Customer reference marketing in a business to business context

This study focuses on the phenomenon of customer reference marketing in a business tobusiness (B to B) context. Although customer references are generally considered an important marketing and sales tool, the academic literature has paid surprisingly little attention to the phenomenon. The study suggests that customer references could be viewed as important marketing assets for industrial suppliers, and the ability to build, manage and leverage customer reference portfolios systematically constitutes a relevant marketing capability. The role of customer references is examined in the context of the industrial suppliers' shift towards a solution and project orientation and in the light of the on going changes in the project business. Suppliers in several industry sectors are undergoing a change from traditional equipment manufacturing towards project and solution oriented business. It is argued in this thesis that the high complexity, the project oriented nature and the intangible service elements that characterise many contemporary B to B offerings further increase the role of customer references. The study proposes three mechanisms of customer reference marketing: status transfer, validation through testimonials and the demonstration of experience and prior performance. The study was conducted in the context of Finnish B to B process technology and information technology companies. The empirical data comprises 38 interviews with managers of four case companies, 165 customer reference descriptions gathered from six case companies' Web sites, as well as company internal material. The findings from the case studies show that customer references have various external and internal functions that contribute to the growth and performance of B to B firms. Externally, customer references bring status transfer effects from reputable customers, concretise and demonstrate complex solutions, and provide indirect evidence of experience, previous performance, technological functionality and delivered customer value. They can also be leveraged internally to facilitate organisational learning and training, advance offering development, and motivate personnel. Major reference projects create new business opportunities and can be used as a vehicle for strategic change. The findings of the study shed light on the on going changing orientations in the project business environment, increase understanding of the variety of ways in which customer references can be deployed as marketing assets, and provide a framework of the relevant tasks and activities related to building, managing and leveraging a firm's customer reference portfolio. The findings contribute to the industrial marketing research, to the literature on marketing assets and capabilities and to the literature on projects and solutions. The proposed functions and mechanisms of customer reference marketing bring a more thorough and structured understanding about the essence and characteristics of the phenomenon and give a wide ranging view of the role of customer references as marketing assets for B to B firms. The study suggests several managerial implications for industrial suppliers in order to systematise customer reference marketing efforts.

De Marco Tullio Cicerone, ut politico, non plane imitando

Dedicatio: Carolus Frid. Meinander.

The Regulation of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Blood Flow in Humans. Studies by positron emission tomography with special reference to exercise, adenosine and nitric oxide

Virtually every cell and organ in the human body is dependent on a proper oxygen supply. This is taken care of by the cardiovascular system that supplies tissues with oxygen precisely according to their metabolic needs. Physical exercise is one of the most demanding challenges the human circulatory system can face. During exercise skeletal muscle blood flow can easily increase some 20-fold and its proper distribution to and within muscles is of importance for optimal oxygen delivery. The local regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise remains little understood, but adenosine and nitric oxide may take part in this process. In addition to acute exercise, long-term vigorous physical conditioning also induces changes in the cardiovasculature, which leads to improved maximal physical performance. The changes are largely central, such as structural and functional changes in the heart. The function and reserve of the heart’s own vasculature can be studied by adenosine infusion, which according to animal studies evokes vasodilation via it’s a_2A receptors. This has, however, never been addressed in humans in vivo and also studies in endurance athletes have shown inconsistent results regarding the effects of sport training on myocardial blood flow. This study was performed on healthy young adults and endurance athletes and local skeletal and cardiac muscle blod flow was measured by positron emission tomography. In the heart, myocardial blood flow reserve and adenosine A_2A receptor density, and in skeletal muscle, oxygen extraction and consumption was also measured. The role of adenosine in the control of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise, and its vasodilator effects, were addressed by infusing competitive inhibitors and adenosine into the femoral artery. The formation of skeletal muscle nitric oxide was also inhibited by a drug, with and without prostanoid blockade. As a result and conclusion, it can be said that skeletal muscle blood flow heterogeneity decreases with increasing exercise intensity most likely due to increased vascular unit recruitment, but exercise hyperemia is a very complex phenomenon that cannot be mimicked by pharmacological infusions, and no single regulator factor (e.g. adenosine or nitric oxide) accounts for a significant part of exercise-induced muscle hyperemia. However, in the present study it was observed for the first time in humans that nitric oxide is not only important regulator of the basal level of muscle blood flow, but also oxygen consumption, and together with prostanoids affects muscle blood flow and oxygen consumption during exercise. Finally, even vigorous endurance training does not seem to lead to supranormal myocardial blood flow reserve, and also other receptors than A_2A mediate the vasodilator effects of adenosine. In respect to cardiac work, atheletes heart seems to be luxuriously perfused at rest, which may result from reduced oxygen extraction or impaired efficiency due to pronouncedly enhanced myocardial mass developed to excel in strenuous exercise.

