental health issues, also interacted with gambling to intensify the IPV. Major implications. Reducing gambling-related IPV against women requires integrated, multi-level interventions that reduce both problem gambling and gendered drivers of violence. Gambling operators can act to reduce problem gambling and train staff in responding to IPV. Financial institutions can assist people to limit their gambling expenditure and families to protect their assets. Service providers can be alert to the co-occurrence of gambling problems and IPV and screen, treat, and refer clients appropriately. Public education can raise awareness that problem gambling increases the risk of IPV. Reducing gender inequality is also critical.

Background The presence of discrete but fluctuating precipitants, in combination with the dynamic nature of gambling episodes, calls for the development of tailored interventions delivered in real time, such as just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs). JITAIs leverage mobile and wireless technologies to address dynamically changing individual needs by providing the type and amount of support required at the right time and only when needed. They have the added benefit of reaching underserved populations by providing accessible, convenient, and low-burden support. Despite these benefits, few JITAIs targeting gambling behavior are available. Objective This study aims to redress this gap in service provision by developing and evaluating a theoretically informed and evidence-based JITAI for people who want to reduce their gambling. Delivered via a smartphone app, GamblingLess: In-The-Moment provides tailored cognitive-behavioral and third-wave interventions targeting cognitive processes explicated by the relapse prevention model (cravings, self-efficacy, and positive outcome expectancies). It aims to reduce gambling symptom severity (distal outcome) through short-term reductions in the likelihood of gambling episodes (primary proximal outcome) by improving craving intensity, self-efficacy, or expectancies (secondary proximal outcomes). The primary aim is to explore the degree to which the delivery of a tailored intervention at a time of cognitive vulnerability reduces the probability of a subsequent gambling episode. Methods GamblingLess: In-The-Moment interventions are delivered to gamblers who are in a state of receptivity (available for treatment) and report a state of cognitive vulnerability via ecological momentary assessments 3 times a day. The JITAI will tailor the type, timing, and amount of support for individual needs. Using a microrandomized trial, a form of sequential factorial design, each eligible participant will be randomized to a tailored intervention condition or no intervention control condition at each ecological momentary assessment across a 28-day period. The microrandomized trial will be supplemented by a 6-month within-group follow-up evaluation to explore long-term effects on primary (gambling symptom severity) and secondary (gambling behavior, craving severity, self-efficacy, and expectancies) outcomes and an acceptability evaluation via postintervention surveys, app use and engagement indices, and semistructured interviews. In all, 200 participants will be recruited from Australia and New Zealand. Results The project was funded in June 2019, with approval from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-304). Stakeholder user testing revealed high acceptability scores. The trial began on March 29, 2022, and 84 participants have been recruited (as of June 24, 2022). Results are expected to be published mid-2024. Conclusions GamblingLess: In-The-Moment forms part of a suite of theoretically informed and evidence-based web-based and mobile gambling interventions. This trial will provide important empirical data that can be used to facilitate the JITAI’s optimization to make it a more effective, efficient, and scalable tailored intervention. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622000490774; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380757&isClinicalTrial=False International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/38958

Problem gambling provides a strong motivation for perpetrating economic abuse. This study explores the interaction between problem gambling and economic abuse, and how this economic abuse is reinforced by other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) and underpinned by gendered drivers of violence against women. Interviews were conducted with 18 women with lived experience of economic abuse perpetrated by a male partner with a gambling problem and analyzed using adaptive grounded theory. The women reported that their partner subjected them to numerous forms of economic exploitation (e.g. fraudulent use of her credit card) and economic control (e.g. preventing her from accessing money) to fund his gambling. Patterns of psychological and physical abuse reinforced this economic abuse. Gendered drivers of this violence underpinned this behavior including their partner’s perceived entitlement to subordinate, control, and manipulate them. The resulting financial stress undermined the women’s capacity to leave the relationship, extending their victimization and deprivation. This integrated exploration highlights that problem gambling and gendered drivers of violence interact to create a context where economic abuse and other forms of violence are perpetrated to obtain money for gambling. Interventions by gambling operators, financial institutions, and support services are needed to reduce gambling-related economic abuse.

Single-layer MoS2 has been reported to exhibit strong excitonic and trionic signatures in its photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Here, we report that the emission spectra of MoS2 QDs strongly depend on the dielectric constant of the solvent and the relative difference in the electronegativity between the solvent and QDs. Due to the difference in electronegativity, electrons are either added to the QD or withdrawn from it. Consequently, depending upon the dielectric permittivity and the electronegativity of the surrounding medium, the signature peaks of excitons and trions exhibit a significant change in the PL spectra of MoS2 QDs. Our findings are helpful to understand the effect of the surrounding environment on the optical properties of QDs and the importance of the selection of solvent since MoS2 QDs are potential candidates for valleytronics applications.

