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Food labelling as a tool to encourage the choice of foods with favourable nutritional composition
No full textNeuravnotežena prehrana je eden izmed ključnih preprečljivih dejavnikov tveganja za nenalezljive kronične bolezni. Označevanje živil lahko podpira zdravju ugodnejše prehranske izbire z zagotavljanjem informacij o hranilni sestavi. Čeprav je v EU določeno obvezno označevanje hranilne vrednosti, je to pogosto manj opazno, potrošniki pa imajo težave pri interpretaciji. Označevanje hranilne sestave na sprednji strani embalaže (angl. front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL)) se je razvilo z namenom poenostavitve tovrstnih informacij in bolj učinkovitega usmerjanja potrošnikov k zdravju ugodnejšim izbiram. Cilj doktorske disertacije je bil celostno preučiti področje označevanja živil, s poudarkom na FOPNL shemah. V raziskavi preverjanja točnosti označevanja hranilne vrednosti smo ugotovili, da se je na embalaži navedena vsebnost sladkorja skladala z dejansko (laboratorijsko) analizirano vsebnostjo sladkorja v vseh 51 vzorcih sladkih pijač, kar dodatno utemeljuje uporabo označevanja živil za raziskovalne namene. Analiza predpakiranih živil na slovenskem tržišču je pokazala, da so bile FOPNL sheme prisotne le na 15 % živil, pri čemer so bile pogostejše na visoko predelanih živilih, ki so predstavljala 54,5 % ponudbe in so v večini primerov imela manj ugodno hranilno sestavo. Vrednotenje sheme Nutri-Score je pokazalo njeno visoko sposobnost razlikovanja med živili ter zmerno skladnost s profilom Svetovne zdravstvene organizacije v Evropi, kar se je s posodobljeno različico iz leta 2023 še izboljšalo in okrepilo možnosti za njeno uvedbo na ravni EU. Potrošniška raziskava v Sloveniji in Nemčiji je pokazala, da so interpretativne sheme (Nutri-Score, prehranski semafor) učinkovitejše pod časovnim pritiskom, vendar je pri tem potrebno upoštevati predhodno poznavanje in razumevanje shem. Skupni izsledki doktorske disertacije potrjujejo, da je FOPNL učinkovito javnozdravstveno orodje za spodbujanje zdravih izbir. Rezultati raziskav podpirajo uvedbo obveznega in enotnega FOPNL označevanja skupaj z izobraževalnimi kampanjami, ki lahko optimizirajo osnovni namen FOPNL: usmerjanje potrošnikov k zdravim prehranskim izbiram.An unbalanced diet is one of the key preventable risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. Food labelling can support healthier dietary choices by providing nutritional information. Although the EU has established mandatory nutrition labelling, it has limited visibility, and consumers have difficulties in interpretation. Front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL) was developed with the aim of simplifying this type of information and more effectively guiding consumers towards healthier choices. The aim of the doctoral dissertation was to comprehensively examine the field of food labelling, with an emphasis on FOPNL schemes. In a study verifying the accuracy of nutrition labelling, we found that the sugar content stated on the packaging was consistent with the actual (laboratory) analysed sugar content in all 51 sugar-sweetened beverage samples, which further rationalizes the use of food labelling for research purposes. An analysis of pre-packaged foods on the Slovenian market showed that FOPNL schemes were present on only 15% of foods, being more common on ultra-processed foods, which represented 54.5% of the offerings and, in most cases, had a less favourable nutritional composition. The evaluation of Nutri-Score showed its high ability to discriminate between products and moderate alignment with World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe nutrient profile model, which was further improved in the updated version from 2023, thereby strengthening the potential for its introduction at the EU level. Consumer research in Slovenia and Germany showed that interpretative schemes (Nutri-Score, Multiple Traffic Lights) are more effective under time pressure, but prior knowledge and understanding of the schemes must be taken into account. Overall, the results of the doctoral dissertation confirm that FOPNL is an effective public health tool for promoting healthier choices. The research findings support the introduction of mandatory and uniform FOPNL, along with educational campaigns, which can optimize the main purpose of FOPNL: guiding consumers towards healthier food choices
Impact of visual packaging design on consumer purchase decisions across different industries
No full textNamen magistrskega dela je bil raziskati vpliv vizualnih elementov embalaže na zaznavo
potrošnikov in njihove nakupne odločitve. V raziskavo so bile vključene tri industrije:
prehrambna, kozmetična in dekorativna. Za vsako industrijo so bile razvite tri različne
oblikovne linije embalaže, ki so se razlikovale glede na barvno paleto, oblikovno zasnovo ter
besedilne informacije. Vse embalaže so bile natisnjene in sestavljene v fizični obliki, da je bil
v njihov končni videz in funkcionalnost omogočen realen vpogled.
Empirični del temelji na spletni anketi, izvedeni na platformi 1KA, ki je vključevala 25 vprašanj.
Anketiranci so odgovarjali na vprašanja, povezana z vizualno privlačnostjo, odločitvami za
nakup, zaznavo kakovosti, cenovno umestitvijo, trajnostnim vidikom in pomenom besedilnih
informacij na embalaži.
