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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Deborah D. Canter / SooCheong Jang / Senior casino gaming has been appearing as a leisure activity for the senior population as well as a research topic for many researchers from various academic disciplines. Finding out important reasons or motivations for older adults spending time in casino gaming will be the one of the fundamental ways to determine their future casino patronage intention. Accordingly, this study identifies a comprehensive inventory of senior casino gaming motivations by way of an exploratory approach. Followed Churchill’s (1979) scale development procedure, the study generated a to find five distinctive senior casino gaming motivation dimensions: winning and thrill, socialization, escape, enjoyment, and curiosity. Ultimately, confirmatory factor estimates supported that the finalized measure was unidimensional, reliable, and valid while the measurement scale was parsimonious and captured various dimensions of senior casino gaming motivation. The second part of this study investigated the applicability of an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) with motivation component attached in context of senior casino gaming behavior. Seniors’ past casino visit was also tested for a moderator effect between the major predictor variables (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and motivation) and seniors’ casino behavioral intention. The findings of a structural equation modeling suggested that all predictable variables of TPB had positive effects on seniors’ casino gaming intention. Among senior casino gaming motivation, ‘winning and thrill’ and ‘enjoyment’ had direct positive effects on behavioral intention. The results of metric invariance test for moderating role of past casino visit showed that there was no indication of seniors’ past casino visit having any influence on their intention to participate in casino gaming. The overall study results suggested that the proposed extended model is a useful tool to use in studying of senior casino gaming behavior. In conclusion, theoretical and practical implications of the study findings were discussed.

[pt] A presença de aminoácidos em cometas e meteoritos levanta questões sobre como estes foram formados em ambientes cósmicos, bem como de que maneira eles foram capazes de sobreviver no espaço sideral; radioresistência é uma informação essencial para prever meias-vidas e avançar os estudos sobre origens da vida. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é determinar, por meio de espectroscopia no infravermelho, as seções de choque de destruição de aminoácidos comuns expostos à radiação de íons e elétrons energéticos. As forças de banda vibracionais (A-values) e a dependência do espectro infravermelho com a temperatura da amostra (10 – 400 K) foram analisadas. Seções de choque de destruição aparente (sigma)d(ap) e rendimentos de sputtering (Y0) para glicina, valina e fenilalanina irradiadas por H+, He+ e Nq+ íons de MeV e elétrons de keV foram medidos. Encontrou-se: i) uma dependência aproximadamente linear entre a seção de choque de destruição aparente e o poder de freamento eletrônico (Se): (sigma)d(ap) = (sigma)d + Y0 /N0 = a Sen (onde n aproximadamente 1) para projéteis de MeV e para amostras à temperatura ambiente; ii) resultados preliminares de σdap para feixes de nitrogênio multi-carregados; e iii) resultados de seção de choque de destruição de valina irradiada por elétrons de keV, bem como sua dependência com a energia de incidência do feixe, e com a espessura e temperatura da amostra. Como contribuição teórica, o modelo CASINO-estendido foi desenvolvido visando descrever a evolução da degradação de matéria orgânica por projéteis carregados, particularmente por feixes de elétrons. Comparadas aos resultados experimentais, as previsões do modelo subestimam o dano causado pelo feixe de elétrons, evidência de que efeitos de sputtering e provavelmente algumas características da amostra (como a estrutura cristalográfica) devem ser incluídos. Como implicações astrofísicas, meias-vidas para valina e fenilalanina irradiadas por raios cósmicos são estimadas em aproximadamente 10 milhões de anos no meio interestelar; da glicina, se irradiadas por vento solar a uma unidade astronômica do Sol, é aproximadamente 3 dias. Visando simular materiais astrofísicos realistas bombardeados por elétrons de keV, a meia-vida de valina envolta por gelos de água e CO2 e depositada sobre silicato é também prevista. / [en] The presence of amino acids in comets and meteorites raises questions about how they have been formed in cosmic environments, as well as how long they can survive in outer space; radioresistance is essential information to predict half-lives and make advances on the origins of life studies. The main objective of the current work is to determine, via infrared spectrometry, destruction cross sections of common amino acids exposed to energetic ion and electron radiation. Before sample irradiation, valine vibrational band strengths and their infrared spectral dependence on temperature (10 – 400 K) were analyzed. Apparent destruction cross sections (sigma)d(ap) and sputtering yields (Y0) for glycine, valine and phenylalanine, irradiated by MeV H+, He+ and Nq+ ions and keV electrons, were measured. From experimental data: i) an approximately linear dependence between the apparent destruction cross section and the electronic stopping power (Se) is found: (sigma)d(ap) = (sigma)d + Y0 /N0 = a Sen (where n approximately 1) for MeV projectiles and for samples at room temperature; ii) (sigma)d(ap) preliminary results relative to multi-charged nitrogen ion beams are discussed; and iii) destruction cross section of valine irradiated by keV electrons, as well as its dependence on incident beam energy, on sample thickness and on sample temperature are presented. As a theoretical contribution, the evolution of organic matter damage by charged projectiles, particularly for electron beams, the CASINO-extended model was developed. When compared to experimental results, the model predictions underestimate the damage caused by electron beams, evidence that sputtering and probably some sample characteristics (as crystallographic structure) are involved. As astrophysical implications, cosmic ray half-lives for valine and phenylalanine are estimated to be about 10 million years in the interstellar medium; solar wind half-life at 1 au from the Sun is approximately 3 days for glycine. Aiming to simulate realistic astrophysical materials bombarded by keV electrons, the half-life of valine embedded into water and CO2 ices over a silicate substrate is also predicted.

