From Chapter 1: Among the many problems that the sweet industry in this country has had to overcome was the prejudice which favoured imported confectionery as against the local product. Fortunately this prejudice is slowly disappearing, firstly because imported sweets are largely unobtainable, and, secondly because the quality of the South African manufactured article has improved tremendously. Both the quantity and value of sweets produced in this country have increased over the last decade...

Thesis PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Minnows and darters are the most imperiled freshwater fish species in North America as a result of habitat degradation and restricted ranges, which often results in isolated populations. The Candy Darter Etheostoma osburni was recently listed as Endangered and may represent a suite of other imperiled fishes in terms of their ecology, life-history traits, and conservation needs. I examined the effects of microhabitat features, sampling effort, species abundance and morphology on riffle-dwelling species. My results confirm many of the well-known influences on detection, while adding to the knowledge of species-specific attributes that can influence detection of common riffle species. Using physical marking and molecular methods, I describe movement patterns and provide insight into the spatial distribution of related pairs and reproductive contribution of the endangered Candy Darter. Minimum detected movements of adults were greater for molecular methods than for visual markings. Indirect movements inferred from the spatial extent between related pairs indicated that parents and offspring move along their entire 18.8-km distribution in Stony Creek, while individual parents and offspring in Laurel Creek move throughout half of their 4.25-km distribution. Additionally, I provide evidence that the lifetime reproductive contribution of Candy Darter is greater than previously described. Using microsatellite DNA markers, I describe population genetic structure and estimate effective population sizes of the four extant populations of Candy Darter in Virginia and provide insight into which populations may be successful as sources for reintroduction or translocation efforts. The four extant populations in Virginia are demographically isolated, but results also suggest historical connectivity. Effective population estimates for all populations were less than the recommended 500 to maintain evolutionary potential, but three populations numbered > 130, indicating they may be viable options for source populations for translocations. My results suggest that all populations may benefit from translocations to overcome genetic drift and inbreeding and to safeguard the historical genetic variation of the species. / Master of Science / Minnows and darters are the most imperiled freshwater fish species in North America as a result of habitat degradation and restricted ranges, which often results in isolated populations. The Candy Darter Etheostoma osburni was recently listed as Endangered and may represent a suite of other imperiled fishes in terms of their ecology, life-history traits, and conservation needs. I examined the effects of microhabitat features, sampling effort, species abundance and morphology on riffle-dwelling species. My results confirm many of the well-known influences on detection, while adding to the knowledge of species-specific attributes that can influence detection of common riffle species. Using physical marking and molecular methods, I describe movement patterns and provide insight into the spatial distribution of related pairs and reproductive contribution of the endangered Candy Darter. Minimum detected movements of adults were greater for molecular methods than for visual markings. Indirect movements inferred from the spatial extent between related pairs indicated that parents and offspring move along their entire 18.8-km distribution in Stony Creek, while individual parents and offspring in Laurel Creek move throughout half of their 4.25-km distribution. Additionally, I provide evidence that adult Candy Darter successfully reproduce over a greater number of years than previously described. Using microsatellite DNA markers, I describe population genetic structure and estimate the number of individuals contributing the gene pool of the four extant populations of Candy Darter in Virginia and provide insight into which populations may be successful as sources for reintroduction or translocation efforts. The four extant populations in Virginia are reproductively isolated, but results also suggest historical connectivity. The numbers of individuals contributing to population-specific gene pools were less than the recommended 500 to maintain evolutionary potential, but three populations numbered > 130, indicating they may be viable options for source populations for translocations. My results suggest that all populations may benefit from translocations to overcome genetic drift and inbreeding and to safeguard the historical genetic variation of the species.

