Le Cloud est devenu une plate-forme très répandue pour le déploiement d'applications distribuées. Beaucoup d'entreprises peuvent sous-traiter leurs infrastructures d'hébergement et, ainsi, éviter des dépenses provenant d'investissements initiaux en infrastructure et de maintenance.Des petites et moyennes entreprises, en particulier, attirés par le modèle de coûts sur demande du Cloud, ont désormais accès à des fonctionnalités comme le passage à l'échelle, la disponibilité et la fiabilité, qui avant le Cloud étaient presque réservées à de grandes entreprises.Les services du Cloud peuvent être offerts aux utilisateurs de plusieurs façons. Dans cette thèse, nous nous concentrons sur le modèle d'Infrastructure sous Forme de Service. Ce modèle permet aux utilisateurs d’accéder à des ressources de calcul virtualisés sous forme de machine virtuelles (MVs).Pour installer une application distribuée, un client du Cloud doit d'abord définir l'association entre son application et l'infrastructure. Il est nécessaire de prendre en considération des contraintesde coût, de ressource et de communication pour pouvoir choisir un ensemble de MVs provenant d'opérateurs de Cloud publiques et privés le plus adaptés. Cependant, étant donné la quantité exponentiel de configurations, la définition manuelle de l'association entre application et infrastructure peut être un challenge dans des scénarios à large échelle ou ayant des contraintes importantes de temps. En effet, ce problème est une généralisation du problème de calcul de homomorphisme de graphes, qui est NP-complet.Dans cette thèse, nous adressons le problème de calculer des placements initiaux et de reconfiguration pour des applications distribuées sur potentiellement de multiples Clouds. L'objectif est de minimiser les coûts de location et de migration en satisfaisant des contraintes de ressources et communications. Pour cela, nous proposons des heuristiques performantes capables de calculer des placements de bonne qualité très rapidement pour des scénarios à petite et large échelles. Ces heuristiques, qui sont basées sur des algorithmes de partition de graphes et de vector packing, ont été évaluées en les comparant avec des approches de l'état de l'art comme des solveurs exactes et des méta-heuristiques. Nous montrons en utilisant des simulations que les heuristiques proposées arrivent à calculer des solutions de bonne qualité en quelques secondes tandis que des autres approches prennent des heures ou jours pour les calculer. / The Cloud has become a very popular platform for deploying distributed applications. Today, virtually any credit card holder can have access to Cloud services. There are many different ways of offering Cloud services to customers. In this thesis we especially focus on theInfrastructure as a Service (IaaS), a model that, usually, proposes virtualized computing resources to costumers in the form of virtual machines (VMs). Thanks to its attractive pay-as-you-use cost model, it is easier for customers, specially small and medium companies, to outsource hosting infrastructures and benefit of savings related to upfront investments and maintenance costs. Also, customers can have access to features such as scalability, availability, and reliability, which previously were almost exclusive for large companies. To deploy a distributed application, a Cloud customer must first consider the mapping between her application (or its parts) to the target infrastructure. She needs to take into consideration cost, resource, and communication constraints to select the most suitable set of VMs, from private and public Cloud providers. However, defining a mapping manually may be a challenge in large-scale or time constrained scenarios since the number of possible configuration explodes. Furthermore, when automating this process, scalability issues must be taken into account given that this mapping problem is a generalization of the graph homomorphism problem, which is NP-complete.In this thesis we address the problem of calculating initial and reconfiguration placements for distributed applications over possibly multiple Clouds. Our objective is to minimize renting and migration costs while satisfying applications' resource and communication constraints. We concentrate on the mapping between applications and Cloud infrastructure. Using an incremental approach, we split the problem into three different parts and propose efficient heuristics that can compute good quality placements very quickly for small and large scenarios. These heuristics are based on graph partition and vector packing heuristics and have been extensively evaluated against state of the art approaches such as MIP solvers and meta-heuristics. We show through simulations that the proposed heuristics manage to compute solutions in a few seconds that would take many hours or days for other approaches to compute.

