Cyclists' choice of lateral position and feeling of safety between tram tracks, sharrows and parked cars

Cycling is good for the environment, healthy and affordable [1 ]. However, these benefits are offset by the risk of being involved in traffic crashes [1], with infrastructure characteristics like tram tracks or parked cars increasing aforementioned risk [2, 3]. Bicycle crashes with tram tracks can occur when cyclists turn onto streets with tram tracks or cross them for other reasons, such as avoiding parked cars on the side (oftentimes related to sudden maneuvers to avoid collisions with the door of a parked car being opened) [4]. Such collisions, referred to as dooring crashes, account for a significant proportion of bicycle crashes [3]. Nevertheless, the majority of cyclists ride in the so-called dooring zone, which is the area next to parked cars where dooring crashes can occur. If the cyclists' lateral distance to parked cars is large enough, the risk of being involved in a dooring crash can be eliminated [2]. Cyclists' position on the road can be influenced by descriptive norms which reflect a typical or normal behavior: If many other cyclists ride within the dooring zone, then the descriptive norm in this situation is to ride in the dooring zone [5]. People may also ride in the dooring zone because they are convinced that important people around them would approve of this behavior (injunctive norm), e.g. because it is communicated verbally. Apart from influencing cyclists' choice of position through norms, installing bicycle lanes with buffer zones to keep cyclists out of the dooring zone would be a solution. However, particularly in urban areas, a lack of space can make this impossible. Additionally, if tram tracks ran on the road, it is not always practical to mark bicycle lanes or protective lanes, especially when there is little space to the right of the outer tram track. In connection with frequent bicycle crashes roads with tram tracks, it is discussed whether cyclists might particularly often ride within the dooring zone there as not to have to cross the track.s [3, 6]. In those cases where marking of bicycle lanes or protective lan.es is not feasible due to width or tram track constraints, bicycle pictograms, so-called sharrows, can be marked in the middle of the lane as a measure aimed at encouraging cyclists to choose a position outside of the dooring rone and to increase their perceived safety, another factor influencing the positional choice [2]. To date, a joint experimental variation of the presence of tram tracks, parked cars, and sharrows with the aim of investigating cyclists' position on the road and their feeling of safety has not yet t.aken place. Two online studies were carried out to address this research gap, with cyclists being asked to indicate their perceived safety and their preferred position on the road based on images of a traffic situation in which the presence of tram tracks, parked cars and sharrows was varied. [From: Introduction

Werden Symbole auf Wegweisern schneller und sicherer erkannt als verbale Zielangaben?

