A rising problem exists regarding the ownership of memes. This research proposes a solution consisting of an IT artefact that solves this problem by utilising design science research in combination with affordance theory and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This artefact is designed by identifying the problem areas and creating affordances that guide the design process, using the design science research methodology by Peffers et al. (2007). The artefact is evaluated and considered a potential solution to the problem with meme ownership. The affordances are connected to the designed features and offer contributions in the form of a novel artefact and documented design processes. By using affordance theory as a lens to help the design, further research can build upon this idea and expand research by combining design science with affordances. The practical implementation of NFTs gives insights into how NFTs can be applied in the case of tokenising digital goods and allows people without knowledge of blockchains to participate.

Between 4000-10 000 ads each day every day. That is how many ads we as customers are exposed to individually, each and every day. To reach a higher efficiency in marketing, marketing managers and store owners nowadays aiming to increase the customer satisfaction by striving to understand the customer behavior and their decisioning-making. For the aim of this thesis, we investigated if coloring cues in the retail environment had an impact on customers’ behavior in a specific retail store environment. This experiment was taken place in a small town within Sweden, named Karlstad. The retail store belongs to the electronic sector and the participants included in the experiment were randomly visiting customers of this electronical retail store. In the experiment we used IoT devices from Texas Instruments, a sensor device, called CC2650, enabled us to collect data from interactions by customers and products. In our experiment we compared three periods of data with the help from the analysis method of one-way ANOVA. The result was showing that there is a significant variance between at least two of our three periods of measurements, and by the results of this thesis we could reject the Null Hypothesis (H0). As the H0, were telling that there would not be any differences between any of the three measured periods of time. Further, with insights from our one-way ANOVA, we could determine with help from a complementary analysis method, the Tukey’s HSD, we could point out which periods that were significant different from one another. This made us come into conclusions that there is a possibility to predict the customer behavior and the customer’s Need for Touch (NFT), a part of the nudging theory, and can give the marketing managers and store owners in retail an increase of understanding of the customer’s behavior. Future research could look into how customer’s behavior can change within different type of retail stores, and also if coloring cues in retail stores within bigger cities will have another impact on customer’s behavior.

Background: Non-fungible token (NFT) trade has grown drastically over recent years. While scholarship on the technical aspects and potential applications of NFTs has been steadily increasing, less attention has been directed to the human perception of or attitudes toward this new type of digital asset; in particular, about potential concerns that users may have around the use of NFTs.  Aim: The aim of this research is to investigate what concerns, if any, are expressed in relation to non-fungible tokens by those who engage with NFTs on social media platform Twitter, with special attention to possible concerns about crime, using NFT marketplaces, and market dynamics.  Methods: This research offers a mixed methods, largely qualitative, study. The method of data gathering is online non-participant observation of NFT-related posts and conversations on the social media platform Twitter. The methods of data analysis are topic modelling and thematic analysis, with additional attention to visual analysis of images and animated or video material associated with posts. Two datasets (with 18,373 and 36,354 individual tweet records respectively) were obtained for quantitative analysis; two smaller-scale datasets (both ca. 1000 records, with supplementary conversation details and visual material) were obtained for qualitative analysis.  Conclusion: This study proposes an interpretation of NFTs as functioning as ‘happy objects’ in NFT conversations on Twitter, wherein NFTs are represented as digital objects that hold a ‘promise’ of the happiness or fulfilment associated with financial gain. Concerns around NFTs as expressed on Twitter fall into broadly three categories: (1) concerns relating to not being to able to engage in, or being locked out of the possibility of, NFT trade; (2) concerns about the conditions, security and safety of engaging in NFT trade; and (3) concerns about whether any of the anticipated (financial) rewards or gains from engaging in NFTs will actually be obtained. Hence, many of the concerns that come up within NFT conversations on Twitter relate to conditions that may stand in the way of these happy object in fact bringing about their desired result. Overall, this study offers a better understanding of the expressions of attitudes of concern, uncertainty and possible experience of barriers associated with NFT trading. These findings contribute to theoretical insight, and can moreover function as a basis for developing practical (design or policy) interventions.