Vaihtosuuntaajan reaaliaikainen lämpömalli

Vaihtosuuntaajan IGBT-moduulin liitosten lämpötiloja ei voida suoraan mitata, joten niiden arviointiin tarvitaan reaaliaikainen lämpömalli. Tässä työssä on tavoitteena kehittää tähän tarkoitukseen C-kielellä implementoitu ratkaisu, joka on riittävän tarkka ja samalla mahdollisimman laskennallisesti tehokas. Ohjelmallisen toteutuksen täytyy myös sopia erilaisille moduulityypeille ja sen on tarvittaessa otettava huomioon saman moduulin muiden sirujen lämmittävä vaikutus toisiinsa. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen perusteella valitaan olemassa olevista lämpömalleista käytännön toteutuksen pohjaksi lämpöimpedanssimatriisiin perustuva malli. Lämpöimpedanssimatriisista tehdään Simulink-ohjelmalla s-tason simulointimalli, jota käytetään referenssinä muun muassa implementoinnin tarkkuuden verifiointiin. Lämpömalli tarvitsee tiedon vaihtosuuntaajan häviöistä, joten työssä on selvitetty eri vaihtoehtoja häviölaskentaan. Lämpömallin kehittäminen s-tason mallista valmiiksi C-kieliseksi koodiksi on kuvattu tarkasti. Ensin s-tason malli diskretoidaan z-tasoon. Z-tason siirtofunktiot muutetaan puolestaan ensimmäisen kertaluvun differenssiyhtälöiksi. Työssä kehitetty monen aikatason lämpömalli saadaan jakamalla ensimmäisen kertaluvun differenssiyhtälöt eri aikatasoille suoritettavaksi sen mukaan, mikä niiden kuvaileman termin vaatima päivitysnopeus on. Tällainen toteutus voi parhaimmillaan kuluttaa alle viidesosan kellojaksoja verrattuna suoraviivaiseen yhden aikatason toteutukseen. Implementoinnin tarkkuus on hyvä. Implementoinnin vaatimia suoritusaikoja testattiin Texas Instrumentsin TMS320C6727- prosessorilla (300 MHz). Esimerkkimallin laskemisen määritettiin kuluttavan vaihtosuuntaajan toimiessa 5 kHz kytkentätaajuudella vain 0,4 % prosessorin kellojaksoista. Toteutuksen tarkkuus ja laskentakapasiteetin vähäinen vaatimus mahdollistavat lämpömallin käyttämisen lämpösuojaukseen ja lisäämisen osaksi muuta jo prosessorilla olemassa olevaa systeemiä.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 and its Receptors in The Growth and Angiogenesis of Experimental Breast Cancer . With Special Reference to Thrombospondin-1 as a Novel Target Gene for FGF-8

The growth of breast cancer is regulated by hormones and growth factors. Recently, aberrant fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling has been strongly implicated in promoting the progression of breast cancer and is thought to have a role in the development of endocrine resistant disease. FGFs mediate their auto- and paracrine signals through binding to FGF receptors 1-4 (FGFR1-4) and their isoforms. Specific targets of FGFs in breast cancer cells and the differential role of FGFRs, however, are poorly described. FGF-8 is expressed at elevated levels in breast cancer, and it has been shown to act as an angiogenic, growth promoting factor in experimental models of breast cancer. Furthermore, it plays an important role in mediating androgen effects in prostate cancer and in some breast cancer cell lines. We aimed to study testosterone (Te) and FGF-8 regulated genes in Shionogi 115 (S115) breast cancer cells, characterise FGF-8 activated intracellular signalling pathways and clarify the role of FGFR1, -2 and -3 in these cells. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, was recognised as a Te and FGF-8 regulated gene. Te repression of TSP-1 was androgen receptor (AR)-dependent. It required de novo protein synthesis, but it was independent of FGF-8 expression. FGF-8, in turn, downregulated TSP-1 transcription by activating the ERK and PI3K pathways, and the effect could be reversed by specific kinase inhibitors. Differential FGFR1-3 action was studied by silencing each receptor by shRNA expression in S115 cells. FGFR1 expression was a prerequisite for the growth of S115 tumours, whereas FGFR2 expression alone was not able to promote tumour growth. High FGFR1 expression led to a growth advantage that was associated with strong ERK activation, increased angiogenesis and reduced apoptosis, and all of these effects could be reversed by an FGFR inhibitor. Taken together, the results of this thesis show that FGF-8 and FGFRs contribute strongly to the regulation of the growth and angiogenesis of experimental breast cancer and support the evidence for FGF-FGFR signalling as one of the major players in breast cancers.