Verkehrsschilder gelten als das gängigste Mittel zur Regulation des Straßenverkehrs und der Kommunikation zu den Straßennutzer*innen. Die Fähigkeit eines Fahrers bzw. einer Fahrerin, ein Verkehrsschild zu verstehen, ist deshalb essentiell für die Verkehrssicherheit. Zahlreiche Studien zeigen allerdings, dass mit einem durchschnittlichen Verständnis zwischen 50 und 70% der Verkehrsschilder z.T. große Verständnisschwierigkeiten bei den Fahrer*innen vorliegen. Die Verwendung von Piktogrammen stellt eine Möglichkeit dar, um vereinfachte, auf das Wesentliche reduzierte standardisierte Informationen zu übermitteln. In Folge der Zunahme des Verkehrsvolumens über die letzten Dekaden haben viele Länder solche symbolischen Schilder eingeführt, um internationale Reisen dort zu erleichtern, wo Sprachdifferenzen Barrieren darstellen könnten. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich deshalb mit der Verbesserung von Beschilderungen im Straßenverkehr für in- und ausländische Fahrer*innen in Bezug auf Verständlichkeit, Korrektheit von Entscheidungen und Reaktionszeiten. Derzeit gibt es eine Fülle an Forschung zu Symbolen auf Warn- und Gebotsschildern, allerdings nicht auf Wegweisern. Ziel dieser Studie war es, einen Forschungsbeitrag zur Nutzung von Piktogrammen im Straßenverkehr und zur Verkehrssicherheit zu leisten. Dazu wurde in einem Reaktionszeitexperiment zum einen die gerichtete Hypothese untersucht, dass Piktogramme schneller und sicherer erkannt werden als verbale Zielangaben. Diese Hypothese konnte nicht bestätigt werden, stattdessen wurde ein gegenteiliger Effekt gefunden. Zum anderen wurde die gerichtete Hypothese untersucht, dass deutsche Muttersprachler*innen sowohl bei symbolischen als auch bei verbalen Zielangaben insgesamt schnellere Reaktionszeiten und mehr korrekte Antworten zeigen; dies konnte bestätigt werden. Unter Einbezug der Kovariaten Alter, Geschlecht und Fahrerfahrung zeigten sich besonders ein signifikanter Effekt des Alters und des Schildes, das die Versuchspersonen präsentiert bekamen; der zuvor noch gefundene Haupteffekt der Art der Zielangabe (symbolisch/ verbal) war dann nicht mehr signifikant. Mögliche Gründe werden abschließend diskutiert.:Danksagung Zusammenfassung 1. Hinführung und Ziele 2. Theorie 2.1 Überblick über bisherige Literatur 2.2 Überlegungen zum Studiendesign 3. Hypothesen 3.1 Reaktionszeitunterschiede zwischen symbolischen und verbalen Zielangaben 3.2 Reaktionszeitunterschiede zwischen deutschen Muttersprachler*innen und Nicht-Muttersprachler*innen 4. Methoden 4.1 Stichprobe 4.2 Ablauf und Materialien 4.3 Design 4.4 Statistische Analyse 5. Ergebnisse 5.1 Deskriptive Analyse der abhängigen Variablen 5.2 Überprüfung auf Normalverteilung 5.3 Deskriptive Analyse der Daten der Nachbefragung 5.4 Überprüfung der Hypothesen 6. Diskussion 6.1 Vergleich verbaler und symbolisches Zielangaben 6.2 Vergleich deutscher und nicht-deutscher Muttersprachler*innen 6.3 Weitere Ergebnisse und Überlegungen 7. Literaturverzeichnis Anhang Abbildungsverzeichnis TabellenverzeichnisRoad signs can be regarded as the most common means of traffic regulation and communication to road users. The driver’s ability to understand a road sign therefore is essential for traffic safety. However, a large body of research shows that – with a mean comprehension value that varies between 50 and 70% - drivers have difficulties in understanding the meaning of traffic signs. The use of pictorials represents one way of conveying simplified, standardized pieces of information. With the increase in traffic volumes over the last decades, a lot of countries have introduced such symbolic signs to facilitate international travelling where language differences constitute linguistic barriers. Currently, a variety of studies on symbolic warning and mandatory signs, but not on directory signs exists. The present study subsequently deals with the improvement of directory signs in road traffic for national and international drivers regarding comprehensibility, correctness of decisions and reaction times. The aim of this study is to contribute to existing research on the topic of use of pictorials in road traffic and on traffic safety. A reaction time experiment was developed and carried out with 101 participants aged 18 to 87. 63 of the test persons had acquired German as mother language; for 38 of the participants, German was not the native tongue. Each participant was presented with 32 German directory signs that had specially been developed for the experiment. Participants had to indicate the direction they would use to reach a certain predetermined target location that could either be represented verbally or as a symbol. Two hypotheses were tested: the first hypothesis stated that pictorials should be detected faster and more accurately than verbal targets. This could not be confirmed; instead, we found the opposite pattern. The second hypothesis assumed that German native speakers would show faster reaction times and a greater number of correct answers for symbolic as well as for verbal targets compared to non-native German speakers; this hypothesis could be confirmed. Including the covariates age, sex and driving experience, a very significant effect of age as well as of the specific sign that the subjects were presented with could be shown; the previously found main effect of target type (verbal/pictorial) was not significant, anymore. Finally, the present study discusses possible reasons and influencing factors for the observed effects like arrangement and number of targets on a sign as well as the word length of the used targets.:Danksagung Zusammenfassung 1. Hinführung und Ziele 2. Theorie 2.1 Überblick über bisherige Literatur 2.2 Überlegungen zum Studiendesign 3. Hypothesen 3.1 Reaktionszeitunterschiede zwischen symbolischen und verbalen Zielangaben 3.2 Reaktionszeitunterschiede zwischen deutschen Muttersprachler*innen und Nicht-Muttersprachler*innen 4. Methoden 4.1 Stichprobe 4.2 Ablauf und Materialien 4.3 Design 4.4 Statistische Analyse 5. Ergebnisse 5.1 Deskriptive Analyse der abhängigen Variablen 5.2 Überprüfung auf Normalverteilung 5.3 Deskriptive Analyse der Daten der Nachbefragung 5.4 Überprüfung der Hypothesen 6. Diskussion 6.1 Vergleich verbaler und symbolisches Zielangaben 6.2 Vergleich deutscher und nicht-deutscher Muttersprachler*innen 6.3 Weitere Ergebnisse und Überlegungen 7. Literaturverzeichnis Anhang Abbildungsverzeichnis Tabellenverzeichni

