Covid-19 has affected people’s lives due to the restrictions and recommendations. The Swedish public health authority urged the residents to abstain from being in indoor environments such as stores, therefore is the action seen as a misbehaviour. Meanwhile, city centres are dying, therefore are the consumers facing a difficult dilemma. The purpose of the present thesis was to investigate why consumers chose to shop in PRS during the pandemic and how the behaviour was justified. The thesis was written from a consumer's perspective and focuses on generation Z. The theoretical framework was based on hedonic and utilitarian motivations, which explains the consumers' motivation to shop in PRS while the Neutralization theory explains how the actions were justified. A qualitative study was used, and the empirical data was collected through a time- and event-contingent diary design. 17 participants were chosen through a convenience sample. A combination between three theories map out how consumers reasoning throughout the process. The findings showed that the pandemic had an impact on consumers behaviour and that both hedonic and utilitarian motivations affect consumer intentions to shop in PRS. The findings also showed that consumers frequently justified their action by referring to the fact that the restrictions and recommendations were followed. We also found a pattern on how different motivations are justified similarly.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第23392号 / 人博第1005号 / 新制||人||237(附属図書館) / 2021||人博||1005(吉田南総合図書館) / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻 / (主査)准教授 三浦 智行, 教授 川本 卓男, 准教授 西川 完途 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

In the light of Michael Walters’s declarations on the relationship of the perpetrator to the offense based on the theory of techniques of neutralization the article sets its sights on the structuring of in-house compliance programs in order to ensure internally prevention measures. In doing so the author states that those compliance programs should primarily rely on creating an atmosphere in which common neutralization strategies are not accepted. In order to be successful the companies need in-depth programs, which are goal-oriented. But there has to be a company interest in compliance as well. The “tone from the top” plays an important role when it comes to neutralization strategies. The essay shows the meaning of techniques of neutralization within the area of applied economic criminology.

no / This study presents an investigation of the mutual coupling between two printed elements antenna for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna performance. It consists of two crescent shaped radiators placed symmetrically, and a neutralization line is applied to improve the mutual coupling. Theoretical and experimental characteristics are presented and compared. The antenna yields an achieved impedance bandwidth of 18.67 % (over 2.04–2.46 GHz) with a reflection coefficient <−10 dB and mutual coupling minimization of <−20 dB in addition to a reasonable and stable radiation pattern and envelope correlation.

Yes / Based on an empirical investigation in the context of Romania, this paper identifies a moderating role of neutralization techniques within ethically questionable consumer behavior. The quantitative study is based upon a synthesized model of Theory of Planned Behavior incorporating the factor of perceived unfairness and neutralization techniques. Significantly, neutralization techniques are shown to have a negative, but definite impact on the action to behave unethically. This leads to their consideration as a process of thinking, rather than as static judgement. As such, neutralization techniques are conceptually distinctive to the other factors. The paper analyses the results specific to the Romanian context, but noting implications for an understanding of the morality of markets with similar historical, political and economic conditions. Overall, the findings offer a more nuanced reading of consumer behavior. The paper places moral flexibility in terms of a specific cultural context, but also reveals how neutralization techniques can moderate ethically questionable behaviors beyond matters of self-interest, which in turn has implications for how companies can consider their responsibilities in relation to their customers.

Recent empirical evidence suggests that we have entered a new period of courtship known as the hookup era. Contemporary research which explores hooking up has confirmed the prevalence of this dating script, particularly within post-secondary institutions. The relevant literature has focused on a variety of important issues including the conceptual meaning of hooking up and the identification of potential correlates and consequences of these behaviours. Despite this increase in scholarly interest, several problems remain unaddressed. Principal among these is the way(s) in which young women mediate the self-perceived risks involved in the sexual exchange known as the hookup, so as to facilitate their participation in this culture. The current paper examines the controversy that is female hookup participation by investigating the risks – and subsequent negotiation of these risks – which women face in the hookup culture. Specifically, this paper makes use of detailed qualitative data gathered from a sample of female undergraduate students at a medium-sized Canadian university, in order to uncover the social processes by which female proponents of the hookup culture account for their actions to themselves and to others, in this the seemingly risky courtship script. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2013-07-31 19:46:46.027

This thesis presents a new approach to extend and reduce the transmission range in wireless systems. Conditioning is defined as purposeful electromagnetic interference that affects a wireless signal as it propagates through the air. This interference can be used constructively to enhance a signal and increase its energy, or destructively to reduce energy. The constraints and limitations of the technology are described as a system model, and a flow chart is used to describe the circuit process. Remaining theoretical in nature, practical circuit implementations are foregone in the interest of elementary simulations depicting the interactions of modulated signals as they experience phase mismatch. Amplitude modulation and frequency modulation are explored with using both positive and negative conditioning, and conclusions to whether one is more suitable than the other are made.