Customer reference marketing and utilization of social media as an integral part of customer references

The objective of this Bachelor's Thesis is to find out the role of social media in the B-to-B marketing environment of the information technology industry and to discover how IT-firms utilize social media as a part of their customer reference marketing. To reach the objectives the concepts of customer reference marketing and social media are determined. Customer reference marketing can be characterized as one of the most practically relevant but academically relatively overlooked ways in which a company can leverage its customers and delivered solutions and use them as references in its marketing activities. We will cover which external and internal functions customer references have, that contribute to the growth and performance of B-to-B firms. We also address the three mechanisms of customer reference marketing which are 'status transfer', 'validation through testimonials' and 'demonstration of experience and prior performance'. The concept of social media stands for social interaction and creation of user-based content which exclusively occurs through Internet. The social media are excellent tools for networking because of the fast and easy access, easy interaction and vast amount of multimedia attributes. The allocation of social media is determined. The case company helps clarify the specific characteristics of social media usage as part of customer-reference-marketing activities. For IT-firms the best channels to utilize social media in their customer reference marketing activities are publishing and distribution services of content and networking services.

Segregation of powder mixtures in silos with particular reference to dry mineral-based construction materials

Segregering eller segregation är ett fenomen som kan förekomma inom olika områden av samhället. Inom samhällsvetenskaperna kan segregering definieras som det rumsliga åtskiljandet av befolkningsgrupper på urval av ras eller etniskt ursprung, kön, social härkomst, religion, ålder, yrke, osv. Segregering av befolkningsgrupper sker ofta mer eller mindre frivilligt och är motsatsen till integration. Inom partikelteknologi definieras segregering oftast som det rumsliga åtskiljandet av beståndsdelarna i en blandning av olika partiklar. Segregering sker då på urval av bl.a. partiklarnas storlek, densitet, form, elektrostatiska eller mekaniska egenskaper, och kan beskrivas som motsatsen till blandning. Segregeringsmekanismer används för att förklara hur och varför en partikelblandning segregerar samt vad slutresultatet i form av den rumsliga fördelningen av partiklarna blir till följd av att blandningen utsetts för en viss behandling. I denna avhandling har segregering av partikelblandningar och speciellt torra mineralbaserade byggmaterial (t.ex. murbruk) till följd av lagring i siloer studerats. Vid industriell produktion av mineralbaserade byggmaterial används siloer för korttidslagring av slutprodukterna precis innan förpackning. Segregering leder till kraftiga variationer i sammansättningen för partikelströmmen ut ur silon, vilket gör att slutprodukterna inte uppfyller kvalitetskraven och kan därmed inte säljas till kunder. Detta leder till arbetsam och dyr bearbetning (återcirkulation) av produkterna med påföljder för produktionsekonomin samt hållbara utvecklingen. I avhandlingen identifierades de väsentligaste segregeringsmekanismerna för torra mineralbaserade byggmaterial i siloer. Dessutom klargjordes effekterna av materialegenskaper, processbetingelser och siloparametrar. Slutligen behandlas möjliga åtgärder för minskning av partikelsegregering i siloer samt tillämpning av matematiska metoder för simulering av partikelflöden med hjälp av datorer.

