The future of carbon labeling – Factors to consider

Compared to other policy instruments that aim to change consumer behavior, information provision is perhaps the least controversial. An important question is how information in the form of carbon labels can contribute to direct food consumption toward reduced climate impact. From a policy guidance perspective, there is a need to identify how the labeling strategy affects consumers’ ability to identify lower emitting food products and the behavioral change due to carbon information. Key aspects of a carbon label are discussed, as well as the implications of different labeling schemes. Drawing on economic and behavioral theories, we propose that, to assist consumers in identifying changes in consumption that contribute to significant reductions in their climate impact, a carbon label must enable comparisons between product groups and not only within narrowly defined product groups. This suggests mandatory labeling, since producers of high-emission products are less likely to display such labels. However, it is important to consider both costs and benefits of labeling schemes and to consider complementing labeling with other policy instruments

The future of carbon labeling – Factors to consider

Compared to other policy instruments that aim to change consumer behavior, information provision is perhaps the least controversial. An important question is how information in the form of carbon labels can contribute to direct food consumption toward reduced climate impact. From a policy guidance perspective, there is a need to identify how the labeling strategy affects consumers’ ability to identify lower emitting food products and the behavioral change due to carbon information. Key aspects of a carbon label are discussed, as well as the implications of different labeling schemes. Drawing on economic and behavioral theories, we propose that, to assist consumers in identifying changes in consumption that contribute to significant reductions in their climate impact, a carbon label must enable comparisons between product groups and not only within narrowly defined product groups. This suggests mandatory labeling, since producers of high-emission products are less likely to display such labels. However, it is important to consider both costs and benefits of labeling schemes and to consider complementing labeling with other policy instruments

Homotopy-initial algebras in type theory

We investigate inductive types in type theory, using the insights provided by homotopy type theory and univalent foundations of mathematics. We do so by introducing the new notion of a homotopy-initial algebra. This notion is defined by a purely type-theoretic contractibility condition which replaces the standard, category-theoretic universal property involving the existence and uniqueness of appropriate morphisms. Our main result characterises the types that are equivalent to W-types as homotopy-initial algebras

HHV-6B Induces IFN-Lambda1 Responses in Cord Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells through TLR9

Human herpesvirus type 6B (HHV-6B) is a strong inducer of IFN-alpha and has the capacity to promote Th1 responses and block Th2 responses in vitro. In this study we addressed whether inactivated HHV-6B can also induce IFN lambda responses and to what extent interferons alpha and lambda affect Th1/Th2 polarization. We show that inactivated HHV-6B induced IFN-lambda1 (IL-29) but not IFN-lambda2 (IL-28A) responses in plasmacytoid DC and that this induction was mediated through TLR9. We have previously shown that HHV-6B promotes Th1 responses and blocks Th2 responses in both humans and mice. We now show that neutralization of IFN-alpha but not IFN-lambda1 blocked the HHV-6B-induced enhancement of Th1 responses in MLR, but did not affect the HHV-6-induced dampening of Th2 responses. Similarly, blockage of TLR9 counteracted HHV-6Bs effects on the Th1/Th2 balance. In addition, IFN-alpha but not IFN-lambda1 promoted IFN-gamma production and blocked IL-5 and IL-13 production in purified CD4+ T-cells. The lack of effect of IFN-lambda1 correlated with the absence of the IFN-lambda receptor IL-28Ralfa chain on the cell surface of both resting and activated CD4+ T-cells. We conclude that inactivated HHV-6B is a strong inducer of IFN-lambda1 in plasmacytoid DC and that this induction is TLR9-dependent. However, human CD4+ T-cells do not express the IFN-lambda receptor and are refractory to IFN-lambda1 treatment. The HHV-6B-induced alterations in the Th1/Th2 balance are instead mediated mainly through TLR9 and IFN-alpha

