Are people emotionally aroused by hypothetical medical scenarios in experiments? An eye tracking study with pupil dilation

Background: Many studies on the communication of medical risks use hypothetical medical scenarios. The results of these scenarios should have sufficient predictive accuracy to be generalized to real life; thus, it is important to know whether hypothetical medical scenarios work and whether there is a relationship between risk level and emotional arousal. Methods: In an eye tracking experiment (N = 67), we investigated the influence of a simple hypothetical medical scenario on pupil dilation, a measure of emotional arousal. In this medical scenario, the participants were shown three risk levels (low, middle, and high) and had to estimate the probability that a hypothetical patient has colon cancer. They were also given a non-medical scenario that controlled for changes in illumination and cognitive workload. Therefore, we supposed that the difference in pupil diameter between the medical and the non-medical scenario was due to emotional arousal. Results: We found that our hypothetical medical scenario had a significant effect on pupil diameter. The mean values of the mean pupil diameter in the first fifth of the fixations were higher for all risk levels in the medical scenario than in the non-medical scenario. In a more detailed analysis of the difference in pupil diameters between the two scenarios, we detected that, for the high-risk level, the emotional difference values (between the medical and non-medical scenarios) differed significantly from zero. Furthermore, we found that higher risk levels lead to higher emotional arousal and higher probability estimates. Conclusions: Even simple hypothetical medical scenarios cause emotional arousal. Thus, hypothetical medical scenarios work, and the results of studies not using real patients can be generalized to real medical situations.     

Diskrete Hilfe durch Analtampons

St?rungen der Darmfunktion sicher managen — Literaturangaben zufolge leiden bis zu 7 Prozent der deutschen Bev?lkerung an einer Stuhlinkontinenz – Tendenz steigend. Die Ursachen dafür sind vielf?ltig. Doch damit Pflegekr?fte die Herausforderung sicher meistern k?nnen, bedarf es neben einer einfühlsamen Beratung auch optimaler Hilfsmittel.     

THE EMPOWERMENT OF FRONTLINE SERVICE STAFF IN 3PL COMPANIES

Research on third‐party logistics (3PL) service providers has focused more on managing customer relationships than on managing the frontline personnel who interact with customers on a daily basis. Thus, even though the overall need for 3PL's to be market‐oriented is well‐recognized, relatively little is known about how 3PL companies support and develop frontline service staff to provide better service. This study draws on 3PL company site managers' responses to a postal survey that examines the influences of internal communication, customer service training and managerial coaching for customer contact employees on the relationship between market orientation and frontline service recovery empowerment.     

Bimodal System Dynamic A Technology Assessment and Forecasting Approach

Technology assessment and science forecasting are based on the long-term forecasting of important processes within complex systems. The Bimodal System Model was developed for their modeling. The system dynamics and the system itself are based on the combined action of two forces: the evolutive intrinsic dynamics and the decisionistic formation. Evolutively intrinsic dynamic forces emerge from two basic principles: assimilation and comprehension (the basis of any individual endeavor) and exchange and interchange (the heart of any communication and interaction between individual people, groups, associations). These forces are solely induced by individual optimization of benefits related to material goods and ideas. From the point of view of their emergence they are heterogeneous and chaotic and are neither globally nor centrally planned. Their effect in a system occurs a million-fold, however uncoordinated. Intrinsic forces are insensitive to other effects (e.g., decisionistic or formative) due to their million-fold, heterogenous origin. Decisionistic formative forces deploy their effect in a system when a community is conscious of being a subject and as such is capable of expressing and translating its coordinated will (decision). The decisionistically formative forces can produce a consistent effect when they are aligned to the evolutive intrinsic forces and utilize their dynamics in a required manner. Therefore, process-oriented priorities must be construed in the course of consensus formation, determination of aims and headroom evaluation, which would allow a concerted and sustained application of the available forces.     

Standort Deutschland – abgeschlagen im Wettbewerb um Hochqualifizierte?

Die Zuwanderung von hochqualifizierten Arbeitskr?ften wird von Unternehmern, Politikern und Wissenschaftlern gewünscht. Welche Position nimmt Deutschland im internationalen Wettbewerb um die „hellsten K?pfe“ ein? Welche Steuerungswirkungen hatte die deutsche Zuwanderungspolitik in der Vergangenheit? Wie wirkt die gegenw?rtige Politik auf die Arbeitsmigration?     

Ein Reservierungsverfahren für die Rechtsschutzversicherung nach Art der Lebensversicherung

In this paper we introduce a new approach to the calculation of claims reserves (known and IBNR cases) which is particularly adapted to the business model of legal expense insurance. An essential aspect here is the split into two model components: case numbers and average claim costs. In contrast to other reserving methods for case numbers and claims cash flows which are frequently used in practice without checking the validity for application we introduce a model in which the time until case settlement is described by a lifetime distribution according to the principles of life insurance. The split of model components also allows for a simple implementation of cost inflation effects which is required by German law. Finally, the approach proposed here can readily be transferred to the calculation of IBNR reserves.     

Road accidents involving bicycles: configurations and injuries

This study analyzed the most common types of accident involving bicycles and compared the frequency of injuries. The data source was the database of German In-Depth Accident Study (GIDAS). Cases consist of bicycles and their riders involved in accidents between 2000 and 2010. In most collisions, the bicycle impacted with a car. The percentage of injured bicyclists was higher in collisions with a heavy vehicle and decreased when the bicycle impacted with lighter vehicles. A high percentage of injured bicyclists in single accidents was observed; the most severe injury was more frequently to head and extremities. Accidents involving a car and a bicycle with the right of way in a bicycle path represented about 20% of involved and injured bicyclists. The ten most frequent configurations represented about 60% of involved and injured bicyclists. These results contribute to understand the dangerous scenarios for bicyclists and to suggest preventive actions.