Factors Affecting Cancer Behavior with Special Reference to Lymphatic Vessels, Macrophages, EGFR, and Pim-1 in Colorectal Cancer

Syövän käyttäytymiseen ja ennusteeseen vaikuttavat monet tekijät, muun muassa muutokset syöpäsoluissa sekä kasvainta ympäröivässä mikroympäristössä. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia uusia prediktiivisiä ja prognostisia ennustetekijöitä syöpäsoluissa (EGFR geenikopiomäärä, EGFR, onkogeeni pim-1) sekä syöpäkasvaimen mikroympäristöön kuuluvissa imuteissä (CLEVER-1, podoplaniini), makrofageissa (CD68, CLEVER-1) ja T lymfosyyteissä (CD3) kolorektaalisyövässä. Lisäksi tutkittiin imuteiden molekulaarisia ominaisuuksia tarkemmin (CD73, LYVE-1, podoplaniini) kuten myös lymfosyyttien ja dendriittisolujen liikennöintiä imuteissä. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat että korkea Pim-1 ekspressiotaso, suuri peritumoraalinen CD68+ makrofagimäärä sekä varhaisen vaiheen taudissa suuri CLEVER-1+ peritumoraalinen makrofagimäärä ovat hyvän ennusteen tekijöitä kolorektaalisyövässä. Metastaattisessa taudissa sen sijaan suuri määrä CLEVER-1+ makrofageja, sekä intra- että peritumoraalisesti, liittyy huonoon tautiennusteeseen. EGFR geenikopiomäärä, EGFR proteiinipitoisuuden ohjaaman hopea in situ hybridisaatiomenetelmän avulla määritettynä, ennusti vastetta anti-EGFR hoidolle metastaattisessa kolorektaalisyövässä tarkemmin kuin nykyisin rutiinisti käytössä oleva KRAS määritys. Lisäksi havaittiin että imutiet ovat monimuotoisia imutiemarkkeri ekspressionsa suhteen sekä normaali- että syöpäkudoksissa. CD73 molekyylin funktio imuteissä poikkesi selvästi molekyylin funktiosta verisuonissa. Yhteenvetona voidaan todeta että kolorektaalisyövän ennusteeseen vaikuttavien tekijöiden merkitys vaihtelee taudin levinneisyysasteen sekä imuteiden että makrofagien sijainnin perusteella. Korkea Pim-1 ilmentyminen on yhteydessä hyvään kolorektaalisyöpäennusteeseen. Lisäksi EGFR geenikopiomäärä osoittautui lupaavaksi uudeksi prediktiiviseksi ennustetekijäksi KRAS villintyypin metastaattista kolorektaalisyöpää sairastavilla potilailla.

Factors predicting mortality in type 2 diabetes. With special reference to physical exercise, blood pressure, proteinuria, inflammation and P wave duration

Background: Type 2 diabetes patients have a 2-4 fold risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. In type 2 diabetes, several CVD risk factors have been identified, including obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, proteinuria, sedentary lifestyle and dyslipidemia. Although much of the excess CVD risk can be attributed to these risk factors, a significant proportion is still unknown. Aims: To assess in middle-aged type 2 diabetic subjects the joint relations of several conventional and non-conventional CVD risk factors with respect to cardiovascular and total mortality. Subjects and methods: This thesis is part of a large prospective, population based East-West type 2 diabetes study that was launched in 1982-1984. It includes 1,059 middle-aged (45-64 years old) participants. At baseline, a thorough clinical examination and laboratory measurements were performed and an ECG was recorded. The latest follow-up study was performed 18 years later in January 2001 (when the subjects were 63-81 years old). The study endpoints were total mortality and mortality due to CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Results: Physically more active patients had significantly reduced total, CVD and CHD mortality independent of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels unless proteinuria was present. Among physically active patients with a hs-CRP level >3 mg/L, the prognosis of CVD mortality was similar to patients with hs-CRP levels ≤3 mg/L. The worst prognosis was among physically inactive patients with hs-CRP levels >3 mg/L. Physically active patients with proteinuria had significantly increased total and CVD mortality by multivariate analyses. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients with proteinuria and a systolic BP <130 mmHg had a significant increase in total and CVD mortality compared to those with a systolic BP between 130 and 160 mmHg. The prognosis was similar in patients with a systolic BP <130 mmHg and ≥160 mmHg. Among patients without proteinuria, a systolic BP <130 mmHg was associated with a non-significant reduction in mortality. A P wave duration ≥114 ms was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in stroke mortality among patients with prevalent CHD or claudication. This finding persisted in multivariable analyses. Among patients with no comorbidities, there was no relationship between P wave duration and stroke mortality. Conclusions: Physical activity reduces total and CVD mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes without proteinuria or with elevated levels of hs-CRP, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of physical activity can counteract increased CVD morbidity and mortality associated with a high CRP level. In patients with proteinuria the protective effect was not, however, present. Among patients with proteinuria, systolic BP <130 mmHg may increase mortality due to CVD. These results demonstrate the importance of early intervention to prevent CVD and to control all-cause mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes. The presence of proteinuria should be taken into account when defining the target systolic BP level for prevention of CVD deaths. A prolongation of the duration of the P wave was associated with increased stroke mortality among high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes. P wave duration is easy to measure and merits further examination to evaluate its importance for estimation of the risk of stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Characterisation of waste for combustion : with special reference to the role of zinc

