Although calorie information at the point-of-purchase at fast food restaurants is proposed as a method to decrease calorie choices and combat obesity, research results have been mixed. Much of the supportive research has weak methodology, and is limited. There is a demonstrated need to develop better techniques to assist consumers to make lower calorie food choices. Eating at fast food restaurants has been positively associated with weight gain. The current study explored the possibility of adding exercise equivalents (EE) (physical activity required to burn off the calories in the food), along with calorie information as a possible way to facilitate lower calorie choice at the point-of-choice in fast food restaurants. This three-group experimental study, in 18-34 year old, overweight and obese women, examines whether presenting caloric information in the form of EE at the point-of-choice at fast food restaurants, will lead to lower calorie food choices compared to presenting simple caloric information or no information at all. Methods: A randomized repeated measures experiment was conducted. Participants ordered a fast food meal from Burger King with menus that contained only the names of the food choices (Lunch 1). One week later (Lunch 2), study participants were given one of three menus that varied: no information, calorie information, or calorie information and EE. Study participants included 62 college aged students. Additionally, the study controlled for dietary restraint by blocking participants, before randomization, to the three groups. Results: A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted. The study was not sufficiently powered, and while the study was designed to determine large effect sizes, a small effect size of .026, was determined. No significant differences were found in the foods ordered among the various menu conditions. Conclusion: Menu labeling alone might not be enough to reduce calories at the point-of-choice at restaurants. Additional research is necessary to determine if calorie information and EE at the point-of-choice would lead to fewer calories chosen at a meal. Studies should also look at long-term, repeated exposure to determine the effectiveness of calories and or EE at the point-of-choice at fast food restaurants.

"Seeing that consuming a healthy diet is an important step in preventing (or limiting) overweight and obesity, it is important for health policy making to establish aids by which consumers can make more informed choices. This thesis focuses on how the information provided to consumers could help them make choices towards more healthy diets. The different nutrition labelling strategies regulated by law include the nutrition information table (which provides the nutrition properties of the food, such as the calorie, sugar, salt and fat content, but also includes the ingredient list) as well as the use of nutrition claims (statements indicating the amount of a specific nutrient in a product, such as “high in fiber”) as well as other types of claims such as Organic or Fairtrade labelling. These types of labelling are relatively new, and for example, nutrition information labelling has been mandatory only as of December 2016. Many questions remain about how these labelling strategies are truly used and understood by consumers, and how they could aid in the choice for healthier foods. Indeed, there is an increasing emphasis on understanding the consumer’s motives for choosing food. Moreover, one’s food-related personal traits likely play a moderating role in food choice. That is why this thesis focusses on how the different information labelling strategies are used and understood by consumers, and if this is impacted by different interpersonal traits, such as food-related involvement, but also numeracy and moral satisfaction. In this thesis, first two theoretical concepts that are crucial for the understanding of this work will be explained: the notion of food-related involvement and the notion of nutrition labelling. After these two theoretical chapters, the empirical research will be discussed. First a quantitative study about the nutrition information table will be discussed. Then a study on nutrition claims, and how these may impact the choice for vegetables for different levels of processing will be discussed. After this, we will discuss how other labelling strategies such as organic and Fairtrade labelling impact food choice. And finally, after these quantitative studies, we will then turn to a mixed methods study in order to understand how consumers make sense of all these different labelling strategies together, and if, when and how consumers (with different levels of food-related involvement) use and understand them." / Doctorat en Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Machine learning has been utilized in bio-imaging in recent years, however as it is relatively new and evolving, some researchers who wish to utilize machine learning tools have limited access because of a lack of programming knowledge. In electron microscopy (EM), immunogold labeling is commonly used to identify the target proteins, however the manual annotation of the gold particles in the images is a time-consuming and laborious process. Conventional image processing tools could provide semi-automated annotation, but those require that users make manual adjustments for every step of the analysis. To create a new high-throughput image analysis tool for immuno-EM, I developed a deep learning pipeline that was designed to deliver a completely automated annotation of immunogold particles in EM images. The program was made accessible for users without prior programming experience and was also expanded to be used on different types of immuno-EM images. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Die zerebrale Perfusion ist eine wichtige physiologische Größe, die den Blutfluss in grauer bzw. weißer Hirnsubstanz beschreibt. Zur Perfusionsmessung in der klinischen Anwendung hat sich pseudo-kontinuierliches Arterielles Spin-Labeling (pCASL) als nichtinvasive Methode in der Magnetresonanzbildgebung etabliert. Das Anliegen der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, pCASL zu charakterisieren und die Ursache für dessen Empfindlichkeit gegenüber intrinsischen Magnetfeldgradienten zu untersuchen. Anhand von Simulationen mit der Bloch-Gleichung konnten optimale Messparameter abgeleitet werden, um das Verfahren in dieser Hinsicht robuster zu machen. Die damit unabhängig von intrinsischen Magnetfeldgradienten bei 3\,T vorhergesagte hohe Labeling-Effizienz von 90\,\% wurde in vivo mittels eines eigens dafür entwickelten Messverfahrens experimentell validiert. / Cerebral perfusion is an important physiological parameter that describes the blood flow in brain tissue. To measure perfusion in a clinical setting, pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) has been established as noninvasive method in magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of this work is to characterize pCASL and to investigate its susceptibility to intrinsic magnetic field gradients. By simulations based on the Bloch equation, optimal parameter settings could be derived with particular focus on robustness against their impairing influence. As a result, a high labeling efficiency of 90\% was predicted independently of magnetic field gradients at 3\,T. This finding could finally be validated in vivo by a dedicated experimental approach.