Since the introduction of the internet, to go on a shopping spree doesn’t require more than a computer or a smartphone. Channels of communication for companies to reach out to consumers has expanded, and personalized marketing is a fact. For physical retailers, product placement and merchandising in the department store is one way to compete against e-commerce and personalized marketing. The purpose of this study was to examine how department stores works with product placement and other means to reduce consumers buying decisions with regard to modern e-commerce and personalized marketing. With qualitative, semi-structured interviews. These where analyzed using theories built with behavioral patterns of the individual and of theories about product placement. The results showed that product placement´s main role is to keep customers in the store longer and attract customers to more purchasing decisions. E-commerce is considered according to the department stores to not pose any threat. To create added value for customers in department stores are just as important as product placement, which is the largest difference between e-commerce and department stores.

Background: To align with the new trend of using social media in the marketing mix, product placement has been adapted to social media platforms as one strategy to create attention. Especially on Instagram, product placements have gained popularity among companies. While scholars have focused on measuring the effectiveness of the strategy, suggesting that credibility is one component necessary for success, a gap in the research is illuminated when focusing on what makes a product placement on Instagram credible. Previous studies regarding credibility and its relation to traditional media have concluded that there are some factors essential in consumers’ credibility evaluation process. Since social media differs from traditional media, there was a need to investigate the applicability of credibility to the social media platform Instagram. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to examine key factors of product placement on Instagram that influence credibility. Method: To meet the purpose of this thesis a study with a mixed method research design was conducted. The qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the intention to discover how consumers evaluate credibility. The scales and items developed from the findings of the qualitative study were tested using a questionnaire to identify which factors that have the most influence on consumers’ credibility assessment. Conclusions: The overall findings indicate that consumers evaluate credibility based upon source, message and receiver characteristics. The empirical evidence suggests that the Expertise of influencer, Professionalism of picture, Trustworthiness of influencer, Connection to influencer and Causes of irritation are the factors that have the most influence on consumers’ credibility assessment of product placement on Instagram. The findings further implies that it is not only the factor itself that influence, credibility can additionally be transferred from one factor to another.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction / Sherri Martinie / Low success rates in developmental mathematics courses have caused a growing concern for many institutions including moderately selective four-year universities. As a result, institutions have adopted various course redesign models, such as the emporium and replacement models, which take advantage of interactive online learning tools. Though these models have proven successful for increasing completion rates in algebra intensive courses, the models do not address additional concerns for developmental students enrolled in liberal arts mathematics courses. The co-requisite model of instruction is an alternative pathway for students with developmental needs. This model allows students to enroll in the required general education gateway mathematics course concurrent with a developmental mathematics lab, which offers student-centered instruction and just-in-time support for student learning. This study examined the implementation of a co-requisite model of instruction, at one moderately selective four-year university, by investigating the potential of multiple variables for predicting student success.

This thesis is a study of the effects of lead placement and sample shape in the measurement of electrical resistivity.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Dorivar Ruiz Diaz / The appropriate management for phosphorus (P) fertilizer can have significant agronomic, economic, as well as environmental impact. Studies in Kansas have evaluated different management systems to determine best management practices (BMP). The first component of this dissertation is a comprehensive review of tillage system and P fertilizer placement interaction. This review included studies completed in the U.S. Midwest. Results of this review showed greater corn yields with conventional tillage and broadcast applications when soil test P levels (STP) were below 20 mg P kg⁻¹. However, soybean yield was highest in no-till systems with broadcast P fertilizer applications. The second component if this dissertation was a long-term study conducted in Kansas to evaluate the effect of P fertilizer placement on corn and soybean production. Results showed that under strip-tillage, P fertilizer placement significantly affected corn growth, but, seldom resulted in yield response difference among placement methods. Phosphorus application as starter fertilizer at planting showed the most consistent yield response. In addition to the agronomic aspect of this study, the third component of this dissertation consisted of an economic analysis using partial budgets calculated using both fixed and varying prices and costs to compare management practices. With decreased application costs associated with deep banding in strip-tillage system, net returns are greater than broadcast applications. The highest net responses were observed with starter P fertilizer applications. The fourth component of this dissertation included a study evaluating the effects of chelated fertilizer on nutrients, such as P, Fe, Mn, and Zn in soybean. Results from our study showed that both ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)+P and hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (HEDTA)+P resulted in greater concentrations and uptake of Fe and lower Mn uptake in soybean. However, the application of glucoheptonate (GCH)+P had no negative effect on Mn uptake compared to EDTA+P and HEDTA+P. Across locations, EDTA+P and HEDTA+P showed higher yield than GCH+P. The use of long-term studies and comprehensive reviews can provide a unique perspective and better understanding of the most appropriate BMPs for P fertilizer management. Many agronomic and environmental implications of P fertilizer management and the interactions with tillage systems and soils may only become noticeable after multiple years or in a variety of conditions.