Waste combustion has gone from being a volume reducing discarding-method to an energy recovery process for unwanted material that cannot be reused or recycled. Different fractions of waste are used as fuel today, such as; municipal solid waste, refuse derived fuel, and solid recovered fuel. Furthermore, industrial waste, normally a mixture between commercial waste and building and demolition waste, is common, either as separate fuels or mixed with, for example, municipal solid waste. Compared to fossil or biomass fuels, waste mixtures are extremely heterogeneous, making it a complicated fuel. Differences in calorific values, ash content, moisture content, and changing levels of elements, such as Cl and alkali metals, are common in waste fuel. Moreover, waste contains much higher levels of troublesome trace elements, such as Zn, which is thought to accelerate a corrosion process. Varying fuel quality can be strenuous on the boiler system and may cause fouling and corrosion of heat exchanger surfaces. This thesis examines waste fuels and waste combustion from different angles, with the objective of giving a better understanding of waste as an important fuel in today’s fuel economy. Several chemical characterisation campaigns of waste fuels over longer time periods (10-12 months) was used to determine the fossil content of Swedish waste fuels, to investigate possible seasonal variations, and to study the presence of Zn in waste. Data from the characterisation campaigns were used for thermodynamic equilibrium calculations to follow trends and determine the effect of changing concentrations of various elements. The thesis also includes a study of the thermal behaviour of Zn and a full—scale study of how the bed temperature affects the volatilisation of alkali metals and Zn from the fuel. As mixed waste fuel contains considerable amounts of fresh biomass, such as wood, food waste, paper etc. it would be wrong to classify it as a fossil fuel. When Sweden introduced waste combustion as a part of the European Union emission trading system in the beginning of 2013 there was a need for combustion plants to find a usable and reliable method to determine the fossil content. Four different methods were studied in full-scale of seven combustion plants; 14Canalysis of solid waste, 14C-analysis of flue gas, sorting analysis followed by calculations, and a patented balance method that is using a software program to calculate the fossil content based on parameters from the plant. The study showed that approximately one third of the coal in Swedish waste mixtures has fossil origins and presented the plants with information about the four different methods and their advantages and disadvantages. Characterisation campaigns also showed that industrial waste contain higher levels of trace elements, such as Zn. The content of Zn in Swedish waste fuels was determined to be approximately 800 mg kg-1 on average, based on 42 samples of solid waste from seven different plants with varying mixtures between municipal solid waste and industrial waste. A review study of the occurrence of Zn in fuels confirmed that the highest amounts of Zn are present in waste fuels rather than in fossil or biomass fuels. In tires, Zn is used as a vulcanizing agent and can reach concentration values of 9600-16800 mg kg-1. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment is the second Zn-richest fuel and even though on average Zn content is around 4000 mg kg-1, the values of over 19000 mg kg-1 were also reported. The increased amounts of Zn, 3000-4000 mg kg-1, are also found in municipal solid waste, sludge with over 2000 mg kg-1 on average (some exceptions up to 49000 mg kg-1), and other waste derived fuels (over 1000 mg kg-1). Zn is also found in fossil fuels. In coal, the average level of Zn is 100 mg kg-1, the higher amount of Zn was only reported for oil shale with values between 20-2680 mg kg-1. The content of Zn in biomass is basically determined by its natural occurrence and it is typically 10-100 mg kg-1. The thermal behaviour of Zn is of importance to understand the possible reactions taking place in the boiler. By using thermal analysis three common Zn-compounds were studied (ZnCl2, ZnSO4, and ZnO) and compared to phase diagrams produced with thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The results of the study suggest that ZnCl2(s/l) cannot exist readily in the boiler due to its volatility at high temperatures and its conversion to ZnO in oxidising conditions. Also, ZnSO4 decomposes around 680°C, while ZnO is relatively stable in the temperature range prevailing in the boiler. Furthermore, by exposing ZnO to HCl in a hot environment (240-330°C) it was shown that chlorination of ZnO with HCl gas is possible. Waste fuel containing high levels of elements known to be corrosive, for example, Na and K in combination with Cl, and also significant amounts of trace elements, such as Zn, are demanding on the whole boiler system. A full-scale study of how the volatilisation of Na, K, and Zn is affected by the bed temperature in a fluidised bed boiler was performed parallel with a lab-scale study with the same conditions. The study showed that the fouling rate on deposit probes were decreased by 20 % when the bed temperature was decreased from 870°C to below 720°C. In addition, the lab-scale experiments clearly indicated that the amount of alkali metals and Zn volatilised depends on the reactor temperature.