Rezultati so pokazali, da potrošniki v različnih industrijah različno vrednotijo embalažo. V
prehrambni industriji je največ pozornosti pritegnila črno-bela embalaža, v kozmetični in
dekorativni industriji pa embalaža v pastelnih barvnih odtenkih. Minimalistične zasnove so bile
v vseh treh industrijah zaznane kot izdelki višjega cenovnega razreda. Izrez kot vizualni
element je bil pomemben predvsem v prehrambni industriji, medtem ko so v kozmetični in
dekorativni industriji imele večjo vlogo ilustracije. Največjo težo besedilnih informacij so
potrošniki pripisali kozmetičnim izdelkom, sledili so prehrambni, najmanj pomembne pa so se
jim zdele v dekorativni industriji.
Zaključimo lahko, da kombinacija vizualnih in verbalnih elementov embalaže pomembno vpliva
na potrošnikovo dojemanje izdelka. Vizualna zasnova je ključna pri prvem vtisu, besedilne
informacije pa povečujejo zaupanje in odločitev za nakup.The purpose of this master’s thesis was to examine the impact of visual packaging elements
on consumer perception and purchasing decisions. The study included three industries: food,
cosmetics, and decorative products. For each industry, three different packaging lines were
developed, varying in color palette, design concept, and textual information. All packaging
prototypes were printed and assembled in physical form to enable a realistic evaluation of their
final appearance and functionality.
The empirical part was based on an online survey conducted on the 1KA platform, which
included 25 questions. Respondents evaluated visual attractiveness, purchase decision,
perceived quality, price positioning, sustainability aspects, and the importance of textual
information on packaging.
The results showed that consumers value packaging differently depending on the industry. In
the food industry, the black-and-white packaging attracted the most attention, while in the
cosmetic and decorative industries, pastel-colored packaging was preferred. Minimalist
designs were perceived across all three industries as products of a higher price range. The
cut-out element proved significant primarily in the food industry, whereas in the cosmetic and
decorative industries, illustrations played a more important role. Textual information was
considered most relevant in the cosmetics industry, followed by food products, and least
important in the decorative segment.
It can be concluded that the combination of visual and verbal packaging elements strongly
influences consumer perception of a product. Visual design plays a crucial role in the first
impression, while textual information enhances trust and purchasing decisions
Impact du programme Erasmus+ sur l’éducation des adultes en Slovénie
No full textThe adoption of the Lisbon Strategy in 2000 marked the beginning of a European (adult) education policy defined by common goals, implementation tools and financial resources. Adult education (AE) policy is exercised in the form of “soft law” and supported by various governance mechanisms and policy instruments, such as funding schemes. The study reported on in this article examined the impact of the Erasmus+ programme on the AE system, its organisations, and the professional development of educators and learners participating in mobility exchanges in Slovenia. The study drew on research into European governance in AE. It also used mixed methods to explore the impact of Erasmus+ on AE in Slovenia at micro, meso and macro levels. Quantitative data were collected through a survey completed by 51 AE organisations. Qualitative data were gathered through document analysis of AE policies, five focus group discussions with 23 participants from selected AE organisations, three focus group discussions with 12 adult learners, and four individual interviews with decision makers and project coordinators. The findings point to the important role of Erasmus+ in the professional development of organisations, educators and learners engaged in non-vocational AE, and in supporting social goals and counterbalancing the dominant vocational orientation of European AE policy.L’adoption de la stratégie de Lisbonne en 2000 a marqué le début d’une politique européenne en matière d’éducation (des adultes) définie sur la base d’objectifs, d’outils de mise en œuvre et de ressources financières communs. Dans ce cadre, la politique d’éducation des adultes, qui s’exerce selon le « droit souple » (soft law), s’appuie sur différents mécanismes de gouvernance et instruments politiques, tels que des dispositifs de financement. L’étude présentée dans le présent article analyse l’impact du programme Erasmus+ sur le système slovène d’éducation des adultes, ses organisations, ainsi que sur le développement professionnel des éducateurs et des apprenants ayant participé à des mobilités d’échanges en Slovénie. Elle est étayée par des recherches sur la gouvernance européenne en matière d’éducation des adultes et recourt à des méthodes mixtes pour évaluer les effets du programme à trois niveaux : micro, méso et macro. Les données quantitatives ont été recueillies par le biais d’une enquête menée auprès de 51 organisations d’éducation des adultes. Les données qualitatives sont extraites d’une analyse documentaire des politiques nationales d’éducation des adultes, et ont été également réalisées sur la base de cinq groupes de discussions réunissant 23 participants issus d’organisations sélectionnées, de trois autres groupes de discussions composés de 12 apprenants adultes et de quatre entretiens individuels avec des décideurs politiques et coordinateurs de projets. Les résultats soulignent le rôle important d’Erasmus+ dans le développement professionnel des organisations, des éducateurs et des apprenants impliqués dans l’éducation des adultes non professionnelle. Ils contribuent aussi éminemment à la promotion des objectifs sociaux et au rééquilibrage de la politique européenne d’éducation des adultes principalement axée sur la formation professionnelle
Impact of flexible net barriers on torrential processes under different hydrological conditions, including the extreme flood of August 2023 in Slovenia
