In everyday life our eyes are exposed to massive amounts of visual stimuli. However, even though the stimuli’s features grab our attention, we have a natural tendency to focus on the centre of the scenes. This central spatial bias is not steady; in fact, while freely viewing a scene, the eyes shift towards the left for two seconds and then return to the centre (Ossandón, Onat, & König, 2014). The leftward spatial bias has also been reported in other behavioural studies, suggesting the role of the lateralization of the attention network. The attention network is activated dominantly on the right hemisphere when detecting new/novel stimuli, causing stronger effects on the contralateral (left) hemispatial side. Hence, in this thesis a series of behavioral studies were conducted using an eye-tracking technique to modulate the leftward spatial bias using different types of primes. Five different eye-tracking experiments were performed in the Neurobiopsychology (NBP) Department at Osnabrück University to investigate the interplay between the horizontal spatial bias and multiple different primes displayed prior to the presentation of images in free viewing tasks. The goal of Experiment 1 was to investigate if different reading directions can alter the leftward spatial bias. The results showed that native right-to-left (RTL) readers showed RTL spatial bias after reading RTL texts and left-to-right (LTR) spatial bias after reading LTR texts. This result suggests the dynamic role that the reading direction has on modifying the horizontal spatial bias. On the other hand, native LTR readers who learned RTL languages later in life showed a leftward spatial bias after reading both LTR and RTL texts. While these results suggest the crucial role of mastering RTL languages in modulating the spatial bias, a larger sample size is required to confirm these findings. The aim of Experiment 2 was to investigate if the reader’s second language has a different effect than his/her native language on the leftward spatial bias. Compared to native language LTR texts, LTR/LTR bilinguals demonstrated a slight increase in the leftward spatial bias after reading second language LTR texts. This finding demonstrates the effect that the second language has on enhancing and reinforcing the leftward spatial bias. The goal of Experiment 3 was to study the difference between habitual reading and non-habitual reading (mirrored reading) on the leftward spatial bias. LTR bilinguals read LTR and mirrored LTR (mLTR) texts prior to image exploration and showed a strong leftward bias after reading both texts. The outcome of this experiment suggests that there is an influence of habitual (normal LTR) reading and not of non-habitual (mLTR) reading on the horizontal spatial bias, even though the same language was used in the primes. Experiment 4 investigated if the oculomotor control of the eye movement, without reading, can modulate the leftward spatial bias as in habitual reading. Thus, LTR and RTL moving-dot primes without reading were presented prior to image exploration, mimicking the readers’ eye movement. Native LTR readers showed a leftward bias after primed with LTR and RTL moving-dots. However, in a pilot study within this experiment, native RTL bilinguals demonstrated rightward bias after RTL moving-dots and a weak leftward bias after LTR moving-dots. These findings strengthen the effect of the habitual reading direction and exclude the role of language in reshaping the leftward horizontal bias. Following this, Experiment 5 studied the effect of different factors, including age, gender, first language, second language, second language proficiency, and age of second language acquisition, on the magnitude of the horizontal spatial bias. This Experiment is considered an extension of Experiment 1 in order to study the interindividual differences among native RTL readers after reading RTL texts in a free viewing task. Compared to the native LTR/LTR readers of Experiment 2, the rightward spatial bias among individuals of native RTL readers was strong and profound, but with a large variance of the measurements, suggesting inter-individual differences. This study found no correlation between the magnitude of the RTL spatial bias and the age, gender, first language, second language, second language proficiency, and age of second language acquisition of the participants. Thus, these findings strengthen the profound role that the habitual reading direction has on the RTL spatial bias, regardless of the biological and cultural variables mentioned above. Overall, the thesis proves that the RTL habitual reading direction has a flexible role in modulating the leftward spatial bias (Experiment 1). In addition, the LTR habitual scanning direction can reinforce the leftward bias among native LTR readers to a certain degree (Experiment 2). Yet, non-habitual reading process (Experiment 3) and oculomotor control without language involvement (Experiment 4) showed no influence on the horizontal spatial bias. Moreover, there was no evidence to suggest whether or not age, gender, first language, second language, second language proficiency, and age of second language acquisition influence the magnitude of the rightward horizontal spatial bias (Experiment 5). This leads to the conclusion that forming a habit of scanning direction is a strong factor in changing the natural spatial bias. Furthermore, even though no correlation was found between several biological/cultural factors and the magnitude of the RTL spatial bias, certain speculations can be proposed. First, the strength of the LTR and RTL scanning habits among RTL individuals could lead to an antagonizing effect and yield to interindividual differences. Second, the interindividual differences at the structural and functional cortical level among healthy individuals could cause interindividual differences in the horizontal spatial bias. Third, the narrow group sample of the LTR readers could lead to a small variance in comparison to the diversity of the RTL group sample. Overall, these five experiments have shed light on the dynamic effect of reading direction on the natural spatial bias and opened the door for potential cross-cultural studies regarding visuospatial attention.

