This dissertation aims to understand the role of territoriality in peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation guest experience by answering four questions: (1) How do P2P accommodation guests feel about staying in P2P accommodation rentals as a territorial complexity? (2) What factors influence P2P accommodation guests’ perceptions of being in P2P accommodation rentals? (3) What kinds of territorial behaviors do guests experience from hosts in P2P accommodation rentals? How does host territoriality affect P2P accommodation guest experiences? (4) Do guests engage in territoriality in P2P accommodation rentals? If so, what territorial behaviors do guests use? A convergent mixed-methods design was used to answer these questions based on two studies: a qualitative study intended to develop an overall understanding of territoriality in P2P accommodation guest experiences (Study 1); and a scale development and validation study intended to develop a scale of perceived host territoriality in P2P accommodation settings (Study 2). Study 1 followed the procedures of interpretative phenomenological analysis, including semi-structured interviews with 13 P2P accommodation guests. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify themes related to territoriality in P2P accommodation guest experiences. Results of Study 1 show that P2P accommodation guests possessed two territorial senses while staying in a shared rental: a sense of being in others’ territory and a sense of being in their own territory. Feelings associated with staying in others’ territory vs. their own territory were identified. Eight sets of factors were found to influence territorial senses, including home amenities and facilities, personal items/décor items, length of stay/use, physical presence of the host, entire rental vs. private rental, disturbance from others, hospitableness of the host, and travel companionship. Multiple factors that enhanced P2P accommodation guests’ sense of being in others’ territory were related to host territoriality. A closer examination of host territoriality revealed six types of host territoriality: personalization of the rental, house rules, accessibility, intrusion, hands-on hosting, and service failure. Guests’ reactions toward host territoriality fell into four categories: adaption, assertive defense, appeal, and avoidance. The impacts of host territoriality on guests’ evaluations of hosts, evaluations of their P2P accommodation experiences, and future use of P2P accommodations varied depending on guests’ reactions and attributions of host territoriality. P2P accommodation guests were also found to need their own space in P2P accommodation rentals. Influenced by this need and a sense of being in their own territory, P2P accommodation guests sometimes also engaged in territoriality to construct, communicate, and defend their territories. Guests’ territorial behaviors included personalization of the rental, exploration of the rental, giving instructions to others, and defending against territorial intrusions. Following an eight-step scale development procedure, Study 2 developed and validated a scale of perceived host territoriality in P2P accommodations. An initial list of scale items was generated from an online survey with open-ended questions (N = 116), independent coding of survey responses, and examples identified in Study 1. An expert panel (N = 5) and a panel of P2P accommodation guests (N = 26) were hired to assess the content validity of the original scale. A pilot study was conducted for initial scale validation (N = 93), after which the wording of scale items was modified. An online survey for scale purification and refinement was then conducted (N = 911). The dataset was split into a developmental sample and a validation sample to conduct exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. After scale purification, a second dataset was collected to validate the scale (N = 603). The final version of the scale included 18 items and four dimensions: Accessibility, House Rules, Signs of Ownership, and Intrusion. Known-group comparisons and criterion-related validity assessment confirmed the validity of the scale. Specifically, P2P accommodation guests who stayed in a private-room rental reported higher levels of host territoriality than those staying in an entire rental. Experiences of host territoriality were negatively correlated with perceived control, perceived self-efficacy, and personal sense of power among P2P accommodation guests. The newly developed scale was used to examine the impact of perceived host territoriality on perceived warmth and competence of P2P accommodation hosts, guests’ experience satisfaction, and guests’ behavioral intentions via a second-order structural equation model. Perceived host territoriality was negatively associated with perceived warmth and competence of P2P accommodation hosts, satisfaction with the P2P accommodation experience, and intention to reuse/recommend a P2P accommodation rental. However, dimensions of host territoriality had varying impacts on guest experience; host territoriality via signs of ownership and house rules positively influenced P2P accommodation guest experiences. A conceptual framework of territoriality in P2P accommodation guest experiences was proposed based on the findings of this dissertation, describing relationships among territorial senses, factors influencing territorial senses, host territoriality, guest reactions to host territoriality, and guest territoriality. Theoretical implications of these results on P2P accommodation research, human territory and territoriality research, and tourism and hospitality research were discussed, followed by implications regarding P2P accommodation platforms, hosts, and guests as well as management of guest experiences in other hospitality service encounters. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