No full textClimate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of water-related hazards such as debris flows and other types of mass movements. Therefore, mitigation measures need to be carefully planned to protect infrastructures and communities. In this study, the effects of flexible net barriers on erosion and sediment transport processes, as well as geomorphological changes in two typical alpine torrents are investigated. Special attention is paid to the extreme flood event of August 2023 in Slovenia. The results show that the flexible net barriers were able to retain large amounts of sediment and protect downstream infrastructure despite the extreme rainfall with a return period of over 250 years. During the extreme event in August, high impacts were detected by monitoring devices at several locations withing the investigated area. During the extreme event, around 2000 m of material was trapped behind the flexible net barriers in the Brezovški graben, while between the barriers, there were also sections where erosion processes took place. The amount of net erosion due to the August 2023 event was estimated at around 1500 m in the investigated area (i.e., 0.063 km) of the Brezovški graben. The flexible net barriers proved to be an effective solution for mitigating the torrential hazards since the sediment transport dynamic after the August 2023 event decreased. Data acquisition using remote sensing methods enables us to enhance the understanding of torrential processes
Direct products for the Hamiltonian density property
No full textWe show that the direct product of two Stein manifolds with the Hamiltonian density property enjoys the Hamiltonian density property as well. We investigate the relation between the Hamiltonian density property and the symplectic density property. We then establish the Hamiltonian and the symplectic density property for and for the so-called traceless Calogero-Moser spaces. As an application we obtain a Carleman-type approximation for Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms of a real form of the traceless Calogero-Moser space
Mapping dental biofilms
No full textObjectives Conventional plaque assessment methods, such as clinical indices and planimetry, rely on plaque-disclosing agents and may overemphasize thin biofilm areas due to plaque thickness variations. This study introduces a digital 3D method to quantify and visualize dental plaque volume from consecutive intraoral scans (IOS) and compares it with the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPlI) and planimetry.
Methods After professional supragingival debridement at baseline (T0), fifteen participants refrained from oral hygiene for four days (T4). De novo plaque formation was assessed at T4 using TMQHPlI after application of a two-tone (pink/purple) plaque-disclosing agent. IOSs (3Shape TRIOS 4) were obtained at T0 and T4. Plaque accumulation was quantified using color-coded IOS comparisons with the Volumetric Plaque Index (VPI) and Adjusted VPI (AVPI). Machine learning (Trainable Weka Segmentation) was used to calculate the Planimetric Plaque Index (PPI).
Results A correlation between plaque surface area and volume was observed only for purple/mature plaque (p = 0.043). Early plaque growth was dominated by expansion of pink-stained, newly formed plaque. Once more than one-third of the surface was covered, further increases resulted mainly from vertical thickening rather than lateral spread.
Conclusions 3D volumetric analysis offers a comprehensive, objective, and clinician-friendly method for assessing dental biofilms.
Clinical relevance The proposed 3D approach enables accurate monitoring of plaque accumulation and maturation, improving personalized oral hygiene assessment, patient education, and clinical decision-making
Carleman approximation by non-critical functions on Riemann surfaces
No full textWe present the class of semi-admissible subsets of an open Riemann surface on which Carleman approximation by non-critical holomorphic functions is possible. In particular we characterize closed sets with empty interior on which continuous functions can be approximated by non-critical holomorphic ones. We also consider a different approach, which in some cases gives uniform approximation by non-critical holomorphic functions on more general sets than semi-admissible ones
Upfront carbon emissions in Slovenian apartment buildings
No full textThe upfront embodied carbon emissions of a selected sample of seven multi-apartment buildings are evaluated. Specifically, the focus is to analyse how the car parking infrastructure influences the results. Four parking solutions are studied: a) surface lot parking, b) building-integrated base floor parking, c) underground parking garage and d) detached above-ground parking garage. The buildings from the selected projects can be described as standard energy-efficient buildings. Reinforced concrete elements compose the building structures except for one project, which used a cross-laminated timber structure. The system boundaries of the study include upfront greenhouse gas emissions due to the production stage (A1–A3 modules according to EN 15978). The carbon footprint is described by three global warming potential (GWP) indicators, presenting the total, biogenic and fossil sub-categories (as defined in EN 15804+A2). The functional unit includes the respective projects’ residential buildings and parking infrastructure. The GWP results of the projects are compared via various normalisation bases (per housing unit number, resident and floor area). The results display that parking can significantly influence the project-related upfront carbon emissions. The overall contribution can be small (approximately 4 %) for surface lot parking, whereas it can reach up to 52 % in the case of underground parking garages. The per parking space associated impact of underground parking garages is, on average, 10 times higher than for surface lots, 80 % higher compared to the detached above-ground parking garage and 33 % higher than the building-integrated base floor parking options. The results showcase the complexity of residential building carbon emissions evaluation, showing that selecting a particular parking space solution can overshadow the benefits of low-emission design alternatives. Additionally, methodological dilemmas regarding the inclusion/exclusion of parking facilities in LCA calculations are discussed