<p>Proteins are essential components of cells and are crucial for catalyzing reactions, signaling, recognition, motility, recycling, and structural stability. This diversity of function suggests that nature is only scratching the surface of protein functional space. Protein function is determined by structure, which in turn is determined predominantly by amino acid sequence. Protein design aims to explore protein sequence and conformational space to design novel proteins with new or improved function. The vast number of possible protein sequences makes exploring the space a challenging problem. </p><p>Computational structure-based protein design (CSPD) allows for the rational design of proteins. Because of the large search space, CSPD methods must balance search accuracy and modeling simplifications. We have developed algorithms that allow for the accurate and efficient search of protein conformational space. Specifically, we focus on algorithms that maintain provability, account for protein flexibility, and use ensemble-based rankings. We present several novel algorithms for incorporating improved flexibility into CSPD with continuous rotamers. We applied these algorithms to two biomedically important design problems. We designed peptide inhibitors of the cystic fibrosis agonist CAL that were able to restore function of the vital cystic fibrosis protein CFTR. We also designed improved HIV antibodies and nanobodies to combat HIV infections.</p> / Dissertation

Die vorliegende Arbeit hatte das Ziel, die Korrelation zwischen der Avidität der Anti-Masern-IgG-Antikörper und deren In-Vitro-Neutralisationsfähigkeit zu untersuchen, sowie mittels Datenbankanalyse die Seroprävalenz von schützenden Antikörpern gegen Masern und den Impfstatus der Kinder- und Jugendlichen festzustellen. Die lineare Korrelation zwischen Neutralisationsfähigkeit und Avidität war in dieser Stichprobe schwach (ρ=0,240, p=0,006). Für hohe IgG Konzentrationen über 1000 mIU/ml fand sich eine mittlere Korrelation zwischen Avidität und Neutralisationstiter (ρ=0,612; p<0,001). Bei den untersuchten Jahren von 1997 bis 2013 zur Seroprävalenz (n=8611) wiesen im Durchschnitt 93,4 % der Patienten IgG-Konzentrationen im positiven Bereich (>200 mIU/ml) auf. In allen Jahrgängen lag der Anteil über 90 %. Zur Ermittlung des Impfstatus wurde eine Stichprobe 2- bis 18-Jähriger aus dem Jahr 2012 untersucht. Insgesamt hatten 81,1 % die erste Masernimpfung erhalten. Die zweite Masernimpfung erhielten noch 59,7 % der Kinder und Jugendlichen.

Le vif intérêt et les nombreuses recherches qui portent de nos jours sur les membranes viennent de leurs applications dans le dessalement et l'adoucissement des eaux. En général, ces procédés membranaires sont plus efficaces, plus économiques, et écologiquement plus propres. Néanmoins, les techniques membranaires restent parfois plus onéreuses en investissement et/ou en entretien que certaines techniques conventionnelles, ce qui a sans doute limité la généralisation de leurs applications à très grandes échelles. Nous nous sommes alors proposés de contribuer à l'étude d'un procédé anciennement introduit, en l'occurrence la dialyse de neutralisation, afin de le valoriser et d'examiner certains principaux paramètres qui peuvent influencer son fonctionnement. L'application visée est le dessalement d'une eau de surface réelle qui provient du Nord de l'Afrique ou de certaines régions de la Tunisie comme la région de Skhira. Ainsi, nous allons simuler ce procédé par un système formé par une cellule pouvant inclure une membrane échangeuse d'anions et une autre échangeuse de cations formant ainsi trois compartiments contenant une solution basique, de l'eau à déminéraliser et une solution acide. Le premier chapitre est consacré à une synthèse bibliographique sur les membranes échangeuses d'ions, sur ses principales applications ainsi que sur ses différentes méthodes de modélisation et ses phénomènes de transport. Cette analyse bibliographique va nous permettre d'avoir une idée claire sur le fonctionnement d'une opération de dialyse de neutralisation. En plus d'une cellule à trois compartiments, il faut un montage expérimental pour assurer la circulation des solutions et les opérations de mises en route. Dans le second chapitre, nous avons travaillé avec une cellule de laboratoire pour optimiser l'opération de dialyse de neutralisation sur une eau reconstituée. Nous avons ainsi réalisé un plan d'expérience où l'influence de chaque paramètre a été examinée. Ensuite, dans le troisième chapitre, nous avons développé un modèle théorique de transfert de matière, basé sur les équations de Nernst-Planck, pour décrire le fonctionnement d'une telle opération. Enfin, dans le quatrième chapitre, nous avons mis en place le premier pilote de dialyse de neutralisation afin de le tester toujours avec une eau reconstituée ensuite sur une eau réelle. Suite à ça, nous évaluerons les performances de ce procédé pour de telles applications / The deep interest and the numerous researches that concern nowadays in the membranes comes from their applications in the water desalination. Generally, these membranes process are more effective, more economic, and ecologically more appropriate. Nevertheless, theses process remain sometimes more expensive in investment and/or in maintenance than certain conventional techniques. We then suggested contributing to the study of a process formerly introduced, in this particular case the dialysis of neutralization, in order to examinate certain main parameters which can influence the operating process. The aimed application is the desalination of real surface water which comes from the North of Africa or certain regions of Tunisia as region of Skhira. So, we are going to feign this process by a system formed by a cell which can include a cation and anion exchange membranes forming three compartments containing an alkaline solution, some water to be demineralized and an acidic solution. The first chapter is dedicated to a bibliographical synthesis on ions-exchange membranes, on its main applications as well as on its various methods of modelling and its phenomena of transport. This bibliographical analysis is going to allow us to have a clear idea on the functioning of an operation of neutralization dialysis. In the second chapter, we worked with a cell of laboratory to optimize the operation of neutralization dialysis on a reconstituted water. We so realized a factorial Design where the influence of every parameter was examined. Then, in the third chapter, we developed a theoretical model of ions transfer, based on the equations of Nernst-Planck, to describe the functioning of such an operation. Finally, in the fourth chapter, we set up the first pilot (driver) of dialysis of neutralization to test it always with a water reconstituted then on a real surface water. Further to that, we shall estimate the performances of this process for such applications