Den här studien har studerat hur kändisar använder native advertising i podcast. Det gjordes genom att studera hur podcastprofilerna Alex Schulman och Sigge Eklund i sin podcast “Alex och Sigges podcast” framför sin reklam för nätkasinoföretaget Maria Casino. Vi ville skapa ny teoretisk kunskap kring området då native advertising är ett nytt fenomen, framför allt i podcast. På det teoretiska planet har vi använt oss av de teoretiska begreppen legitimering, kongruens och autenticitet. Som metod användes kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Vi såg att Schulman och Eklund legitimerar spel om pengar för sina lyssnare. Dessutom skapar de kongruens till Maria Casino och försöker verka autentiska kring spel om pengar. Vi diskuterar i slutet av uppsatsen vad för konsekvenser deras marknadsföring, i slutändan, kan få för lyssnarna. / This research has studied how celebrities use native advertising in podcasts. This was achieved by studying how the podcasters Alex Schulman and Sigge Eklund in there podcast “Alex och Sigges podcast” construct their advertisement for the online casino company Maria Casino. We wanted to create new theoretical knowledge about native advertising as it is a new phenomenon, specially in podcasts. In the theoretical field we use the theoretical terms legitimation, congruence and authenticity. As method qualitative content analysis, was used. We saw that Schulman and Eklund legitimize gambling to their listeners. In addition they create congruence to Maria Casino and try to act authentic about gambling. In the end of the paper, we discuss what consequences their advertising can get for the listeners.

Thesis advisor: Richard McGowan / Gambling, both in the casino-style and lottery forms, has risen to become a major component of the entertainment industry in the United States. State governments are the gatekeepers of this growing industry, holding the power to legalize and regulate all aspects of gambling. This thesis explores the rationale state governments have for legalizing gambling as well as the impact gambling tax revenues have for state budgets. The main focus is casino-style gambling, as casino-style gambling in particular is being pursued for expansion by numerous states in a variety of forms. As various forms of gambling are legalized throughout the country, a state's gambling interests begin to face competition from both neighboring states and other forms of gambling within the state. Econometric models attempted to predict the tax revenues a state can obtain from legalized gambling based on such competition and a states own demographics. The results support a first-mover advantage for states expanding casino-style gambling and finds that new forms of gambling significantly erode established gambling industries. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2006. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics Honors Program.