Homeoffice bietet Vorteile, hat aber auch Tücken : mobile Arbeitsformen aus Sicht von Betrieben und Beschäftigten

Flexible Arbeitsmodelle sind im Zuge der Digitalisierung stärker in den Fokus von Personalmanagern/-innen gerückt. Auch die Politik widmet sich dem Thema zunehmend, wie der jüngste Vorstoß zur Einführung eines gesetzlichen Rechts auf Homeoffice zeigt. Allerdings sind die Beschäftigten, die nicht an ihrem angestammten Arbeitsplatz arbeiten, nach wie vor in der Minderheit. Daher stellt sich die Frage, warum Homeoffice in Deutschland nicht häufiger angeboten und genutzt wird

Physische und psychische Gesundheit in deutschen Betrieben

Die Forschungsstudie "Arbeitsqualität und wirtschaftlicher Erfolg" zielt darauf, mögliche Zusammenhänge zwischen der Arbeitsqualität der Beschäftigten und dem wirtschaftlichen Erfolg von Betrieben zu untersuchen. Sie wird vom Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) und vom Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) getragen und vom IAB, vom Seminar für Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre und Personalwirtschaftslehre der Universität zu Köln, dem Lehrstuhl für Managerial Accounting der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen durchgeführt. Es handelt sich um eine Längsschnittstudie, in der in vier Befragungswellen seit 2012 jeweils eine Betriebs- und eine Beschäftigtenbefragung durchgeführt wurde. Vor dem Hintergrund der Corona-Pandemie ist die Gesundheit der Beschäftigten, neben der körperlichen verstärkt auch die psychische Gesundheit, stärker in den Blick der Öffentlichkeit gerückt. Im Bericht "Physische und Psychische Gesundheit in deutschen Betrieben" werden die Veränderungen zwischen 2013 und 2021 aus der Beschäftigtenperspektive betrachtet, die individuelle, berufliche und betriebliche Rahmenbedingungen und deren Einfluss auf subjektive und objektive Dimensionen von Gesundheit untersuchen

How to classify, diagnose, treat and follow-up extragonadal germ cell tumors? A systematic review of available evidence

Purpose To present the current evidence and the development of studies in recent years on the management of extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT). Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline and the Cochrane Library. Studies within the search period (January 2010 to February 2021) that addressed the classifcation, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of extragonadal tumors were included. Risk of bias was assessed and relevant data were extracted in evidence tables. Results The systematic search identifed nine studies. Germ cell tumors (GCT) arise predominantly from within the testis, but about 5% of the tumors are primarily located extragonadal. EGCT are localized primarily mediastinal or retroperitoneal in the midline of the body. EGCT patients are classifed according to the IGCCCG classifcation. Consecutively, all mediastinal non-seminomatous EGCT patients belong to the “poor prognosis” group. In contrast mediastinal seminoma and both retroperitoneal seminoma and non-seminoma patients seem to have a similar prognosis as patients with gonadal GCTs and metastasis at theses respective sites. The standard chemotherapy regimen for patients with a EGCT consists of 3–4 cycles (good vs intermediate prognosis) of bleomycin, etoposid, cisplatin (BEP); however, due to their very poor prognosis patients with non-seminomatous mediastinal GCT should receive a dose-intensifed or high-dose chemotherapy approach upfront on an individual basis and should thus be referred to expert centers Ifosfamide may be exchanged for bleomycin in cases of additional pulmonary metastasis due to subsequently planned resections. In general patients with non-seminomatous EGCT, residual tumor resection (RTR) should be performed after chemotherapy. Conclusion In general, non-seminomatous EGCT have a poorer prognosis compared to testicular GCT, while seminomatous EGGCT seem to have a similar prognosis to patients with metastatic testicular seminoma. The current insights on EGCT are limited, since all data are mainly based on case series and studies with small patient numbers and non-comparative studies. In general, systemic treatment should be performed like in testicular metastatic GCTs but upfront dose intensifcation of chemotherapy should be considered for mediastinal non-seminoma patients. Thus, EGCT should be referred to interdisciplinary centers with utmost experience in the treatment of germ cell tumors

Can magnetic resonance imaging replace conventional computerized tomography for follow-up of patients with testicular cancer? A systematic review