De nombreuses études ont relevé un biais perceptif (BP) gauche, c’est-à-dire une tendance à utiliser préférentiellement les informations issues de l’hémi-visage gauche (du point de vue de l’observateur), lors du traitement des visages. Ce BP pourrait être lié à la dominance de l’hémisphère droit pour le traitement des visages. Par ailleurs, certaines études ont mis ce BP en lien avec un biais oculomoteur (BO) gauche : l’observateur effectue des fixations en nombre et/ou en durée supérieurs sur l’hémi-visage gauche (Butler et al., 2005 ; Megreya & Havard, 2011). Au cours du vieillissement, le BP gauche semble être toujours présent, mais d’apparition plus tardive, nécessitant un temps d’exposition aux visages plus long (Butler & Harvey, 2008 ; Coolican et al., 2008). Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons étudié l’évolution de ces deux biais au cours du vieillissement au cours d’une tâche de jugement de genre, à l’aide de visages normaux et chimériques (composés de moitiés de visages d’homme et de femme) en manipulant le nombre de saccades permettant d’explorer le visage (aucune, 1, 2 et 3 saccades) et la position de présentation des visages (Haut, Bas, Centre, Gauche et Droite). Bien que dans l’ensemble, les personnes jeunes témoignent d’un BP gauche, cela n’est pas le cas des participants âgés. En outre, ce BP dépend de la position de présentation des visages (BP de proximité pour les positions latérales), mais également du nombre de saccades exécutées (BP gauche apparaissant à partir de la réalisation d’une saccade). En outre, une certaine variabilité interindividuelle est notée, certains participants présentant un BP droit et d’autre une absence de BP. Le BO dépend également de la position de présentation des visages et reste stable au cours du vieillissement. Il semble résulter d’une combinaison de l’effet du centre de gravité (Bindemann et al., 2009) et de l’effet de rang (Kapoula, 1985), la position d’arrivée se situant autour du centre du visage, orientée légèrement vers le point de fixation initial. Enfin, ce BO n’est pas affecté par le BP des participants, qu’ils soient jeunes ou âgés, l’exploration des visages étant la même qu’ils répondent en se basant sur la partie gauche ou droite des visages. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats remettent en question l’explication jusqu’ici avancée pour ces deux biais, à savoir la dominance de l’HD pour le traitement des visages. / Previous studies demonstrated a left perceptual bias while looking at faces, observers using mainly information from the left side of a face (from the observer point of view) to make a judgment task. Such a bias is consistent with right hemisphere dominance for face processing and has been sometimes linked to a left gaze bias, i.e. more and longer fixations on the left side of the face (Butler et al., 2005; Megreya & Havard, 2011). In the course of aging, the left perceptual bias is still observed, but seems to require a longer exposure duration to faces (Butler & Harvey, 2008; Coolican et al., 2008). Here, in several experiments we recorded eye-movements during a gender judgment task, using normal and chimeric faces (made from two different half-faces of a male and a female) presented at the top, bottom, left or right relative to the central fixation point or at the center. Young and older participants performed the judgment task by remaining fixated on the fixation point or after executing one, two or three saccades. Even if young participants presented an overall left perceptual bias, it was not the case for older participants. Moreover, the perceptual bias depended on face position (a proximity bias was observed for lateral positions) and the number of allowed saccades (the perceptual bias was present when a saccade was executed). An important inter-individual variability was also observed. Indeed, some participants presented a left perceptual bias, while others presented a right perceptual bias or none at all. The gaze bias was also function of face position and is steady while growing older. This gaze bias seems to depend on the combination of two effects: the center-of-gravity effect (Bindemann et al., 2009) and the range effect (Kapoula, 1985). The saccade landing position was located around the center of the face, slightly oriented toward the initial fixation position. No apparent link between gaze and perceptual biases was found in any experiments, for both groups, meaning that a perceptual bias was not systematically coupled to saccades made toward the side of the face which was used to perform the gender judgment. Those results challenge the overall explanation put forward for those two biases that is the right hemisphere dominance for face processing.