The number of online casino companies in the Swedish gambling market, and especially the number of online casino commercials in Swedish television, has significantly increased during the last ten years. Previous studies show that Swedish consumers have negative attitudes toward gambling advertising. Literature explains advertising as a powerful source that influences consumers’ perceptions, attitudes and emotions. Hence, this thesisaims to explore consumers’ perceptions, attitudes and emotions of  online casino TV-commercials in relation to semiotic and rhetorical tools. In order to fulfil the aim of this thesis, this research is characterized by an interpretivistic philosophy and an abductive research approach. The empirical material in this study derive from qualitative content analyses of six online casino commercials and two focus group sessions. The findings show that perceptions, attitudes and emotions interrelate when consumers evaluate TV-commercials. The results also show that cultural aspects and segmentation contribute to consumers’ perceptions. Further, consumers must be able to relate to the story and link the content of the commercial to online gambling in order for them to have positive attitude and too feel positive about the commercials. Semiotic and rhetorical tools affect the consumer and thus are crucial elements for whether or not marketing communication is considered effective by the participants. These findings contribute with new insight in marketing communication as the combination of sensory marketing, semiotics and rhetoric have not been studied in relation to perceptions, attitudes and emotions. The conceptual model has a practical contribution since it can be applied in different areas of advertising.

<p>Denna uppsats syftar till att dels beskriva, dels med utvald ekonomisk teori analysera regleringen av den svenska formen av kasinoverksamhet. Av särskilt intresse är att diskutera orsaken till den svenska lagstiftningen som reglerar spelverksamhet samt lagstiftningens relevans för en spelverksamhet som är utsatt för utländsk konkurrens. För att besvara syftet har följande frågeställningar formulerats: - Hur kan regleringen av den svenska spelverksamheten förklaras utifrån ekonomisk teori? - Vad är motiven till den svenska lagstiftningen som reglerar spelverksamhet? - Hur är kasinoverksamheten i USA och Storbritannien utformad? - Hur kan en framtida reglering av spelmarknaden utformas? Regleringen av spelmarknaden kan dels förklaras utifrån välfärdsteori, dels utifrån politisk ekonomi i form av särintresseteorin. Välfärdsteorin förklarar regleringen av spelmarknaden genom att den dels kan ses som en marknad som ger upphov till negativa externa effekter i form av spelmissbruk, dels som ett naturligt monopol då det finns stordriftsfördelar i information och kontrollen av verksamheten. Den nuvarande regleringen kan även förklaras utifrån agentteorin eftersom den menar att verksamheten drivs optimalt om staten både är uppdragsgivare och agent. Fördelarna är bland andra att problemen med asymmetrisk information och adverse selection minimeras. Eftersom spelandet medför betydelsefulla intäkter till staten samtidigt som få resurser används till att hjälpa personer som drabbats negativt av spelandet anser jag att särintresseperspektivet till stor del förklarar regleringen av spelmarknaden. Kasinoverksamheten i USA och Storbritannien drivs genom spellicenser. Kasinona i USA är, till skillnad från de i Storbritannien, till stor del semesterkasinon med lojalitetsprogram. En framtida svensk reglering skulle kunna utformas genom spellicenser. Därmed skulle statens arbete endast inriktas på att minska de negativa effekterna av spel och dess trovärdighet skulle därmed öka. En viss procent av spelbolagens intäkter skulle kunna avsättas till vård av personer med spelberoende.</p>

<p>The retail sector is at the forefront of internationalisation activities. It is especially the case for German and French retailers that operate respectively 27,8% and 20,6% of non domestic outlets in Western Europe. Stating this, the grocery retailers have also drastically changed their orientation, from domestic to multinational players since two decades: a relatively new and important subject that needs to be taken into account. Within this frame, Casino and REWE Group are good examples of internationalisation since both have the same size internationally but do not operate in the same area and do not seem to have the same strategy regarding their global activities.</p><p>The aim of the research is to find outstanding characteristics in the internationalisation strategy of European grocery retailers, via the case of Casino and REWE Group. In order to illuminate this aim, Porter's (1980) ‘Structural Analysis of Industries’ is going to be used to the grocery retailing sector following a previous demonstration of Colla (2003) and other field-specific theories. After pointing out the similitude between the two companies in their domestic markets, several dimensions have been taken into account to analyse the differences when going international such as geographical spread, branding, channel selection, and ownership.</p><p>We have identified two different internationalisation strategies, through the case of these retailers. Thus, we have drawn a dichotomy in the European food retailing industry internationalisation strategy between what we named ‘umbrella organisation’ and ‘unifying organisation’. The latter is characterised by a unified branding strategy, operating few formats, looking for full control of its operation abroad via direct takeovers or organic growth, and looking for harmonisation of its operations abroad. On the opposite, an umbrella organisation operates numerous banners abroad. It is mostly looking for a multi-format offer, enters countries via overtime capital acquisition and gives more independence to its affiliates worldwide.</p>