Various technologies depend on interfacial events that are influenced by various molecular interactions at a solid-liquid interface. The functionality of a surface plays an important role in many applications such as catalysis, sensing, and bio-compatibility, which can benefit from distinctive chemical and physical surface properties. To create tailor-made functional surfaces, surface host-guest assemblies based on Langmuir-Blodgett and self-assembly technique have been employed as a model system as they may offer the potential ability to regenerate surface properties via intercalation of various functional guest molecules. This thesis ranges over the development and characterization of host-guest assemblies and their feasibilities for the regeneration of surface properties via intercalation of functional guests. In our work, 3-dimensional host structures with cavities are constructed on a targeted solid substrate using Langmuir-Blodgett and self-assembly techniques. In particular, by adopting the fundamental concept of host-guest interaction in supramolecular chemistry, we expect that structurally homologous guest molecules where functional groups are anchored can be intercalated into the cavities between hydrophobe arrays at the liquid-solid interface from solution under well-controlled conditions. This approach offers the potential of separating the functional of the monolayer from the inherent structure of the host. The first part of this thesis details two-dimensional host-guest assemblies consisting of guanidinium (G), octadecylsulfonate (S) and various functional alkane guests at the air-aqueous interface and following deposition onto solid substrates via the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. In particular, we evaluated the stability of the host-guest assemblies and the feasibility of exchanging molecular guests under exposure to various organic solvent environments. Analysis of X-ray reflectivity measurements of the thin films showed that good stability of the host-guest assembly could not be achieved due to weak interactions between the host monoalyer and the solid surface. In addition, no evidence of intercalation of guest molecules into guest-free host-cavities was observed. The second part of this thesis discusses the effective methodologies to prepare low-density self-assembled monolayers (LDSAMs) with cavities on silicon substrates. We employed a step-wise reaction based on hydrolytic or silane chemistry: integral spacer molecules such as anthracene-derivatives were anchored to the Si substrate and then long alkane chains were appended to the spacer molecules. The results showed that LDSAMs using an anthryl spacer are attached at the SAM/Si interface via a Si-O-C linkage, and the films do not exhibit a densely packed monolayer quality as would be expected for a non-sterically hindered alkyltrichlorosilane on Si. Thus, the resulting LDSAMs (with cavities) may be capable of accommodating other guest molecules with hydrocarbon chains through intercalation in order to form host-guest assemblies. The third part of this thesis demonstrates the ability of LDSAMs to produce functional surfaces via the intercalation of various functional guest molecules. Self-assembled monolayers of (10-octadecyl)-9-anthracenethiol (host-SAMs) on Au substrates were prepared. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements was used to demonstrate the capacity of LDSAMs to confine guest molecules in the cavities and to probe the structural changes of the host-guest assembly during guest intercalation from ethanol solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were then used to probe host-guest monolayers formed by immersing the host monolayer in solutions in a variety of other solvents. A combined study of QCM-D and XPS showed that guest molecules were intercalated into host-cavities. The reversibility of the intercalation process allows a guest already situated in a host-cavity to be replaced with second guest under well-regulated solvent conditions. / Ph. D.

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, there is an increased use of artificial intelligence and robotics that have started to be used more frequently in everyday life. This study aims to explore the differences between human service and service performed with the help of a robot. The study employed semi-structured interviews, gathering data from six respondents' views and experiences with service robots. The results of the study indicate that service robots contribute to efficiency and speed; however, the respondents missed the humaninteraction. Humans provide a level of warmth and personal adaptation that robots have not yet achieved. Robot service can function as a complement to human service, but robots are not yet fully developed to completely replace human service.

No description available.

The theoretical section of the thesis Comparison of the misanthropic Show Jana Krause and the philanthropic Mark Eben's show Na plovárně aims to characterize the talk show genre both abroad and in the Czech Republic. It briefly outlines the development of the genre and its arrival in the Czech television stations. It also gives a definition of a presenter, describes the ways of communication, construction of the interviews with the guests, their selection, introduces Jan Kraus and Marek Eben and characterises both talk shows - Na Plovárně and Show Jana Krause. The practical section deals with an analysis of production in which interviews with representatives of both production teams are analysed. A qualitative analysis aims to answer the question: "How do the philanthropic and misanthropic concepts of the talk show differ, from the perspective of content and production intentions?" The conclusion contains a summary of the collected data.