Master of Science / Food Science / Sajid Alavi / Pulp/paste candy is popular in Mexico and is gaining popularity around the world. Pulp/paste candy is characterized as a soft, semi-fluid candy with particles in a colloidal suspension, typically squeezed out of the package for consumption. It is made by hydrating gums in water and mixing them with corn syrup, acid, powdered/pulverized sugar, and other minor ingredients yielding a product around 80°Brix and pH between 2-3. Over time the sucrose in the candy tends to invert, causing two types of failure: package leakage and solidification in package. Based on the findings of previous work from Molina-Rubio et al. (2010), a modified semi-liquid syrup model system was created with corn syrup, sugar, gums, and water. The model system was used to identify the influence these ingredients had on viscosity and texture since these factors are linked to the typical modes of failure in pulp/paste candy. An oscillatory sweep was used on a controlled force rheometer to identify the linear viscoelastic range. Oneway ANOVA with Tukey HSD was used to compare % total solids levels with complex viscosity at 0.1 rad/sec (there was a significant difference between all levels) and minimum tan (delta) (mid and high level were similar). Using a stepwise method, ANOVA models were generated that showed statistically significant effects on complex viscosity for gum level and sugar level as well as interactions (p < 0.05) between invert syrup-water, gum-water, and sugar type-water. The type of gum and the amount of corn syrup used didn’t significantly impact on the viscosity of the system. Using probe tests helped to analyze samples that were too thick for the rheometer. Analysis showed an inflection point for exponentially increased hardness (85-93%TS) that should be further investigated. The stepwise regression model generated for stickiness showed that the invert syrup-water interaction was significant along with gum type. These results are applicable to the confectionery industry and can help companies test and create a candy that meets the packaging and shelf life constraints that they desire. Targeting invert syrup-water levels and the hydration of the gum will have the most impact on the final product’s viscosity and stickiness, which are important for primary package filling and storage. To create an easy to eat candy, no invert syrup should be used in formulation and gellan gum would be better to use than xanthan. Higher solids (> 85%) should also be avoided since it would create a candy that is harder to squeeze out of the package due to higher viscosity and textural hardness.

Thesis advisor: Julie Holland Mortimer / Television ads have become as much a part of watching TV as the programs themselves. They are such a ubiquitous component of network and cable television that they have developed their own sub-culture; popular commercials get brought up in conversation, and many commercial actors become famous for portraying their respective characters. For how prevalent television advertising is and always has been, though, it’s amazing how little is known about advertiser demand. While many academics have conducted studies on the effects of advertising, little research has been steered towards understanding why advertisers choose to advertise when they do, especially within the context of advertising on TV. My research revolves around answering this question, as I attempt to establish patterns that can predict when firms will choose to advertise. By looking at data on past advertising trends, I try to find a sense of consistency across firms and across industries and then use that information to analyze and explain any observed changes in behavior during highly rated telecasts. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Economics.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56).

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The aim of this thesis was to increase understanding of King company success in the social mobile game industry by asking the question: How does a company manage to organize the innovation work in successful casual games within social mobile gaming industry? In order to answer it, we conducted a case study research with secondary data in which we examined the company to discover the elements that contribute to this success, despite a lack of research in how these kind of companies build their business model and strategies, highlighting the players' behaviour. Our findings conclude it is possible to success in social mobile game industry using incremental innovation in different aspects: games design, implementation of the games, and in the business model.  By applying this innovation, with a good viral strategy and giving the player the decision to play by free or purchasing virtual goods, King has been able to become the largest developer game company on Facebook.

The main goal of the Master's thesis is to find out if the Hershey Company, a traditional American producer of chocolate products, has a chance to succeed on the Czech market. In the first section we are introduced to methods of marketing situation analysis and market research. In the next part of the thesis is described the Hershey Company, its marketing mix and main competition on the market. The analytic part researches preferences of Czech consumers when buying chocolate products and also their attitude to broaden range of chocolate products caused by the entry of a new chocolate producer. The final part of the thesis provides recommendations for the company that result from analytic part of the Master's thesis.

Dark game design patterns are features used by game creators to manipulate the player to make certain choices. These patterns can lead to unintentional player actions causing negative experiences. In this descriptive user experience study, focused on the mobile game Candy Crush Saga, the dark patterns’ effect on desirability (whether something is fun and engaging) and the players’ decision to quit or continue to be a player due to the patterns were investigated. An online survey, where the participants were asked about their feelings towards five different dark patterns identified within Candy Crush Saga, was conducted and distributed by using Google Forms and Facebook. The survey received 60 responses from current and previous players of the game. The sample was not controlled and rather homogeneous, therefore it was not necessarily representative of the entire Candy Crush Saga audience. The analysis of the gathered data indicated correlation between the use of certain types of dark patterns and decreased desirability. Some variation could be detected between the effects of different dark patterns. Similarly, certain patterns had a stronger impact on the players’ decision to quit being a player and other patterns on the choice to continue. Four out of the five patterns studied were indicated as both a reason to quit for some and a reason to continue for others.  The results offer insight to game developers and businesses about the previously insufficiently studied connection between the dark game design patterns and their direct effects to the users’ perceived experience. It is apparent that a decrease in the use of certain dark patterns would contribute to  a more positive playing experience.