Denna uppsats syftar till att dels beskriva, dels med utvald ekonomisk teori analysera regleringen av den svenska formen av kasinoverksamhet. Av särskilt intresse är att diskutera orsaken till den svenska lagstiftningen som reglerar spelverksamhet samt lagstiftningens relevans för en spelverksamhet som är utsatt för utländsk konkurrens. För att besvara syftet har följande frågeställningar formulerats: - Hur kan regleringen av den svenska spelverksamheten förklaras utifrån ekonomisk teori? - Vad är motiven till den svenska lagstiftningen som reglerar spelverksamhet? - Hur är kasinoverksamheten i USA och Storbritannien utformad? - Hur kan en framtida reglering av spelmarknaden utformas? Regleringen av spelmarknaden kan dels förklaras utifrån välfärdsteori, dels utifrån politisk ekonomi i form av särintresseteorin. Välfärdsteorin förklarar regleringen av spelmarknaden genom att den dels kan ses som en marknad som ger upphov till negativa externa effekter i form av spelmissbruk, dels som ett naturligt monopol då det finns stordriftsfördelar i information och kontrollen av verksamheten. Den nuvarande regleringen kan även förklaras utifrån agentteorin eftersom den menar att verksamheten drivs optimalt om staten både är uppdragsgivare och agent. Fördelarna är bland andra att problemen med asymmetrisk information och adverse selection minimeras. Eftersom spelandet medför betydelsefulla intäkter till staten samtidigt som få resurser används till att hjälpa personer som drabbats negativt av spelandet anser jag att särintresseperspektivet till stor del förklarar regleringen av spelmarknaden. Kasinoverksamheten i USA och Storbritannien drivs genom spellicenser. Kasinona i USA är, till skillnad från de i Storbritannien, till stor del semesterkasinon med lojalitetsprogram. En framtida svensk reglering skulle kunna utformas genom spellicenser. Därmed skulle statens arbete endast inriktas på att minska de negativa effekterna av spel och dess trovärdighet skulle därmed öka. En viss procent av spelbolagens intäkter skulle kunna avsättas till vård av personer med spelberoende.

The retail sector is at the forefront of internationalisation activities. It is especially the case for German and French retailers that operate respectively 27,8% and 20,6% of non domestic outlets in Western Europe. Stating this, the grocery retailers have also drastically changed their orientation, from domestic to multinational players since two decades: a relatively new and important subject that needs to be taken into account. Within this frame, Casino and REWE Group are good examples of internationalisation since both have the same size internationally but do not operate in the same area and do not seem to have the same strategy regarding their global activities. The aim of the research is to find outstanding characteristics in the internationalisation strategy of European grocery retailers, via the case of Casino and REWE Group. In order to illuminate this aim, Porter's (1980) ‘Structural Analysis of Industries’ is going to be used to the grocery retailing sector following a previous demonstration of Colla (2003) and other field-specific theories. After pointing out the similitude between the two companies in their domestic markets, several dimensions have been taken into account to analyse the differences when going international such as geographical spread, branding, channel selection, and ownership. We have identified two different internationalisation strategies, through the case of these retailers. Thus, we have drawn a dichotomy in the European food retailing industry internationalisation strategy between what we named ‘umbrella organisation’ and ‘unifying organisation’. The latter is characterised by a unified branding strategy, operating few formats, looking for full control of its operation abroad via direct takeovers or organic growth, and looking for harmonisation of its operations abroad. On the opposite, an umbrella organisation operates numerous banners abroad. It is mostly looking for a multi-format offer, enters countries via overtime capital acquisition and gives more independence to its affiliates worldwide.