Nanodiamonds (ND) are carbon particles with a size less than 100 nm, formed by sp3 hybridization of carbon atoms. They have attracted considerable research interest for their potential applications ranging from sensing and bioimaging to quantum computation due to its physical, chemical and surface characteristics. In this work, we report the synthesis of ND from graphene dispersions by liquid-phase laser ablation technique, using an Nd: YAG laser. ND samples exhibit a characteristic photo-absorption at 226 nm, and it shows an excitation dependent emission similar to the carbon dots. Employing Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy, the bandgap of ND is calculated to be 5.2 eV, and the work-function is around 4.2 eV. Further, we fabricated Resistive switching devices with ND film as the active layer, fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as the bottom and silver (Ag) as the top electrodes. These FTO/ND/Ag devices show excellent memory characteristics with an on-off ratio of 104 and reproducible cycling characteristics, demonstrating its potential for high-density memory applications.

Brain-inspired computation that mimics the coordinated functioning of neural networks through multitudes of synaptic connections is deemed to be the future of computation to overcome the classical von Neumann bottleneck. The future artificial intelligence circuits require scalable electronic synapse (e-synapses) with very high bit densities and operational speeds. In this respect, nanostructures of two-dimensional materials serve the purpose and offer the scalability of the devices in lateral and vertical dimensions. In this work, we report the nonvolatile bipolar resistive switching and neuromorphic behavior of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) quantum dots (QD) synthesized using liquid-phase exfoliation method. The ReRAM devices exhibit good resistive switching with an On–Off ratio of 104, with excellent endurance and data retention at a smaller read voltage as compared to the existing MoS2 based memory devices. Besides, we have demonstrated the e-synapse based on MoS2 QD. Similar to our biological synapse, Paired Pulse Facilitation / Depression of short-term memory has been observed in these MoS2 QD based e-synapse devices. This work suggests that MoS2 QD has potential applications in ultra-high-density storage as well as artificial intelligence circuitry in a cost-effective way.

The role of cognitions and beliefs in trichotillomania (TTM; hair pulling disorder) has been the subject of only limited investigation. This study aimed to develop and validate the Beliefs in TTM Scale (BiTS). A pool of 50 items based upon themes identified in previous research was administered online to 841 participants with and without self-reported problematic, non-cosmetic hair pulling behaviours. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses conducted in randomly split-halves of the sample supported retention of 14 items comprising three factors: negative self-beliefs, low coping efficacy, and perfectionism. The BiTS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and all three subscales significantly correlated with greater hair pulling severity. Negative self-beliefs predicted hair pulling severity over and above mood symptoms, suggesting the importance of addressing self-construals in psychological treatments for TTM. Validation in a clinician diagnosed sample is required.

A proliferation of wagering advertising has raised concerns about its effects, especially on vulnerable gamblers. This study examined exposure to wagering advertisements and inducements, and their reported influence on the size, frequency and riskiness of bets placed-amongst regular bettors and by gambler risk group. An Ecological Momentary Assessment design minimised recall bias. After completing a baseline survey, 722 regular bettors completed up to 15 surveys administered on 5 days per week over three non-consecutive weeks. Data were analysed for the 316 race bettors and 279 sports bettors completing at least one survey. The results indicate that regular bettors have almost daily exposure to wagering advertising, including for inducements. The most frequently seen and influential advertisement types were direct messages (emails, texts and/or phone calls from wagering operators, which, in Australia, bettors are automatically opted-into when opening a betting account) and advertisements on betting websites or apps. Participants reported the most influential inducements to be: stake-back offers, multi-bet offers, match your stake or deposit offers, better odds/winnings inducements, happy hours, rewards programs, and cash out early offers. The findings indicate that wagering advertisements, including for inducements, are likely to be having powerful effects on regular bettors. On each day that respondents saw these advertisements (most days for most advertisement types), substantial minorities reported increased size and frequency of betting. Results did not vary by gambler risk group. Understanding which types of wagering advertising are associated with most gambling-related harm can inform advertising regulations, targeted public health interventions, and future research.

