Insurance company financial management by optimising premium level: the case of Poland

The article, which falls within the terms of reference of insurance risk analysis, presents research on the death risk regional differentiation and its influence on the level of insurance and social security premiums. The article is divided into four parts. The first one describes probability of death as a measure of calculated death risk and presents synthetic results of death probability estimates for individual Polish voivodships. In the second part net life insurance premiums calculated separately for individual voivodships and premiums calculated with the average death risk factor for the entire territory of Poland are compared. Part three discusses the effect of the regional premium and death risk differentiation method on financial management of insurance companies indicating the value of the insurance fund established. The said fund has been calculated on the basis of the method presented and without the application of the regional premium differentiation method. In conclusion, recommendations are made concerning the possible application of the regional premium differentiation by insurance companies

Ownership structure and development of Polish life insurance companies - evidence from 1991 to 2004

The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate the relationship between changes in the ownership structure and the development of life insurance companies in Poland. The simple regression model is used to reveal the relation. The findings of this study, that the solvency ratio, overall indebtedness ratio, premiums retention ratio and profitability ratio on technical activity and sales are positively related with the changes in the share of foreign capital and especially that the claims ratio is negatively related, suggest that foreign investments have greatly influenced the development of the life insurance industry in Poland during the transition period

Effectiveness of a Multimodal Mindfulness Program for Student Health Care Professionals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The effectiveness of a multimodal mindfulness program incorporating traditional and nontraditional forms of active and nonactive meditation practices with a sample of occupational and physical therapy students was assessed in this study. Method: Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The 8-week mindfulness program consisted of one weekly 40-min in-person group session and four weekly 10-min online guided meditations. Pre and postintervention measures included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Student Stress Management Scale (SSMS), mindfulness activity log, open-ended qualitative questionnaire, GPA, and counseling visit frequency. Results: Statistically significant differences, with large effect sizes, were found between intervention and control group PSS (Z=-4.291, pd=-1.84) and SSMS (Z=-3.330, pd=-1.27) postintervention scores. Statistically significant differences, with large effect sizes, were found between intervention group pre and postmindfulness activity ratings for each week and all weeks combined (Z=-12.599, pd=1.29). Qualitative data revealed eight themes including greater sleep quality, energy levels, self-compassion, and life-work balance. No statistically significant differences were found between intervention and control group counseling visit frequency and GPA. Conclusion: As this is preliminary data about a novel intervention with a small student sample, effectiveness of this intervention should be further explored in a replication study

Hypnosis for acute procedural pain: a critical review

Clinical evidence for the effectiveness of hypnosis in the treatment of acute procedural pain was critically evaluated based on reports from randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Results from the 29 RCTs meeting inclusion criteria suggest that hypnosis decreases pain compared to standard care and attention control groups and that it is at least as effective as comparable adjunct psychological or behavioral therapies. In addition, applying hypnosis in multiple sessions prior to the day of the procedure produced the highest percentage of significant results. Hypnosis was most effective in minor surgical procedures. However, interpretations are limited by considerable risk of bias. Further studies using minimally effective control conditions and systematic control of intervention dose and timing are required to strengthen conclusions

Wildlife Hazards at Airports: A Practical Review

Globally, aircraft accidents and incidents due to wildlife strikes are an increasingly serious safety concern; Airport operators have a professional and legal responsibility to provide an environment conducive to safe aircraft operations; Airport operators and managers have been sued for property damage and / or for human injuries and death in the aftermath of aircraft accidents due to wildlife strikes

Utilizing UAS to Mitigate Wildlife Strikes to Aviation

Our team has explored the use of UAS technologies to identify hazardous wildlife and their habitat—an important component of wildlife hazard management by airport operators and a critical activity to mitigate the risk of aircraft accidents resulting from wildlife strikes. This presentation summarizes the lessons learned and best practices developed. Most importantly, audience members will be invited to provide feedback and suggestions to this ongoing research study

Organic Geochemistry of Permian Organic-rich Sediments from the Sudetes Area, SW Poland

Lacustrine and marine sediments from the Permian rift-basins of southwestern Poland were analysed using GC-MS and petrographic techniques. High Pr/Ph ratios, gamma- and beta-carotanes and gammacerane in the lacustrine sediments indicate deposition under elevated water salinities. The primary organic matter is represented by bacterial and algal lipids with variable terrestrial input. Marine algal lipids with minor bacterial and cyanobacterial lipids are the primary source of organic matter in the marine sediments. Extended hopanes, n-alkanes with even-odd predominance and low Ts/Tm ratios are consistent with deposition in a closed, evaporitic basin with substantial carbonate sedimentation

Factors influencing ranchers’ intentions to manage for vegetation heterogeneity and promote cross-boundary management in the northern Great Plains

Most private grasslands in the Great Plains are managed with the goal to optimize beef production, which tends to homogenize rangeland habitats. The subsequent loss of vegetation heterogeneity on private lands is detrimental to ecosystem function. However, conservation planners should understand the factors that lead to variation in management of rangelands. We used a mail survey targeted to ranchers in counties with intact rangeland in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska in 2016 to examine factors predicted to be related to attitudes about strategies leading to heterogeneity such as innovativeness and low risk aversion, and intended behaviors associated with creation of heterogeneity. We used survey questions and a set of relevant scales to examine predictors of behavioral intentions for rangeland management and conservation. Attitudes about fire and prairie dogs, two strategies that create heterogeneity, were largely negative, and ranchers with positive attitudes about fire and prairie dogs and higher perceived behavioral control of their ranch and surrounding landscapes had greater intention to engage in heterogeneity-promoting behaviors. Social norms were also important in predicting intended behaviors and attitudes. Our research suggests that heterogeneity of grasslands may remain low unless land managers understand the importance of spatial and temporal heterogeneity and recognize prescribed fire and prairie dogs, and other burrowing colonial mammals, as principal drivers of ecological processes on rangelands. Conservation organizations may find success by modeling management tools, reducing the perceived effort producers must make to adopt behaviors that support heterogeneity, and by developing programs that work to change social norms around fire and prairie dogs

Utilizing UAS to Support Wildlife Hazard Management Efforts by Airport Operators

Purpose of our Study: To investigate how UAS technologies could be safely and effectively applied to identify hazardous wildlife species to aviation operations as well as potential wildlife hazard attractants within the airport jurisdiction

The role of environmental distractions in the experience of fibrofog in real-world settings

The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the NIH (award K01‐AR‐064275; Principal Investigator, Dr. Kratz). The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (NIH award UL1‐TR‐002240) provided subject recruitment support through the UMHealthResearch.org website.Peer reviewedPublisher PD