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Procalcitonin (PCT) is a precursor protein of the hormone calcitonin and is encoded by the gene Calcitonin-1. In the Blekinge Regional, P-PCT is only analyzed in Karlskrona. The analysis is performed in the department of clinical chemistry on the Alinity i-series instrument. PCT indicates bacterial infections and therefore, it is important to have a backup method for the analysis when the instrument in the city of Karlskrona is out of order. The aim of this work was to verify the analysis method of P-PCT on the instrument Alinity i-series in the city of Karlshamn. Analysis method verification means to confirm and prove that the method meets the specified requirements. Verification was performed by analyzing 35 samples with different concentration of PCT on the master instrument in Karlskrona and on “Alinity 1” and “Alinity 2” in Karlshamn. The method was compared by studying correlation coefficient and bias. The precision was measured only on “Alinity 1” which would be the master instrument in Karlshamn. Precision was measured by analyzing 25 replicates at two control levels and then was 5 replicates of each control level analyzed over 5 days. The correlation was good and no significant bias between results from Karlskrona and “Alinity 1” and between results from “Alinity 1” and “Alinity 2”. Precision on “Alinity 1” meets the requirements. The conclusion was that verification of PCT on master instrument “Alinity 1” and slave instrument “Alinity 2” was approved and the backup method for the PCT analysis in Karlshamn was verified. / Prokalcitonin (PCT) är en peptidprekursor till hormonet kalcitonin och kodas av genen kalcitonin-1 (CALC-1). PCT används som biomarkör för bakteriella infektioner och sepsis. I Region Blekinge analyseras P-PCT bara i Karlskrona. Analysen utförs på avdelningen för Klinisk kemi på instrumentet Alinity i-serie Abbot. PCT indikerar bakteriella infektioner och av denna anledning efterfrågas av flera avdelningar. Därför är det viktigt att verifiera en analysmetod för P-PCT i Karlshamn, ifall instrumenten i Karlskrona är ur funktion. Syftet med arbetet var att verifiera analysmetoden för P-PCT på instrumentet Alinity i-serie Abbot i Karlshamn. Metodverifiering innebär att bekräfta och bevisa att metoden uppfyller specificerade krav. Metodverifiering utfördes genom att analysera 35 prover med olika PCT-koncentrationer på masterinstrument ”Shrek” i Karlskrona och på ”Alinity 1” och ”Alinity 2” i Karlshamn. Metoderna jämfördes genom att studera korrelationskoefficient och bias. Inom och total serie-precision mättes bara på ”Alinity 1” som ska vara masterinstrument i Karlshamn. Inom serie-precision mättes genom att analysera 25 replikat av två kontrollnivåer och total serie-precision genom att analysera 5 replikat/dag under 5 dagar. Resultaten blev att metoden på ”Alinity 1” hade en god korrelation med metoden på masterinstrument ”Shrek” och ingen signifikant bias observerades mellan metoderna. Inom och total serie-precision på ”Alinity 1” uppfyller kraven. Metoden på ”Alinity 2” hade en god korrelation med metoden på masterinstrument ”Alinity 1” och ingen signifikant bias observerades mellan metoderna. Slutsatsen var att verifiering av P-PCT på masterinstrument ”Alinity 1” och slavinstrument ”Alinity 2” var godkänd och därmed verifierades en backupmetod för analysen P-PCT i Karlshamn.

Folkteatern Gävleborg har sedan 80-talet haft som uppdrag att samverka tillsammans med länets befolkning. Och, som regionalt finansierad länsteater arbetar Folkteatern Gävleborg för att nå ut till den breda publiken och indirekt stärka den sociala hållbarheten. Alla ska kunna ta del av verksamhetens aktiviteter. Samtidigt har verksamheten haft svårt att knyta till sig den ovana teaterpubliken. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka hur vi kan arbeta för att stärka Folkteatern Gävleborgs roll i samhället genom att knyta till sig nya och oinvigda teaterbesökare, på besökarnas villkor, samtidigt som teatern tillåts att utöva sin specifika konstform. Arbetet inkluderar tjänstedesign som ses ur ett tvärvetenskapligt perspektiv och involverar beteendevetenskap. Genom intervjuer, enkäter och litteraturstudier kunde vi se att den ovana publiken såg teater som någonting spännande och lyxigt, men i vissa fall även tidskrävande och kostsamt. En välarbetad föreställning skulle inte ge den presumtiva besökaren relevans nog att köpa biljett. Det blev därför tydligt att den ovana besökarens preferenser behövde implementeras tidigt i idéarbetet. Eftersom konstnärlig frihet var grunden och motivationen hos verksamheten, samtidigt som debatten om ”en armlängds avstånd” i det politiska styret diskuterades flitigt, var det av största vikt att detta arbete kom att resultera i ett verktyg som Folkteatern Gävleborg kunde styra och vidareutveckla själva. Resultatet: en förenklad och skräddarsydd tjänstedesignprocess baserad på vår primärdata, kombinerad med beteendevetenskapens Cognitive bias. Detta presenterat i åtta diskussionskort som väcker tankar om den ovana besökarens perspektiv och människans tendens att ta beslut och agera.