Les manifestations d’un intérêt populaire pour les jetons non fongibles (non fungible tokens (NFT)) à la suite de ventes spectaculaires par des artistes star du monde de l’art crypto en 2021 ont accentué le discours dichotomique art-argent et les positions orientées sur la marchandisation et l’hyper-financiarisation du marché contemporain. Pourtant, les conditions de production, de diffusion et de distribution des NFT et autres œuvres qui circulent sur la blockchain demeurent méconnues et ce, malgré la récente ouverture des instances du monde de l’art contemporain pour les diffuser et les commercialiser. Cette thèse s’appuie sur le travail théorique de Nathalie Heinich (2011 à 2019) et d’Arjun Appadurai (1986, 2014) afin de répondre à la question suivante : comment s’articule la construction des valeurs des œuvres qui circulent sur la blockchain ? La théorie des échanges et l’anthropologie sociale d’Arjun Appadurai permettra l’ancrage méthodologique selon lequel les objets en action (things-in-motion) révèlent leur contexte humain et social (1986, 5). Ainsi, il sera d’abord question de définir les objets – les « commodités » – et leur trajectoire afin d’être à même de constituer l’ensemble des termes du régime de valeur qui les soutient. L’analyse de quatre principales valeurs (d’authenticité, économique, éthique et relationnelle) en lien avec des productions natives de la blockchain produites entre 2011 et 2021, révèlera que ces objets démontrent finalement une approche fortement collaborative selon laquelle la création de valeur réside dans l’inclusivité, l’accessibilité, le relationnel et la propriété communautaire. / The burgeoning of popular interest in non-fungible tokens (NFT) following spectacular sales by star artists in the crypto art world have accentuated the dichotomous art-money narrative, and positions focused on commodification and hyper-financialization of the contemporary market. However, the conditions of production, dissemination and distribution of NFT and other works circulating on the blockchain remain unknown, despite the recent openness of gatekeepers in the contemporary art world to disseminate and market them. This thesis is based on the theoretical work of Nathalie Heinich (2011 to 2019) and Arjun Appadurai (1986, 2014) in order to answer the following question: how is constituted the regime of value of the works circulating on the blockchain? The exchange theory and social anthropology of Arjun Appadurai will allow the methodological anchoring according to which things-in-motion reveal their human and social context (1986, 5). Thus, we will define the objects – the “commodities” – and their trajectory in order to be able to constitute the terms of the value regime that supports them. The analysis of four main values (authenticity, economic, ethical, and relational) in connection with blockchain-native artworks produced between 2011 and 2021, will reveal that these objects ultimately demonstrate a strongly collaborative approach, according to which the creation of value resides in inclusivity, accessibility, relationality and community ownership.

<p dir="ltr">Amidst the rising popularity of digital marketplaces, addressing issues such as non-<br>payment/non-delivery crimes, centralization risks, hacking threats, and the complexity of<br>ownership transfers has become imperative. Many existing studies exploring blockchain<br>technology in digital marketplaces and asset management merely touch upon various application scenarios without establishing a unified platform that ensures trustworthiness and<br>efficiency across the product life cycle. In this thesis, we focus on designing a reliable and efficient e-commerce model to trade various assets. To enhance customer engagement through<br>consensus, we utilize the XGBoost algorithm to identify loyal nodes from the platform entities pool. Alongside appointed nodes, these loyal nodes actively participate in the consensus<br>process. The consensus algorithm guarantees that all involved nodes reach an agreement on<br>the blockchain’s current state. We introduce a novel consensus mechanism named Modified-<br>Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (M-PBFT), derived from the Practical Byzantine Fault<br>Tolerance (PBFT) protocol to minimize communication overhead and improve overall efficiency. The modifications primarily target the leader election process and the communication<br>protocols between leader and follower nodes within the PBFT consensus framework.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>In the domain of tangible assets, our primary objective is to elevate trust among various<br>stakeholders and bolster the reputation of sellers. As a result, we aim to validate secondhand<br>products and their descriptions provided by the sellers before the secondhand products are<br>exchanged. This validation process also holds various entities accountable for their actions.<br>We employ validators based on their location and qualifications to validate the products’<br>descriptions and generate validation certificates for the products, which are then securely<br>recorded on the blockchain. To incentivize the participation of validator nodes and up-<br>hold honest validation of product quality, we introduce an incentive mechanism leveraging<br>Stackelberg game theory.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>On the other hand, for optimizing intangible assets management, we employ Non-Fungible<br>Tokens (NFT) technology to tokenize these assets. This approach enhances traceability of<br>ownership, transactions, and historical data, while also automating processes like dividend<br>distributions, royalty payments, and ownership transfers through smart contracts. Initially,<br>sellers mint NFTs and utilize the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to store the files related<br>to NFTs, NFT metadata, or both since IPFS provides resilience and decentralized storage solutions to our network. The data stored in IPFS is encrypted for security purposes.<br>Further, to aid sellers in pricing their NFTs efficiently, we employ the Stackelberg mechanism. Furthermore, to achieve finer access control in NFTs containing sensitive data and<br>increase sellers’ profits, we propose a Popularity-based Adaptive NFT Management Scheme<br>(PANMS) utilizing Reinforcement Learning (RL). To facilitate prompt and effective asset<br>sales, we design a smart contract-powered auction mechanism.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>Also, to enhance data recording and event response efficiency, we introduce a weighted<br>L-H index algorithm and transaction prioritization features in the network. The weighted<br>L-H index algorithm determines efficient nodes to broadcast transactions. Transaction prior-<br>itization prioritizes certain transactions such as payments, verdicts during conflicts between<br>sellers and validators, and validation reports to improve the efficiency of the platform. Simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our proposed<br>schemes.<br></p>