Family member’s competing perspectives mean two distinct treatment approaches have developed (i.e., those focusing on the needs of the gambler, or the needs of the family), but little is known of what family members want if offered a choice. A convergent mixed-method design with 62 family members examined the experiences of those seeking help via an internet service. Fifty percent of participants requested gambler-focused options, such as advice and support on getting the gambler to change, supporting behaviour change and facilitating treatment seeking. Family-focused approaches (28%) were most frequently about improving the quality of the relationship, getting information on support options and help in managing the impact of gambling. Family members also requested a blended approach (22%) (e.g. how to support the gambler and how to deal with the negative impacts). These findings suggest interventions need to able to accommodate both gambler-focused and family-focused approaches.

A major obstacle to understanding how expenditure varies amongst people who gamble is the difficulty of obtaining accurate expenditure data from individual gamblers. To overcome the shortcomings of retrospective self-reports, this study used a prospective ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design to capture these data every 24/48 hours. It aimed to examine 1) demographic, psychological, behavioural and contextual characteristics of high-spending sports and race bettors, and 2) the relationship between betting outlay and problem gambling severity. A baseline survey was completed by 320 regular sports bettors and 402 regular race bettors, followed by 15 EMA surveys over three non-consecutive weeks. Higher spending bettors were more likely to: be male, place more of their bets online, have higher disposable incomes, have commenced betting at a younger age, have more accounts with betting operators, and bet when affected by alcohol. The analyses confirmed the strong link between problem gambling severity and financial outlay on betting. Regular sports bettors experiencing gambling problems spent four times more, and those at moderate-risk spent three times more, than their non-problem gambling counterparts. Regular race bettors experiencing gambling problems spent three times more, and those at moderate-risk spent twice as much, as the non-problem gambling race bettors. These results suggest that regulatory and other initiatives that help bettors to limit or reduce their financial outlay on betting should be central to harm minimisation efforts, in order to reduce the growing number of bettors experiencing gambling problems and harm. Résumé Un des principaux obstacles à la compréhension de la variation des dépenses entre les joueurs est la difficulté d’obtenir des données précises sur les dépenses de la part de joueurs individuels. Pour pallier les faiblesses d’auto-évaluations rétrospectives, cette étude visait à utiliser un modèle d’évaluation écologique momentanée (EMA) prospective pour saisir ces données toutes les 24 à 48 heures, afin d’examiner 1) les caractéristiques démographiques, psychologiques, comportementales et contextuelles de gros parieurs de course et de paris sportifs et 2) la relation entre les dépenses de paris et la gravité du jeu problématique. Une enquête initiale a été réalisée auprès de 320 parieurs sportifs et de 402 parieurs de course réguliers, suivie de 15 sondages EMA sur trois semaines non consécutives. Les plus gros parieurs étaient plus susceptibles de: placer davantage de paris en ligne, d’avoir un revenu disponible plus élevé, d’avoir commencé à parier à un plus jeune âge, d’avoir davantage de comptes auprès d’opérateurs de paris et de parier sous l’influence de l’alcool. Les analyses ont confirmé le lien étroit qui existe entre la gravité du jeu problématique et les dépenses financières consacrées aux paris. Les parieurs sportifs réguliers aux prises avec des problèmes de jeu dépensaient quatre fois plus et ceux à risque modéré, trois fois plus, que leurs homologues sans problème de jeu. Les parieurs de course réguliers aux prises avec des problèmes de jeu dépensaient trois fois plus et ceux à risque modéré, deux fois plus, que leurs homologues sans problème de jeu. Ces résultats laissent entrevoir que les initiatives réglementaires et autres initiatives qui aident les parieurs à limiter ou à réduire leurs dépenses en paris devraient être au cœur des efforts de minimisation des préjudices, afin de réduire le nombre croissant de parieurs ayant des problèmes de jeu et de préjudices.

Background and aimsResearch suggests that a large proportion of regular sports and race bettors experience harm related to their gambling. In Australia, people who bet regularly are targeted by a proliferation of different forms of inducements and advertising – many of which are believed to encourage excessive betting and erroneous perceptions of risk. However, scant research has examined the impact of marketing messaging to this group, which is also limited to cross-sectional or qualitative designs. We aimed to determine whether exposure to wagering advertisements and inducements influenced intended betting expenditure, actual betting expenditure, and spending more than intended.MethodsWe report on an ecological momentary assessment study, measuring regular exposure to 20 different forms of marketing, as well as wagering spend from 318 race bettors and 279 sports bettors. Up to 15 assessments per participant were conducted over 3 weeks (mean = 11.46, median = 14), yielding 6,843 observations for analysis.ResultsExposure to advertising and inducements was reliably linked to a greater likelihood of betting, higher intended and actual betting expenditure, and spending more than intended. “Push” messaging and inducements that convey the impression of reduced risk (stake-back inducements and multibet offers) were particularly influential, as well as brands promoted during events and advertisements on betting websites/apps.Discussion and conclusionsGiven that a large proportion of regular sports and race bettors experience problems, restrictions on these forms of marketing are advisable. These findings suggest that this is particularly important for marketing that is “pushed” to gamblers or that suggests reduced risk.