Master of Science / Agronomy / Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz Suarez / The effect of tillage on crop yield, early growth, and soil nutrient stratification can be influenced by fertilizer placement. In addition, deeper root systems can enhance the crop ability to uptake water and nutrients. A thorough understanding of how these factors interact can result in increased grain yields and profitability for the producer. Three studies were completed to describe and evaluate different aspects of crop root system and response to fertilizer placement and tillage. The objective of the first study was to characterize the root system of two genotypes of corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) using image analysis in the greenhouse and in the field, as well as evaluate dry weight accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns by shoot and root plant parts for both crops. Two different genotypes of each crop were sampled during the growing season to access root characteristics such as biomass, length, surface area, average diameter and volume. Significant differences were found in corn where the P1151 AM hybrid had greater root length, surface area and volume than the P1105 AM hybrid. In soybean, the differences were found in nutrient uptake with overall greater nutrient uptake values for the poor drainage variety (PD) compared to the good drainage variety (GD). The objective of the second study was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement and tillage system on corn with different genotypes. Three fertilizer treatments were combined with two different corn genotypes selected based on contrasting root systems and two different tillage systems. The three fertilizer placements were sub-surface band, broadcast, and control. The two hybrids of corn used were a P1151 AM hybrid and P1105 AM hybrid. The two tillage systems were no-till (NT) and strip-till (ST). Corn hybrids showed different response in root biomass but did not show a consistent response in other characteristics evaluated. Broadcast and sub-surface band increased nutrient uptake and grain yields over the control but were not significantly different from each other. Tillage showed no difference in corn response. The objective of the third study was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement and tillage system on contrasting soybean genotypes. Three fertilizer treatments were combined with two different genotypes selected based on contrasting root systems and two different tillage operations. The three fertilizer placements were sub-surface band, broadcast, and control. The two varieties of soybean used were one recommended for poor drainage (PD) and one recommended for good drainage (GD). The two tillage operations were NT and ST. Soybean root biomass differences were observed by varieties. Sub-surface band treatment favored early soybean growth, biomass and P uptake at the V3 growth stage, but it did not turn into yield increase. Soybean grain yields did not respond to fertilization in this study. Yield was affected significantly by variety selection and response varies by site-year.

Thesis advisor: Celeste Wells / This paper explores how the visual components of product placement in film contribute to the goal of generating a positive brand attitude. Past research in this field has overlooked the visual aspects of product placement in favor of focusing on consumer recall. To address this gap, this study looks at three recent films, and evaluates them using visual analysis. Analysis revealed that visual components of film such as color, contrast, and lighting, as well as the positioning of the product, such as focus, motion, and camera angle, directed viewers’ attention to encourage cognitive processing of the branded area of the visual. This study also found that the visual components strengthen the association between the product and the protagonist, which is essential to generating a positive brand attitude. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Communication.

