2,412 research outputs found
Maintaining credibility when communicating uncertainty: The role of communication format
Research into risk communication has commonly highlighted
the disparity between the meaning intended by the
communicator and what is understood by the recipient. Such
miscommunications will have implications for perceived trust
and expertise of the communicator, but it is not known whether
this differs according to the communication format. We
examined the effect of using verbal, numerical and mixed
communication formats on perceptions of credibility and
correctness, as well as whether they influenced a decision to
evacuate, both before and after an âerroneousâ prediction (i.e.
an âunlikelyâ event occurs, or a âlikelyâ event does not occur).
We observed no effect of communication format on any of the
measures pre-outcome, but found the numerical format was
perceived as less incorrect, as well as more credible than the
other formats after an âerroneousâ prediction, but only when
low probability expressions were used. Our findings suggest
numbers should be used in consequential risk communications
'Unlikely' outcomes might never occur, but what about 'unlikely (20% chance)' outcomes?
A commonly suggested solution to reduce misinterpretations
of verbal probability expressions in risk communications is to
use a verbal-numerical (mixed format) approach, but it is not
known whether this increases understanding over and above a
purely numerical format. Using the âwhich outcomeâ
methodology (Teigen & FilkukovĂĄ, 2013), we examined the
effect of using verbal, numerical and mixed communication
formats, as well as investigating whether marking outcomes as
salient would alter the outcomes people perceived as âunlikelyâ
or having a 20% chance of occurring. We observed no effect
of saliency, but replicated previous findings, with general
preference for values at the high end of a distribution (including
maximum/above maximum values) present in both verbal and
mixed communication formats. This demonstrates the
relevance of these findings for real-world consequential risk
communication. Whilst the estimates differed between the
mixed and numerical formats, we fo
Understanding âUnlikely (20% Likelihood)â or â20% Likelihood (Unlikely)â Outcomes: The Robustness of the Extremity Effect
Calls to communicate uncertainty using mixed, verbalânumerical formats (âunlikely [0â33%]â) have stemmed from research comparing mixed with solely verbal communications. Research using the new âwhich outcomeâ approach to investigate understanding of verbal probability expressions suggests, however, that mixed formats might convey disadvantages compared with purely numerical communications. When asked to indicate an outcome that is âunlikelyâ, participants have been shown to often indicate outcomes with a value exceeding the maximum value shown, equivalent to a 0% probability âan âextremity effectâ. Recognising the potential consequences of communication recipients expecting an âunlikelyâ event to never occur, we extend the âwhich outcomeâ work across four experiments, using verbal, numerical, and verbalânumerical communication formats, as well as a previously unconsidered numericalâverbal format. We examine how robust the effect is in the context of consequential outcomes and over nonânormal distributions. We also investigate whether participants are aware of the inconsistency in their responses from a traditional âhow likelyâ and âwhich outcomeâ task. We replicate and extend previous findings, with preference for extreme outcomes (including above maximum values) observed in both verbal and verbalânumerical formats. Our results suggest caution in blanket usage of recently recommended verbalânumerical formats for the communication of uncertainty
Increases in salience of ethnic identity at work: the roles of ethnic assignation and ethnic identification
To better understand how ethnicity is actually experienced within organisations, we examined reported increases in ethnic identity salience at work and responses to such increases. Thirty British black Caribbean graduate employees were interviewed about how and when they experienced their ethnic identity at work. The findings demonstrated that increased salience in ethnic identity was experienced in two key ways: through âethnic assignationâ (a âpushâ towards ethnic identity) and âethnic identificationâ (a âpullâ towards ethnic identity). We explore how and when ethnic assignation and ethnic identification occur at work, and their relevance to how workplaces are experienced by this group of minority ethnic employees. The findings suggest the need for further research attention to the dynamic and episodic nature of social identity, including ethnic identity, within organisations, and to the impact of such increases in salience of social identities on behaviour at work
Baseline and follow-up assessment of regional left ventricular volume using 3-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance
The assessment of regional volumes is an option for analysis of the response of LV segments to interventions such as revascularization or cell therapy. We sought to compare regional volumes from 3D-echocardiography (3DE) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) over follow-up
The preferences of 600 patients for different descriptions of randomisation
A total of 600 patients from cancer centres throughout the UK identified their most preferred and most disliked descriptions of randomisation found in current patient information sheets and websites. The CancerBACUP description, which describes both the process of randomisation and why it is done, was most preferred 151 out of 533 (28%) patients. The NCI description was viewed as overly technical and most disliked 185 out of 483 (38%) patients
Bayesian regression filter and the issue of priors
We propose a Bayesian framework for regression problems, which covers areas which are usually dealt with by function approximation. An online learning algorithm is derived which solves regression problems with a Kalman filter. Its solution always improves with increasing model complexity, without the risk of over-fitting. In the infinite dimension limit it approaches the true Bayesian posterior. The issues of prior selection and over-fitting are also discussed, showing that some of the commonly held beliefs are misleading. The practical implementation is summarised. Simulations using 13 popular publicly available data sets are used to demonstrate the method and highlight important issues concerning the choice of priors
Robots That Do Not Avoid Obstacles
The motion planning problem is a fundamental problem in robotics, so that
every autonomous robot should be able to deal with it. A number of solutions
have been proposed and a probabilistic one seems to be quite reasonable.