Study of thermoresponsive porphyrins and their supramolecular complexes Abstract: We studied the water-soluble artificial compound meso-tetrakis{3,4,5-tris[2-(2-(2- methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phenyl}porphyrin prepared at NIMS, Japan, using the high-resolution NMR spectroscopy experimental method. We observed its LCST-type phase separation and applied the Flory-Huggins theory of polymer solutions in order to find its phase diagram (binodal and spinodal curves of the phase separation) and we also obtained molar enthalpies, entropies and critical temperatures of its phase separation; from the Flory-Huggins theory we discovered that its molecules form dimers in aqueous solutions. We also studied its host-guest interactions with the S-camphorsulfonic acid; we learned that the porphyrin binds cations and the porphyrin dimers break down when dissolved cations are available for complexation. We observed no phase separation in chloroform. We obtained no proof of the existence of molecular stacks larger than dimers. 1

Líquidos iônicos imidazólios (LIIs) associados a ânions com caráter básico foram sintetizados, caracterizados e seu comportamento estudado em solução. Inicialmente a troca isotópica H/D preferencial no grupo C2-CH3 de sais de 1-nbutil-2,3-dimetilimidazólio (BMMI) foi avaliada. Ficou evidente que o contato entre os pares de íons e a atuação do ânion como uma base neutra influenciaram fortemente a deuteração. Após a análise dos resultados de RMN, cálculos de DFT (Teoria do Funcional de Densidade) e Difração de Raios X, um complexo entre uma molécula de água e alguns LI foi sugerido, modificando fortemente a estrutura organizacional e afetando também a troca isotópica nestes sais. Através do mecanismo reacional proposto, surgiu a possibilidade de deuteração de novos substratos contendo H ácidos, usando os LIIs como catalisadores. A reação de troca isotópica em alcinos e cetonas foi estudada e bons resultados foram obtidos. O efeito da variação de cátions e ânions na atividade catalítica foi analisado, assim como a variação dos substituintes dos substratos. Além disso, um estudo cinético foi realizado através de análises de RMN de 1H e o mecanismo reacional foi proposto. Por fim, a capacidade de formação de pares iônicos em soluções aquosas de LIIs foi avaliada na captura de CO2. Ótimos resultados foram obtidos e atribuídos à ocorrência de sorção física e química devido à ativação da água pelo LII. / Imidazolium based ionic liquids (ImIL) associated with basic anions were synthesized, characterized and studied. Initially the preferred H/D isotopic exchange to C2-CH3 group of 1-nbutyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium salts (BMMI) was studied. In this context, it became evident that the ion-pairing formation and the anion action as a neutral base strongly influence the deuteration reaction. NMR analysis, theoretical calculation (Density Functional Theory) and X-ray Diffraction have been performed and a complex between a water molecule and the IL have been suggested, strongly modifying the IL structure and characteristics. The isotope exchange reaction in alkynes and ketones was studied using imidazolium based ionic liquids as catalysts and good results obtained. The effect of cation and anion variation on the catalyst activity were analyzed, also a variation of the substrate substituent’s. Also, a kinetic study was performed by 1H NMR analyzes and the reaction mechanism were proposed. Finally, the ability to form ion pair contact of ILs in aqueous solutions was evaluated for CO2 capture. Great results were obtained and this success can be attributed to the occurrence of physical and chemical sorption due to water activation by the IL.

Host–guest complexes are widely investigated because of their importance in many industrial applications. The investigation of their physico–chemical properties helps understanding the inclusion phenomenon. The hosts investigated in this work are cryptophane molecules possessing a hydrophobic cavity. They can encapsulate small organic guests such as halo–methanes (CH2Cl2, CHCl3). The encapsulation process was investigated from both the guest and the host point of view. With the help of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), the kinetics of complex formation was determined. The information was further used to obtain the activation energies of the processes. Having done this on five different cryptophanes, it is possible to relate the energies to structural differences between the hosts. Via the dipolar interaction between the guest’s and host’s protons, one can get information on the orientation of the guest inside the cavity. Moreover, the dynamics of the guest can be further investigated by its relaxation properties. This revealed restricted motion of the guest inside the host cavity. Not only the nature of the guest plays an important role. The host is also changing its properties upon encapsulation. All the cryptophanes investigated here can exchange rapidly between many conformers. These conformers have different–sized cavities. Quantum chemical optimization of the structure of the conformers makes volume estimation possible. Not only the cavity volumes, but also the quantum-chemically obtained energies and the calculated chemical shifts of the carbon–13 atoms can be helpful to follow the changes of the host upon complex formation. The host cannot be considered as a rigid entity. Analysis of variable temperature proton and carbon-13 spectra shows that the encapsulation can be considered as a mixture of conformational selection and induced fit. The structures of the formed complexes are further investigated by means of two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy (NOESY). The complex formation, its kinetics and thermodynamics are found to be a complicated function of structure elements of the host, the cavity size and the guest size and properties. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Accepted. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p><p> </p>