Thesis (M.M. (Strategic Marketing))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2014. / The world as we know it is rapidly transforming into what is frequently referred to by many scholars as the era of „postmodernism‟. The postmodern consumer is more flexible, instinctive, more individualistic in preference and needs, and builds an identity through the products he/she consumes. Postmodern consumers are exposed to increased levels of advertising clutter and are becoming difficult to reach via traditional media. As a result, marketers have found alternative methods to get their message across and have looked at innovative ways to engage postmodern consumers and have turned their attention towards non-conventional advertising practices such as product placement within mass media entertainment. Reality television has emerged as a prominent genre in South Africa among young adults (Generation Y) and the incidence of product placements within these shows has grown substantially over the past few years. With marketing spend allocated to traditional television advertising (when marketing to Generation Y), the research aims to explore if traditional television advertising is effective compared to product placement in reality television in creating brand awareness and brand identity. It also aims to identify if product placement in reality television can be integrated as an element in IMC strategies.

This retrospective clinical study aimed: (1) to establish and validate a reproducible geometrical measurement strategy in quantifying peri-implant alveolar bone changes based on CBCT images taken before and one year after implantation; (2) to quantify and compare the bone changes of Type 1 and Type 4 implant placement in the patient cohort that requested implant placement at premolar and molar sites; (3) to analyse the bone changes in relation to the two implant protocols in aspects of buccal and lingual, maxilla and mandible, within the cohort and combined cohorts. 3D imaging analysis in this study had used a software package - OnDemand3D. The evaluation of the measurement strategy was based on a simulation model which was made of human dry skull with and without a standard implant (Straumann Standard Plus, Ø3.3 mm diameter, L12 mm) to simulate before and after the implant placement. The recruited cases were 69 (44 Type 1 cases and 25 Type 4 cases); all data sets were provided by Shanghai 9th people's hospital, China. Each case had two CBCT data sets at before and one year after implant placement. With 69 cases, bone grafting was applied to all Type 1 cases, and the flap surgery was applied to Type 1 cases when buccal bone recession greater than 3 mm. The measurements were made in bone height (HL) and bone thickness (L0O0, L1O1, L2O2, L3O) at lingual side, while the same at buccal side (HB, B0O0, B1O1, B2O2, B3O3). The four sections of bone thickness were at 0, 1 mm, 4 mm and 7 mm from the top of the implant. Additionally, six special cases were reported, as they provided extra information. They were two spilt-mouth control cases, three 2-year follow-up cases and one 3-year follow-up case. The evaluation of the measurement strategy showed the error of the measurement strategy was -0.06 mm and the measurement uncertainty was ±0.05 mm. The main measurement outcomes from the clinical cases were as follows: (1) at buccal side, the mean value of bone changes in height was a positive value of +0.18±1.64 mm for Type 1, which was significantly more than +0.01±0.86 mm for Type 4 (p < 0.05). However the standard deviation over the 44 and 25 patient cohorts were as large as 1.64 mm and 0.86 mm; (2) at buccal side, the bone changes in thickness showed significantly more loss at B0O0 (p < 0.01) and B1O1 (p < 0.05) sections in Type 1 (-0.38±1.49 mm and -0.25±1.15 mm) compared with Type 4 (-0.19±0.34 mm and -0.16±0.76 mm); (3) in Type 1 cases, the bone thickness at buccal side showed significantly more absorption at L1O1B1 (p < 0.05), L2O2B2 (p < 0.01), L3O3B3 (p < 0.01) section (-0.25±1.15 mm, -0.19±0.99 mm, -0.12±0.57 mm) compared to lingual side (-0.13±0.85 mm, -0.16±0.28 mm, -0.05±0.28 mm); and the bone height (+0.18±1.64 mm) increased significantly more at buccal side than lingual side (-0.25±0.79 mm) with bone augmentation procedure (p < 0.01). However, within Type 4 cases, no significant difference in bone changes between buccal and lingual sides could be found. In conclusion, the measurement strategy established in this study was reproducible and provided valid quantifiable data of bone changes in relation to implant placement based on 3D CBCT images. The data analysis from these two patient cohorts suggested that Type 1 implant placement protocol could re-build the bone height at buccal side better than Type 4.