However, here we propose a more adoptive solution that uses fuzzy set theory
and we expose this solution next to a sort survey on the recent theory of soft
robots, for a future qualitative comparison between the two.Comment: To appear in the Handbook of Nonlinear Analysis, Edt Th. Rassias,
Springe
Effect of maternal Schistosoma mansoni infection and praziquantel treatment during pregnancy on Schistosoma mansoni infection and immune responsiveness among offspring at age five years.
INTRODUCTION: Offspring of Schistosoma mansoni-infected women in schistosomiasis-endemic areas may be sensitised in-utero. This may influence their immune responsiveness to schistosome infection and schistosomiasis-associated morbidity. Effects of praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy on risk of S. mansoni infection among offspring, and on their immune responsiveness when they become exposed to S. mansoni, are unknown. Here we examined effects of praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy on prevalence of S. mansoni and immune responsiveness among offspring at age five years. METHODS: In a trial in Uganda (ISRCTN32849447, http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN32849447/elliott), offspring of women treated with praziquantel or placebo during pregnancy were examined for S. mansoni infection and for cytokine and antibody responses to SWA and SEA, as well as for T cell expression of FoxP3, at age five years. RESULTS: Of the 1343 children examined, 32 (2.4%) had S. mansoni infection at age five years based on a single stool sample. Infection prevalence did not differ between children of treated or untreated mothers. Cytokine (IFNÎł, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13) and antibody (IgG1, Ig4 and IgE) responses to SWA and SEA, and FoxP3 expression, were higher among infected than uninfected children. Praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy had no effect on immune responses, with the exception of IL-10 responses to SWA, which was higher in offspring of women that received praziquantel during pregnancy than those who did not. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that maternal S. mansoni infection and its treatment during pregnancy influence prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection or effector immune response to S. mansoni infection among offspring at age five years, but the observed effects on IL-10 responses to SWA suggest that maternal S. mansoni and its treatment during pregnancy may affect immunoregulatory responsiveness in childhood schistosomiasis. This might have implications for pathogenesis of the disease
Eliciting a predatory response in the eastern corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) using live and inanimate sensory stimuli: implications for managing invasive populations
North America's Eastern corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) has been introduced to several islands throughout the Caribbean and Australasia where it poses a significant threat to native wildlife. Invasive snake control programs often involve trapping with live bait, a practice that, as well as being costly and labour intensive, raises welfare and ethical concerns. This study assessed corn snake response to live and inanimate sensory stimuli in an attempt to inform possible future trapping of the species and the development of alternative trap lures. We exposed nine individuals to sensory cues in the form of odour, visual, vibration and combined stimuli and measured the response (rate of tongue-flick [RTF]). RTF was significantly higher in odour and combined cues treatments, and there was no significant difference in RTF between live and inanimate cues during odour treatments. Our findings suggest chemical cues are of primary importance in initiating predation and that an inanimate odour stimulus, absent of simultaneous visual and vibratory cues, is a potential low-cost alternative trap lure for the control of invasive corn snake populations
- âŚ