Impact of product name and seasonal context on the sensory evaluation of a seasonally themed beverage

Information can have a powerful impact on liking, however, little is known about the effect of product name on consumer perception. Moreover, the influence of season, as a sensory relevant context, has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of naming products with season evoking names and to compare responses between seasons. One hundred and fifty three consumers took part in either a summer (n=71) or winter (n=82) tasting of a drink named 'Winter Spice' or 'Refreshing Summer Berries'. Within each campaign, a cross-over design was applied and participants rated the drink for liking and sensory characteristics (check-all-that-apply). Neither the name nor the season had an impact on liking; however, both factors affected attribute description. The drink was described significantly more often as "spice", "Christmassy" and "mulled wine" when named 'Winter Spice', it was described more often as "blackcurrant" and "cherry" during the winter months. Practical applications: It appears possible to use product names to deliver different sensorial experiences without impacting negatively on liking providing that the names reflect adequately the product intrinsic qualities. Seasons appear to be a sensory relevant context, developing a greater understanding of the underpinning mechanisms is critical product development and marketing

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Automatic Governor for Tie-line Control : A Teaching Tool

Power transmission between interconnected systems is a major concern in the present electrical engineering context and is of utmost importance to Electrical Engineering undergraduates. A voltage scaled power system simulator with two interconnected areas has been designed, for educational purposes, using vacuum circuit breakers, a diesel generator, a motor-generator set, transmission lines, bus bars, loads etc. Synchronization of two areas and a power controller of the tie line between the two areas have been implemented. In addition, students can learn about different interactions, such as synchronous and isochronous operation of generators with large systems. This paper finally discusses the possible experiences of interconnected power systems that undergraduate students could be exposed to.IEEE IEEE Sri Lanka Section Robotics and Automation Section Chapter, IEEE Sri Lanka Sectio

Automatic governor for Tie-line control : a teaching tool

Power transmission between interconnected systems is a major concern in the present electrical engineering context and is of utmost importance to Electrical Engineering undergraduates. A voltage scaled power system simulator with two interconnected areas has been designed, for educational purposes, using vacuum circuit breakers, a diesel generator, a motor-generator set, transmission lines, bus bars, loads etc. Synchronization of two areas and a power controller of the tie line between the two areas have been implemented. In addition, students can learn about different interactions, such as synchronous and isochronous operation of generators with large systems. This paper finally discusses the possible experiences of interconnected power systems that undergraduate students could be exposed to

Percepção de nutrizes acerca de sua qualidade de vida

A amamentação é retratada pelas mulheres como um período de sobrecarga física e emocional. O estudo teve como objetivo compreender a percepção de nutrizes, atendidas em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS), no município de São Paulo, acerca de sua qualidade de vida (QV). Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa, com a participação de 202 nutrizes, que responderam ao Instrumento de Avaliação de QV (WHOQOL-bref), seguido pela realização de perguntas abertas e entrevista. Os dados foram organizados segundo a proposta do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (DSC). As nutrizes, ao descreverem o que é QV, utilizaram elementos objetivos e subjetivos como qualificadores de sua experiência de vida. Constatou-se a importância do planejamento de uma assistência de enfermagem acerca da amamentação desde o pré-natal, que incentive principalmente a participação do companheiro no cuidado com a criança e promova o preparo da família para apoiar a nutriz, o que certamente levará a uma melhor percepção acerca de sua QV