Purpose Follow-up protocols for patients with testicular cancer (TC) have significantly reduced the number of cross-sectional imaging studies to reduce radiation exposure. At present, it is unclear whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could replace conventional computerized tomography (CT) imaging. The objective of this study is to summarize the scientific evidence on this topic and to review guideline recommendations with regard to the use of MRI. Methods A systematic literature review was performed searching Medline and Cochrane databases for prospective studies on patients with TC in the follow-up care (last search in February 2021). Additionally, guideline recommendations for TC were screened. Data extraction and quality assessment of included studies were performed and used for a descriptive presentation of results. Results A total of four studies including two ongoing trials were identified. Overall, the scientific evidence of prospective comparative studies is based on 102 patients. Data suggest that abdominal imaging with MRI can replace conventional CT for detection of lymph node metastasis of the retroperitoneum to spare radiation exposure and contrast media application. However, experienced radiologists are needed. Clinical guidelines are aware of the risk of diagnosis-induced secondary malignancy due to CT imaging and some have adapted their recommendations accordingly. Results of the two ongoing trials on 738 patients are expected soon to provide more reliable results on this topic. Conclusions There is growing evidence that abdominopelvic MRI imaging can replace CT imaging during follow-up of patients with TC in order to reduce radiation exposure and diagnosis-induced secondary malignancy

First-line salvage treatment options for germ cell tumor patients failing stage-adapted primary treatment : A comprehensive review compiled by the German Testicular Cancer Study Group

Purpose In this review, we summarize and discuss contemporary treatment standards and possible selection criteria for decision making after failure of adjuvant or first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy for primarily localized or metastatic germ cell tumors. Methods This work is based on a systematic literature search conducted for the elaboration of the first German clinical practice guideline to identify prospective clinical trials and retrospective comparative studies published between Jan 2010 and Feb 2021. Study end points of interest were progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS), relapse rate (RR), and/or safety. Results Relapses of clinical stage I (CS I) patients irrespective of prior adjuvant treatment after orchiectomy are treated stage adapted in accordance for primary metastatic patients. Surgical approaches for sole retroperitoneal relapses are investigated in ongoing clinical trials. The appropriate salvage chemotherapy for metastatic patients progressing or relapsing after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy is still a matter of controversy. Conventional cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the international guideline-endorsed standard of care, but based on retrospective data high-dose chemotherapy and subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation may offer a 10–15% survival benefit for all patients. Secondary complete surgical resection of all visible residual masses irrespective of size is paramount for treatment success. Conclusions Patients relapsing after definite treatment of locoregional disease are to be treated by stage-adapted first-line standard therapy for metastatic disease. Patients with primary advanced/metastatic disease failing one line of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy should be referred to GCT expert centers. Dose intensity is a matter of ongoing debate, but sequential high-dose chemotherapy seems to improve patients’ survival

Prediction of TERTp-mutation status in IDH-wildtype high-grade gliomas using pre-treatment dynamic 18FFET PET radiomics

PURPOSE To evaluate radiomic features extracted from standard static images (20-40~min p.i.), early summation images (5-15~min p.i.), and dynamic 18FFET PET images for the prediction of TERTp-mutation status in patients with IDH-wildtype high-grade glioma. METHODS A total of 159 patients (median age 60.2~years, range 19-82~years) with newly diagnosed IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytic glioma (WHO grade III or IV) and dynamic 18FFET PET prior to surgical intervention were enrolled and divided into a training (n = 112) and a testing cohort (n = 47) randomly. First-order, shape, and texture radiomic features were extracted from standard static (20-40~min summation images; TBR20-40), early static (5-15~min summation images; TBR5-15), and dynamic (time-to-peak; TTP) images, respectively. Recursive feature elimination was used for feature selection by 10-fold cross-validation in the training cohort after normalization, and logistic regression models were generated using the radiomic features extracted from each image to differentiate TERTp-mutation status. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value were calculated to illustrate diagnostic power in both the training and testing cohort. RESULTS The TTP model comprised nine selected features and achieved highest predictability of TERTp-mutation with an AUC of 0.82 (95{\%} confidence interval 0.71-0.92) and sensitivity of 92.1{\%} in the independent testing cohort. Weak predictive capability was obtained in the TBR5-15 model, with an AUC of 0.61 (95{\%} CI 0.42-0.80) in the testing cohort, while no predictive power was observed in the TBR20-40 model. CONCLUSIONS Radiomics based on TTP images extracted from dynamic 18FFET PET can predict the TERTp-mutation status of IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytic high-grade gliomas with high accuracy preoperatively

Swallowing Physiology after Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Comparison on Videofluoroscopy Pre- and Post-surgery

Duchac S, Hielscher-Fastabend M, Müller HM, et al. Swallowing Physiology after Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Comparison on Videofluoroscopy Pre- and Post-surgery. International Journal of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science. 2017;5(4):71-79