It is argued that problem video game use (PVGU) has similarities with behavioral addictions such as problem gambling. Unlike other addictions, the predictors of online PVGU have not been studied extensively. We applied a stress-coping model, previously developed for electronic gambling addiction, to PVGU. In this model, stressors lead to excessive behavior via maladaptive coping strategies involving the behavior. Video game players ( N = 2261) completed an online questionnaire about their gaming habits, and self-report measures of depression, loneliness, social anxiety, and escapism and social interaction motives for gaming. Consistent with the stress-coping model, depression, loneliness, and social anxiety predicted levels of PVGU, these effects being partially mediated by escapism and social interaction motives for gaming. The pattern of mediation differed by gamers’ preferred game genre in a way that suggested “First Person Shooter” games provide an escape from aversive states, while, in addition to providing escape, massively multiplayer online role playing games, which emphasize collaborative play, may also be supplementing or substituting for face-to-face social interactions.

OBJECTIVES:The role of cognitions and beliefs in trichotillomania (TTM; hair pulling disorder) has been the subject of only limited investigation. This study aimed to develop and validate the Beliefs in TTM Scale (BiTS).METHODS:A pool of 50 items based upon themes identified in previous research was administered online to 841 participants with and without self-reported problematic, non-cosmetic hair pulling behaviours.RESULTS:Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses conducted in randomly split-halves of the sample supported retention of 14 items comprising three factors: negative self-beliefs, low coping efficacy, and perfectionism.CONCLUSIONS:The BiTS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and all three subscales significantly correlated with greater hair pulling severity. Negative self-beliefs predicted hair pulling severity over and above mood symptoms, suggesting the importance of addressing self-construals in psychological treatments for TTM. Validation in a clinician diagnosed sample is required.PRACTITIONER POINTS:Research supports cognitive therapies for treating trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), although studies investigating the nature and role of cognitions and beliefs in this disorder have been lacking. This study developed and validated a self-report measure of three styles of beliefs most relevant to trichotillomania: negative self-beliefs, low coping efficacy, and perfectionism. Negative self-beliefs predicted the severity of trichotillomania symptoms over and above depression and anxiety, suggesting such cognitions may not necessarily be due to comorbidities. Future research should validate the new measure in a clinician diagnosed sample, and therapies for trichotillomania may be enhanced by targeting shame specifically.

Organic field effect transistor (OFET) based photodetector with high sensitivity was fabricated using copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as photoactive channel for weak light detection. The device fabrication was conducted at room temperature using thermal evaporation technique. The opto-electrical properties of the devices under dark and light conditions are studied in this work. The performance of the photodetector depends on the incident wavelength and the intensity of the incident monochromatic light. We also show that the photoresponse could be tuned by the gate bias, which offers an additional benefit for practical applications. The transfer characteristics of the devices appear to enhance under light illumination. A slight enhancement in the carrier mobility was also detected upon illumination. Similarly, the subthreshold swing has been reduced from 1.31 ± 0.18 V/decade under dark condition to 0.76 ± 0.12 V/decade under illumination. Further impact of gate voltage on responsivity, on/off ratio and detectivity was also studied for the proposed device. The maximum photosensitivity and responsivity obtained from these OFET based photodetectors was 237.21 ± 8.02 and 7.77 ± 0.17 A/W respectively at a power density of 1 mW/cm2 while operating at an input voltage of 4 V and bias voltage of -5 V. Also, a maximum detectivity of 1.38 ± 0.03×1012 Jones was obtained under the same operating condition. The high sensitivity, good stability, low noise and fast response towards weak light with different wavelength imply that OFET based photodetectors are particularly suitable for photodetection in the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum.

.................................................................................................................... 3 Table of contents ...................................................................................................... 5 List of tables ............................................................................................................. 9 List of figures ......................................................................................................... 11 Key terms and acronyms ....................................................................................... 12 Executive summary ................................................................................................ 13 1. Background .................................................................................................... 25 1.