Den nya generationen

Den nya generationen – Inledaren: Ett positivt dilemma av Pia Prost – Att så meningsfulla frön i vardagen av Julia Ajanko – Skolliv i yttre skärgården av Kristin Mattsson – Finlands skärgårdsskolor av Pia Prost Vi är inte som andra vi! Livet i en skärgårdsskola av Sanna Järf Septemberbaby ger nytt liv i Sibbo skärgård av Thure Malmberg – Havet som framtid: De unga skärikvinnorna Linda och Ronja av Julia Ajanko – Norrskär av Pia Prost, Emmie Sjödahl, Mikael Nordström & Olav Jern – Skärgårdsbarnens hobbymöjligheter av Pia Prost – Giàno del Vecchio från Utö tror på skärgården av Julia Ajanko – Norsk skärgård – ett staket av klippor och rev av Kristina Svels – Barnfamiljer i skärgården av Dan Sundblom & Pia Liljeroth – Själös betydelse för havsforskningen av Jari Hänninen – Eldsjälar och livsverk av Kasper Westerlund – Skärgårdsfotograf Viveka Rabehl – Skärgårdsbarnens geografibok av Tove Eklund – Kongress om klimatsmarta öar på Mallorca av Julia Ajanko – Skärinytt – Knattelabbet och ö-expeditionen lär barn om livet i Skärgårdshavet av Pia Pros

Methotrexate safety and efficacy in combination therapies in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis : a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial (NORD-STAR)

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.OBJECTIVE: To investigate methotrexate safety and influence of dose on efficacy outcomes in combination with three different biological treatments and with active conventional treatment (ACT) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This post-hoc analysis included 812 treatment-naïve early RA patients who were randomized (1:1:1:1) in the NORD-STAR trial (NCT01491815) to receive methotrexate in combination with ACT, certolizumab-pegol, abatacept, or tocilizumab. Methotrexate safety, doses, and dose effects on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission were assessed after 24 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Compared with ACT, the prevalence of methotrexate-associated side effects was higher when methotrexate was combined with tocilizumab (HR 1.48 [95% CI 1.20 to 1.84]), but not with certolizumab-pegol (HR 0.99 [0.79 to 1.23]) or with abatacept (HR 0.93 [0.75 to 1.16]). With ACT as the reference, methotrexate dose was significantly lower when used in combination with tocilizumab (β -4.65 [95% CI -5.83 to -3.46], p<0.001), with abatacept (β -1.15 [-2.27 to -0.03], p=0.04), and numerically lower in combination with certolizumab-pegol (β -1.07 [-2.21 to 0.07], p=0.07). Methotrexate dose reductions were not associated with decreased CDAI remission rates within any of the treatment combinations. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate was generally well tolerated in combination therapies, but adverse events were a limiting factor in receiving the target dose of 25 mg/week, and these were more frequent in combination with tocilizumab versus active conventional treatment. On the other hand, methotrexate dose reductions were not associated with decreased CDAI remission rates within any of the four treatment combinations at 24 weeks. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A meta-analysis of previous falls and subsequent fracture risk in cohort studies

NC Harvey acknowledges funding from the UK Medical Research Council (MC_PC_21003; MC_PC_21001). The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through 75N92021D00001, 75N92021D00002, 75N92021D00003, 75N92021D00004, and 75N92021D00005. Funding for the MrOS USA study comes from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research under the following grant numbers: U01 AG027810, U01 AG042124, U01 AG042139, U01 AG042140, U01 AG042143, U01 AG042145, U01 AG042168, U01 AR066160, and UL1 TR000128. Funding for the SOF study comes from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), supported by grants (AG05407, AR35582, AG05394, AR35584, and AR35583). Funding for the Health ABC study was from the Intramural research program at the National Institute on Aging under the following contract numbers: NO1-AG-6–2101, NO1-AG-6–2103, and NO1-AG-6–2106.Peer reviewedPostprin

Koulukiusaaminen sosiaalisena ilmiönä : koulukuraattoreiden näkemyksiä kiusaamisesta

