University of Mannheim

About: University of Mannheim is a education organization based out in Mannheim, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 4448 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 446557 citations. The organization is also known as: Uni Mannheim & UMA.

The impact of administration mode on response effects in survey measurement

Abstract: The major differences between face-to-face and telephone interviews as well as self-administered questionnaires are reviewed and are related to the cognitive and communicative processes assumed to underlie the process of question answering. Based on these considerations the impact of administration mode on the emergence of well-known response effects in survey measurement is discussed, and relevant experimental evidence is reported. It is concluded that administration mode affects the emergence of question order and context effects; the emergence of response order effects; the validity of retrospective reports; and the degree of socially desirable responding. The emergence of question wording and question form effects, on the other hand, appears to be relatively independent of administration mode.

Survey Methods in Multinational, Multiregional, and Multicultural Contexts

Abstract: This book provides up-to-date insight into key aspects of methodological research for comparative surveys. It discusses methodological considerations for surveys that are deliberately designed for ...

Glyoxalase-1 prevents mitochondrial protein modification and enhances lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract: Studies of mutations affecting lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans show that mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a major causative role in organismal aging. Here, we describe a novel mechanism for regulating mitochondrial ROS production and lifespan in C. elegans: progressive mitochondrial protein modification by the glycolysis-derived dicarbonyl metabolite methylglyoxal (MG). We demonstrate that the activity of glyoxalase-1, an enzyme detoxifying MG, is markedly reduced with age despite unchanged levels of glyoxalase-1 mRNA. The decrease in enzymatic activity promotes accumulation of MG-derived adducts and oxidative stress markers, which cause further inhibition of glyoxalase-1 expression. Over-expression of the C. elegans glyoxalase-1 orthologue CeGly decreases MG modifications of mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial ROS production, and prolongs C. elegans lifespan. In contrast, knock-down of CeGly increases MG modifications of mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial ROS production, and decreases C. elegans lifespan.

Catching up with change: The transformation of governance in the European Union

Abstract: Looking at the transformation of governance in the process of European integration confronts us with a puzzle. Member states have accepted an incremental transfer of sovereignty and regulatory power. Empirical evidence, however, gives proof of a rather unrestricted vitality to shape policies according to national preferences. In European policy‐making the balance between private and public interests seems to have shifted to the detriment of the latter. At the same time the very properties of the European polity enable public actors to escape capture. In order to gain a better understanding of the transformation of governance it might be helpful to take a different approach. It is not the change in terms of shifting power relations between different levels of government or between different categories of actors which is of interest, but changes in the practice of governing and the understanding of what governance is about.