Response formats in questionnaires: Itemized rating scales versus continuous rating scales

This paper presents the results of an experimental study comparing itemized rating scales and continuous rating scales. Three dimensions, and one particular construct (brand attitude) served as the basis of the comparisons of multi-item applications of the two response formats: reliability levels in terms of Cronbach's alpha, variable means, and correlations with an external variable (intentions). The findings indicate that the two repsonse formats did not have any substantial effects; it does not seem to matter if the researcher selcets an itemized response format or a continuous response format.itemized rating scale; continuous rating scale; Likert scale; semantic differential scale; response format; item leaf; response format effects; brand attitude

Visual persuasion with physically attractive models in ads: An examination of how the ad model influences product evaluations

This paper examines the prevalent advertising practice of visually juxtaposing an anonymous, physically attractive ad model and a product in terms of its effects on the attitude toward the product. In this appeal, in which there are no explicit verbal claims about how the two objects are connected, we argue that the physically attractive model sets in motion a process in which emotions and the attitude toward the ad model serve as mediating variables, and that this process ultimately results in an impact on the attitude toward the product. Three empirical studies were made, with stimulus images from the fashion industry, and the findings indicate that emotions and the attitude toward the ad model indeed contributed to the product attitudes. The findings also indicate that images comprising physically attractive ad models produced higher product attitudes compared to a visual display of only the product.Attitude toward the ad model; attitude toward the product; physical attractiveness; emotions; appraisals

Evaluating a Carbon Tax : France as a Case Study - CO2 Emissions from Cars

This quasi-experimental study is the first to evaluate the French experience of adding a carbon tax directly onto existing taxes on fossil fuel consumption by performing an econometric case study. Furthermore, the introduction of the French carbon tax resulted in the so called “yellow vests protests”, the protests acted as a catalyst, and further stressed the need to evaluate environmental taxes, not only in relation to combating global warming but also regarding the procedures of providing information to the public. Correctly estimating the effects of the French tax can then provide the crucial information needed. This thesis finds a significant effect of carbon taxes on emissions, analysing the implementation of a carbon component on transport fuel in France. After the policy intervention, carbon dioxide emissions from cars declined 6.3 per cent every year between 2016-2019, relative to a synthetic control unit constructed from a grouping of similar EU countries

Att översätta strategi till operationella prestationsmått - En fallstudie av SJ AB

Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur SJs strategi implementeras genom operationell målstyrning samt fastställa eventuella brister i länken mellan strategi och målstyrning

Supplementation with long chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, lactation, or infancy in relation to risk of asthma and atopic disease during childhood : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

Funding Information: This systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines for systematic reviews, developed for the 2022 revision of the NNR (23, 24) and Preferred reporting for systematic reviews (25). The NNR 2022 is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and governmental food and health authorities of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland (26). A study protocol was published prior to article selection in the database PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk, CRD42021275309). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Linnea Bärebring et al.Objective: To assess whether supplementation with long chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, lactation, or infancy reduces the risk of developing asthma or atopic disease during childhood. Methods: Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus up to 2021-09-20, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of supple-mental long chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, lactation, or infancy for the prevention of childhood asthma or allergy. Article selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (Cochrane’s Risk of Bias 2.0) were independently conducted by two assessors. The evidence was synthesized qualitatively according to the criteria of the World Cancer Research Fund and meta-analyzed. Results: A total of nine RCTs met inclusion criteria; six were conducted during pregnancy, two during infancy, and one during both pregnancy and infancy. Meta-analysis showed that long chain n-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of asthma/wheeze in the child (RR 0.62 [95% confidence interval 0.34–0.91], P = 0.005, I2 = 67.4%), but not other outcomes. Supplementation during lactation of infancy showed no effects on any outcome. The strength of evidence that long chain n-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy reduces risk of asthma/wheeze in the offspring was con-sidered limited – suggestive. No conclusion could be made for the effects of long chain n-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy for other atopic diseases, or for supplementation during lactation or infancy for any outcome. Conclusion: The intake of long chain n-3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy may reduce the risk of asthma and/or wheeze in the offspring, but the strength of evidence is low. There is inconclusive evidence for the effects of long chain n-3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy for other outcomes, as well as for sup-plementation during lactation or infancy.Peer reviewe

An Integrated Understanding of the Rapid Metabolic Benefits of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on Hepatic Steatosis in Humans

A carbohydrate-restricted diet is a widely recommended intervention for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but a systematic perspective on the multiple benefits of this diet is lacking. Here, we performed a short-term intervention with an isocaloric low-carbohydrate diet with increased protein content in obese subjects with NAFLD and characterized the resulting alterations in metabolism and the gut microbiota using a multi-omics approach. We observed rapid and dramatic reductions of liver fat and other cardiometabolic risk factors paralleled by (1) marked decreases in hepatic de novo lipogenesis; (2) large increases in serum beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, reflecting increased mitochondrial beta-oxidation; and (3) rapid increases in folate-producing Streptococcus and serum folate concentrations. Liver transcriptomic analysis on biopsy samples from a second cohort revealed downregulation of the fatty acid synthesis pathway and upregulation of folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism and fatty acid oxidation pathways. Our results highlight the potential of exploring diet-microbiota interactions for treating NAFLD.Peer reviewe

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

"Pedaltone" : En undersökning av elektroakustiska effekter och pedaler

Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka hur en person kan fylla ljudbilden av en hel ensemble med hjälp av saxofon samt elektroakustiska effekter och pedaler. Det som ligger till grund för arbetet är att jag ville lära mig hur jag som solist kan komponera och lära mig att improvisera med hjälp av redskap som inte tillhör det akustiska. Metoden har gått ut på att dela upp arbetstiden i tre olika perioder. Inom perioderna har jag fem punkter: teknisk kunskap, improvisation, komposition, frihet och reflektion. Vid varje period reflekterar jag över hur arbetsprocessen har gått under dessa fem punkterna. Resultatet blev en 11 minuter lång komposition. Under arbetets gång har jag breddat min kunskap inom pedaler och effekter, men också lärt mig vilka egenskaper som behövs för att simulera ljudet av trummor, bas eller ett ackordinstrument. Jag har även insett vilken påverkan pedaler har haft på mitt sätt att komponera och improvisera. Till min låtskrivarprocess har jag hittat många nya tillvägagångssätt. Pedalernas inverkan har även fått min frasering att bli tydligare vilket resulterat i att mitt spel blivit mer nyanserat, utan effekter

"Pedaltone" : En undersökning av elektroakustiska effekter och pedaler

Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka hur en person kan fylla ljudbilden av en hel ensemble med hjälp av saxofon samt elektroakustiska effekter och pedaler. Det som ligger till grund för arbetet är att jag ville lära mig hur jag som solist kan komponera och lära mig att improvisera med hjälp av redskap som inte tillhör det akustiska. Metoden har gått ut på att dela upp arbetstiden i tre olika perioder. Inom perioderna har jag fem punkter: teknisk kunskap, improvisation, komposition, frihet och reflektion. Vid varje period reflekterar jag över hur arbetsprocessen har gått under dessa fem punkterna. Resultatet blev en 11 minuter lång komposition. Under arbetets gång har jag breddat min kunskap inom pedaler och effekter, men också lärt mig vilka egenskaper som behövs för att simulera ljudet av trummor, bas eller ett ackordinstrument. Jag har även insett vilken påverkan pedaler har haft på mitt sätt att komponera och improvisera. Till min låtskrivarprocess har jag hittat många nya tillvägagångssätt. Pedalernas inverkan har även fått min frasering att bli tydligare vilket resulterat i att mitt spel blivit mer nyanserat, utan effekter