Tutkielmassa tarkastelen koulukuraattoreiden kokemusten kautta muodostuneita näkemyksiä koulukiusaamisesta. Tutkimuskysymykseni on: Minkälaisia kokemuksen kautta muodostuneita näkemyksiä koulukuraattoreilla on koulukiusaamisesta? Tutkimuskysymykseen pyrin vastaamaan alakysymyksen avulla: Minkälaisina koulukuraattorit kokevat omat mahdollisuutensa puuttua koulukiusaamiseen ja ennaltaehkäistä sitä kouluissaan? Tutkielmani aineisto koostuu viidestä koulukuraattorin kerronnallisesta teemahaastattelusta. Tutkielman taustalla vaikuttaa sosiaalinen konstruktionismi, jonka kautta haastattelussa vuorovaikutuksessa tuotettu tieto koulukiusaamisesta saa eri ulottuvuuksia. Koulukiusaamista tarkastelen yksilön, hänen perheensä ja vertaisryhmänsä, kouluorganisaation ja yhteiskunnallisen tason kautta. Aineiston analyysimenetelmänä olen käyttänyt teoriaohjaavaa sisällönanalyysiä ja teemoitellut sen jälkeen aineistoa. Koulukuraattorit painottivat koko kouluyhteisön vastuuta koulukiusaamiseen puuttumisessa. Koulukuraattoreiden näkemysten mukaan heidän tärkeimpänä tehtävänään kouluorganisaatiossa oli luottamuksellisen suhteen luominen oppilaisiin, jotta he kertoisivat kiusaamisesta ja varhainen puuttuminen kiusaamistapauksiin mahdollistuisi. Koulukuraattorit pyrkivät auttamaan kaikkia kiusaamiseen osallisia, mikä oli merkki eettisten periaatteiden noudattamisesta. Koulukiusaamisen yhteinen määrittely kouluyhteisön ammattilaisten ja oppilaiden kesken oli tärkeää, jotta koulukiusaamiseen pystyttiin puuttumaan varhain. Koulukuraattorit pyrkivät usein ainoana koulunyhteisön sosiaalialan asiantuntijana kokonaisvaltaisen kuvan muodostamiseen oppilaan kiusaamistilanteesta. Koulukuraattorit kokivat pystyvänsä ennaltaehkäisemään koulukiusaamista ennen kaikkea tunne- ja sosiaalisia taitoja opettamalla, mutta haasteena ennaltaehkäisevälle työlle oli kuraattoreiden kokema ajan puute. Koulun rehtori vaikutti olennaisesti koko kouluyhteisön hyvinvointiin ja niihin resursseihin, joita koulun ammattilaisilla oli käytettävissään koulukiusaamisen parissa tapahtuvaan työskentelyyn

The true genius : Gender and genius in the writings of Thomas Thorild

In the eighteenth century, the word genius acquired a new meaning – that of extraordinary endowment – and started to be used to denote a particular type of superior human being. Author and philosopher Thomas Thorild (1759–1808) introduced this new concept in Sweden. The present thesis examines gender aspects concerning this exclusive identity, with the purpose of analysing how gender interacts with social status, age and ethnicity in the construction of the concept of genius in the writings of Thorild. The thesis examines the extent to which concepts relating to masculinity and femininity are involved in the definitional conflicts regarding genius and the significance that other identity categories have in these contexts. My focus is on the Swedish word snille, the word most commonly used for genius during this period. The analysis shows that Thorild describes the genius as both manly and womanly. He relates to the different ways of understanding gender that were available in the transition from an older conception of gender and identity to a more modern one. When Thorild describes the genius as manly, he understands manliness in terms of ideal humanity and maturity. When he describes the genius as womanly, or rather resembling women, he relates to another, more modern way of perceiving gender by emphasising two different gender categories. There is a difference between the concept of manliness, where gender interacts with age, and the woman–man gender division, in which gender is constructed in relation to social status and ethnicity. The genius combines the classical manly virtue that emphasises autonomy, forceful action, civic duty and political responsibility with a new feminine moral ideal that prioritises peaceful, social coexistence in civil society. The concept of genius not only contributes to the establishment of a conception of the individual as an autonomous subject, but also relates to the ways in which this individual is expected to work for the good of humanity