Open African Reference Pathology Data Center

Poster at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Value-based Reference Marketing in a Small Process Industry Software and Service Company

This master’s thesis was done for a small company, Vipetec Oy, which offers specialized technological services for companies mainly in forest industry. The study was initiated partly because the company wants to expand its customer base to a new industry. There were two goals connected to each other. First was to find out how much and what kind of value current customers have realized from ATA Process Event Library, one of the products that the company offers. Second was to determine the best way to present this value and its implications for future value potential to both current and potential customers. ATA helps to make grade and product changes, starting after machine downtime, and recovery from production break faster for customers. All three events sometimes occur in production line. The faster operation results to savings in time and material. In addition to ATA Vipetec also offers other services related to development of automation and optimization of controls. Theoretical part concentrates on the concept of value, how it can be delivered to customers, and what kind of risk customer faces in industrial purchasing. Also the function of reference marketing towards customers is discussed. In the empirical part the realized value for existing customers is evaluated based on both numerical data and interviews. There’s also a brief case study about one customer. After that the value-based reference marketing for a target industry is examined through interviews of these potential customers. Finally answers to the research questions are stated and compared also to the theoretical knowledge about the subject. Results show that those customers’ machines which use the full service concept of ATA usually are able to save more time and material than the machines which use only some features of the product. Interviews indicated that sales arguments which focus on improved competitive status are not as effective as current arguments which focus on numerical improvements. In the case of potential customers in the new industry, current sales arguments likely work best for those whose irregular production situations are caused mainly by fault situations. When the actions of Vipetec were compared to ten key elements of creating customer references, it was seen that many of them the company has either already included in its strategy or has good chances to include them with the help of the results of this study.

Heart rate variability in young adults - Reference values and associations with cardiometabolic risk factors and vascular properties. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Background: The function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) can be evaluated with heart rate variability (HRV). Decreased HRV is associated with aging, the male sex, increased heart rate, and overall increased cardiometabolic risk. It has been hypothesized that early atherosclerotic vascular changes and ANS function are related. Aims: The aims were to assess reference values on HRV in young adults, and examine associations with HRV and cardiometabolic risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to study relations between HRV and ultrasonographically measured vascular properties. Participants and methods: The present thesis is part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. The thesis is based on the follow-up study in 2001, when the study individuals were 24-39 years of age. HRV data were available on 1 956 individuals. Results: HRV was inversely associated with age and heart rate (for all p<0.001). Highfrequency HRV (HF) was higher, and low-frequency HRV (LF) lower in women than men (p<0.0001 for both). MetS was associated with 11% decreased HF and 12% increased LF/HF-ratio in women, and 8% decreased HF and 4% increased LF/HF-ratio in men. Carotid artery distensibility was independently associated with HF and total HRV (for both p<0.05). Conclusions: The reference values in young adults were generated. Decreased HRV was associated with age, the male sex and increased heart rate. Women had higher HF and lower LF variability than men. MetS was related to decrease in HRV. The observed associations between carotid elasticity and HRV, supports the hypothesis that reduction in carotid elasticity may lead to decrease in autonomic cardiac control.