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The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing, and health concerns are also on the rise as they are directly related to obesity. Even though the majority of Americans are overweight or obese, prejudice and weight bias continue to be prevalent and socially accepted in a culture that tolerates discrimination towards these individuals. Health care providers, including registered dietitians, are not exempt from instigating bias towards obese patients causing a decrease in the level of care that they receive. The main purpose of this study was to compare attitudes, beliefs, and bias concerning obesity among undergraduate dietetic students, dietetic interns, and practicing registered dietitians. The data were reported directly by participants. No significant difference was found between fat phobia scores of students, interns, and dietitians. However, it was found that obesity bias decreased slightly as one moved through the dietetics profession. Also, Body Mass Index and fat phobia scores were negatively correlated.

The electromagnetic (EM) bias is the largest source of error in the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellite sea surface height (SSH) estimates. Due to incomplete understanding of the physical processes which cause the bias, current operational models are based on empirical relationships between the bias wind speed and significant wave height. These models reduce RMS estimation errors of the EM bias to approximately 4 cm. To improve EM bias estimation the correlation between the bias and RMS long wave slope is studies using data from tower-based experiments in the Gulf of Mexico and Bass Straight, Australia. Models based on significant wave height and RMS slope are more accurate than models based on wave height and wind speed by at least 50% in RMS error between predicted and ground truth bias values. Nonparametric models have been proposed as a method to reduce the variability of EM bias estimates. Using tower data, nonparametric models developed from wind speed and significant wave height measurements are shown to provide some improvement over parametric models. It is also shown that the historical discrepancy between satellite and tower EM bias measurements is reduced by nonparametric modeling. A validity study of rough surface scattering models is conducted for surfaces with Gaussian and power law power spectra. Models in the study include physical optics (PO), geometrical optics, small perturbation method, and small slope approximation. Due to the prevalence of the PO approximation, particular emphasis is placed on the development of a validity criterion for the PO model. An empirical study of the PO approximation shows that the validity of the model is more accurately described by the RMS wave slope than the classic surface curvature criterion for surfaces with a Gaussian power spectrum. For surfaces with a power law PSD, the accuracy of the PO approximation is related to the significant slope (RMS surface height/wavelength of the dominant spectral peak). The validity of other models in the study are also shown to be well approximated by bounds on surface slope. An EM bias model is derived using the physical optics scattering model, hydrodynamic modulation, and non-Gaussian long wave surface statistics. Using a modulation transfer function, the hydrodynamic modulation of small wave heights is shown to be linearly related to the long wave RMS slope. The resulting EM bias model expresses the relative bias as a function of the long wave surface parameters RMS wave slope, surface skewness, and tilt modulation. Coefficients of the long wave parameters are determined by the short ocean waves, and provide insight into the physical mechanisms that cause the bias. From measured values of the ocean surface profile, estimated values of the bias are computed from the bias model. A comparison of these estimated values with in situ EM bias measurements shows a strong correlation between the estimated and measured values. Nadir and off-nadir measurements of the EM bias collected during the BYU Off-Nadir Experiment (Y-ONE) are presented. The in situ measurements are compared with bias estimates computed from an off-nadir generalization of the nadir EM bias model. From theoretical and experimental bias measurements a model of the angular dependence of the bias is developed as a function of the normalized bias at nadir.

In the past decade, machine learning (ML) models have become farmore powerful, and are increasingly being used in many important contexts. At the same time, ML models have become more complex, and harder to understand on their own, which has necessitated an interesting explainable AI (XAI), a field concerned with ensuring that ML and other AI system can be understood by human users and practitioners. One aspect of XAI is the development of ”explainers”, tools that take a more complex system (here: an ML model) and generate a simpler but sufficiently accurate model of this system — either globally or locally —to yield insight into the behaviour of the original system. As ML models have become more complex and prevalent, concerns that they may embody and perpetuate harmful social biases have also risen, with XAI being one proposed tool for bias detection. This paper investigates the ability of two explainers, LIME and SHAP, which explain the prediction of potentially more complex models by way of locally faithful linear models, to detect harmful social bias (here in the form of the influence of the racial makeup of a neighbourhood on property values), in a simple experiment involving two kinds of ML models, line arregression and an ensemble method, trained on the well-known Boston-housing dataset. The results show that LIME and SHAP appear to be helpful in bias detection, while also revealing an instance where the explanations do not quite reflect the workings of the model, while still yielding accurate insight into the predictions the model makes.