Cyclodextrins (CD) are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of six to more than sixty glucose units. Large-ring cyclodextrins (LR-CD) are novel CD comprised of more than eight glucose units with cavity structures and sizes different from that of commercially available CD₆ – CD₈. LR-CD may offer unique molecular recognition properties and can be produced biocatalytically from starch using cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, E.C. 2.4.1.19) in a short reaction time. LR-CD were isolated from glucose, CD₆ – CD₈ and other compounds by complexation of CD₆ – CD₈ as well as precipitation techniques. The yield of LR-CD (degree of polymerization from 9 to 21) was optimized using central composite design. Addition of polar organic solvents to the synthesis resulted in higher yields of LR-CD. LR-CD composed of 9 to 21 glucose units were successfully separated using reversed-phase of ODS-AQ chromatography and normal-phase of polyamine II chromatography. Maintaining optimized reaction conditions aided in a high yield of CD₉; it could be separated with reasonable yield using a single step of polyamine II chromatography. A co-grinding method helped to obtain higher solubilization levels of glibenclamide, vitamin A acetate and vitamin D₃ in CD₁₃, CD₁₀ and CD₁₁, respectively when compared to other CD. Vitamin K₁ was solubilized in distilled water with CD₆ – CD₁₃ using a co-precipitation method. When compared with other CD, CD₉ was seen to be the best solubilizer. The analysis of complexes using ESI MS showed spironolactone and glibenclamide complexed with CD₉ and CD₁₃, respectively.

This thesis is devoted to first-principles simulations of bio- and nano-materials,focusing on various soft x-ray spectra, ground-state energies and structures of isolated largemolecules, bulk materials, and small molecules in ambient solutions. K-edge near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra, x-ray emission spectra, andresonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra of DNA duplexes have been studied by means oftheoretical calculations at the density functional theory level. By comparing a sequence of DNAduplexes with increasing length, we have found that the stacking effect of base pairs has verysmall influence on all kinds of spectra, and suggested that the spectra of a general DNA can bewell reproduced by linear combinations of composed base pairs weighted by their ratio. The NEXAFS spectra study has been extended to other realistic systems. We have used cluster modelswith increasing sizes to represent the infinite crystals of nucleobases and nucleosides, infinitegraphene sheet, as well as a short peptide in water solution. And the equivalent core holeapproximation has been extensively adopted, which provides an efficient access to these largesystems. We have investigated the influence of external perturbations on the nitrogen NEXAFSspectra of guanine, cytosine, and guanosine crystals, and clarified early discrepancies betweenexperimental and calculated spectra. The effects of size, stacking, edge, and defects to theabsorption spectra of graphene have been systematically analyzed, and the debate on theinterpretation of the new feature has been resolved. We have illustrated the influence of watersolvent to a blocked alanine molecule by using the snapshots generated from molecular dynamics. Multi-scale computational study on four short peptides in a self-assembled cage is presented. It isshown that the conformation of a peptide within the cage does not corresponds to its lowest-energyconformation in vacuum, due to the Zn-O bond formed between the peptide and the cage, and theconfinement effect of the cage. Special emphasis has been paid on a linear-scaling method, the generalized energy basedfragmentation energy (GEBF) approach. We have derived the GEBF energy equation at the Hartree-Focklevel with the Born approximation of the electrostatic potential. Numerical calculations for amodel system have explained the accuracy of the GEBF equation and provides a starting point forfurther refinements. We have also presented an automatic and efficient implementation of the GEBFapproach which is applicable for general large molecules. / QC 20110404