A sudden rise in right wing parties has occurred throughout Europe, and this is no exception in Sweden. The Sweden Democrats have gone from a small, extremist party with founders who have roots in nazism and fascism, into the third largest party in Sweden. This study have analyzed articles from 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021 in two of the biggest newspapers in Sweden, Aftonbladet and Expressen in order to discover patterns in media material that showcases how traditional and established media outlets such as the ones mentioned have changed, or not changed, their coverage surrounding The Sweden Democrats. The aim of the study is to analyze the apparent normalization of The Sweden Democrats through frames such as labeling, tonality and topics present in news articles from Aftonbladet and Expressen throughout their rise to power.The research questions were: Quantitative research question: - Has The Sweden Democrats been normalized in Aftonbladet and Expressen from 2005 to 2021 based on labeling, topic and tonality? If so, how? Qualitative research question:- What is the discourse(s) and frames surrounding The Sweden Democrats in Aftonbladet and Expressen in the consecutive years? In order to answer the quantitative research questions, and to fulfill the aim of the study, a content analysis was first done in a large number of articles throughout the years. In order to answer the qualitative research questions, a framing analysis with purposive sampling followed the content analysis, in order to take a closer look into the frames and discourses present in the material throughout the years. The findings of the study showed that there has been a shift in tonality, topics and labeling throughout the years. The findings showcased that the party in the beginning were labeled as extremists, while gradually becoming labeled as neutral and eventually established in the later years. This showcased a normalization of the party in the media throughout their rise in power.

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The distribution of neurons in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) that respond to gustatory input from the anterior tongue was visualized by Fos protein immunohistochemistry following electrical stimulation of the chorda tympani (CT) nerve in rats. Maps of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) neurons were compared with the distribution of CT afferent terminal fields labeled by transganglionic transport of rhodamine-dextran in a separate group of animals. The primary concentration of Fos-ir neurons localized in register with the major terminal fields of CT afferent fibers, in the central third of the rostral 1.0 mm of the NST ipsilateral to the stimulated nerve. A similar correspondence in location and degree of labeling of Fos-ir neurons and afferent terminals was observed in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal trigeminal complex (Sp5) pars caudalis, near the obex, and the Sp5 pars oralis near the rostral pole of the rNST. Thus, the magnitude of Fos upregulation in brainstem targets of the CT nerve having chemosensory or nociceptive function, was proportional to the relative density of the CT afferent input. This correspondence, and the absence of labeling in neurons known to be one additional synapse away from the afferent input within gustatory or oral reflex pathways, suggests that the cell map obtained represents mainly neurons that are directly activated via primary afferent synapses from CT fibers. The availability of a method to histochemically identify a population of putative second-order taste neurons will facilitate analysis of the cellular/molecular properties of these neurons and of synaptic circuitry in the rNST.

Providing consumers with usable nutrition information requires an effective labeling format. The objective of this study, which was conducted in a supermarket setting, was to determine whether consumers could, without previous instruction, make equally effective nutrition decisions using a graphic format based on nutrient density as when using the current labeling format. For comparison with other studies, a demographic, nutrition knowledge and nutrition labeling data base was collected. The questionnaire completed by each participating consumer included items regarding demographic data and shopping preferences, and questions evaluating nutrition knowledge for comparison as a data base with other studies. It also appraised the ability of the shopper to utilize two nutrition labeling formats in making nutrition decisions. Another questionnaire, completed by a researcher, assessed race, body type and build, and time taken by each participant to complete the nutrition decision questions. Six supermarkets were selected from one large Utah chain as sites for the survey. The nutrient density format produced the greatest percentage of correct responses. The difference was particularly evident when the data were analyzed for overall total correct responses. Participants who were high school graduates or had family incomes between $4,000 - $7,999 made more correct responses when utilizing the nutrient density format than when confronted with the other format. The nutrient density presentation also took less time for participants to complete. The graphical nutrient density format evaluated in the study is more effective than the current labeling format in assisting consumers to make valid nutritional decisions.

Utah’s water resources are endangered by low rainfall rates, high per capita water consumption and a strong projected increase of residents. The irrigation of ornamental plant landscaping is estimated to account for 60% of residential water use, and is, therefore, a target of education programs in the effort to promote water conservancy. The water-wise “Yellow Tag” program developed by the Utah Division of Water Resources seeks to provide retail nurseries with free tags for labeling plants which are considered low water use with the objective of promoting water conservation. The objective of this study is to determine consumer preferences for plants labeled with the Yellow Tag. As a means of measuring consumer preference we use willingness-to-pay (WTP). We give participants the choice between daylily, spiderwort and neither. Choice alternatives differ in flower color, purported irrigation need, production location and price. The data for this study was collected through an online survey instrument applied to 463 participants residing in the state of Utah. Our results show that consumers prefer daylilies labeled with the Yellow Tag, and dislike spiderwort labeled with a high irrigation need. Special preference for Yellow Tag labeled ornamentals was found for respondents who are female, living in single houses, are concerned about the price of water and are drought aware. We do not find a preference for flower color or production location. These promising results may encourage Utah governmental and education agencies to continue the Water-Wise program, expand educational programs to increase drought awareness and help retailers optimize their future product mixes.