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:33:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Tatiane_Kuka_Valente_Gandra.pdf: 6435645 bytes, checksum: d575f0c3d4782ff59377ccfc558b3d8a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-23 / The strawberry crop presents great importance for the Horticulture sector of the Southern part of Rio Grande do Sul due to its high yield and economic income, once the fruit has guaranteed market and high marketable price. Hydroponic cultivation allows optimizing the greenhouse vertical area, leading to a higher yield, reduces the diseases occurrence and also makes easier crop management and, as a consequence, enhances farmer life quality. However, there are few studies on the adaptation of the crop to this cultivation system, especially focusing concentrations of the nutrient solution and, overall, plant densities. Aiming to study growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry crop in hydroponics system, two trials were conducted in a plastic greenhouse at Universidade Federal de Pelotas , RS. NFT (nutrient film technique) hydroponic system was employed. It consists of cement tiles cultivation benches. The first trial aimed to study different ionic concentrations of the nutrient solution for cultivar Camarosa and was replicated in two consecutive years (2009/2010). The analyzed experimental factor was the nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) at four levels: 0.9, 1.5, 2.1, 2.7dS m-1 (2009) and five levels: 0.7, 1.2, 1.7, 2.2, 2.7 dS m-1 (2010). The second trial was conducted in order to verify the effect of different plant densities on cultivar Camino Real. The experimental factor was plant density at four levels: 15.0, 12.5, 10.7, and 9.3 plants m-2. Fresh and dry matter of leaves, crown, roots and fruit, leaf area, fruit number and average fruit weight were evaluated. Samples of fruits were analyzed regarding to total soluble solids content (TSS), titratable total acidity (TTA)  for both trials of 2010  concentrations of anthocyanins, L-ascorbic acid, total phenolics compounds and 12 antioxidant capacity only for EC trial in 2010. The obtained results of the first trial indicated that EC from 1.2 to 1.5dS m-1 promotes plant growth and fruit yield. Growth and yield decreased when EC is below or above these values. The fruits total soluble solids content, antocyanin and L-ascorbic acid concentrations were increased at 1.7dS m-1 EC. The concentration of total phenolic compounds was increased reducing the EC to 1.2dS m-1. While soluble solids, anthocyanin and L-ascorbic acid content, respectively, decreased by 17, 17 and 15%, fruit yield was increased by 52% and phenolic compounds concentration by 22 %, when the EC decreased from 1.7 to 1.2dS m-1.The average fruit weight was reduced with increasing EC in 2009 and it was not affected in 2010, as well as the acidity and the antioxidant capacity. We can conclude that nutrient solution from 1.2 to 1.5 dS m-1 EC can be used to achieve higher yieldy, without great losses in fruit quality of cultivar Camarosa grown in NFT hydroponic system. The results obtained from the second trial indicated that growth and yield of individual plants of strawberry cultivar Camino Real was not affect by increasing plant density in the rage from 9.3 to 15.0 plants m-2. Growth and yield per square meter, as well as chemical characteristics related to the organoleptic quality of fruits (TSS and TSS/TTA), present linear response to increasing plant density. We suggest the adoption of the plant density of 12.5 plants m-2, which provides high yield, with appropriate organoleptic characteristics of fruits, and reduction in the number of plants required in relation to 15.0 plants m-2 plant density. However, it is necessary to carry out additional studies on cultivar Camino Real in order to promote changes in the system and its management and check the economic feasibility of its cultivation in hydroponics. / A cultura do morangueiro possui grande importância para o setor hortigranjeiro da Região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul, pois permite atingir altas produtividades e alto rendimento econômico, uma vez que as frutas tem mercado garantido e um alto valor. O cultivo hidropônico permite a otimização do espaço vertical do ambiente protegido, resultando em maior produtividade, diminuindo a ocorrência de doenças e, ainda, facilitando os tratos culturais e beneficiando a qualidade de vida do agricultor. Porém, há poucos estudos sobre a adaptação da cultura a este tipo de sistema de produção, principalmente em se tratando de concentrações da solução nutritiva e, sobretudo, de densidades de plantio. Com o objetivo de se estudar o crescimento, a produtividade e a qualidade das frutas de morangueiro em sistema hidropônico, dois experimentos foram realizados em condições de estufa plástica, no Campus da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, RS. O sistema hidropônico empregado era do tipo NFT (técnica da lâmina de nutrientes), constituído de bancadas de cultivo construídas com telhas de fibrocimento. O primeiro experimento teve o objetivo de estudar diferentes concentrações iônicas da solução nutritiva para a cultivar Camarosa e foi repetido em dois anos consecutivos (2009/2010). O fator experimental estudado foi a condutividade elétrica da solução nutritiva (CE) em quatro níveis: 0,9; 1,5; 2,1; 2,7dS m-1 (2009); e cinco níveis: 0,7; 1,2; 1,7; 2,2 e 2,7 dS m-1 (2010). O segundo experimento foi conduzido a fim de verificar o efeito de 9 diferentes densidades de plantio sobre a cultivar Camino Real. O fator experimental estudado foi a densidade de plantio em quatro níveis: 15,0; 12,5; 10,7 e 9,3 plantas m-2. Avaliaram-se a matéria fresca e seca de folhas, coroa, raízes e frutas, a área foliar, o número de frutas e o peso médio das frutas. Amostras das frutas foram analisadas em relação ao teor de sólidos solúveis totais (SST), à acidez total titulável (ATT)  em ambos os experimentos realizados em 2010, às concentrações de antocianinas, ácido L-ascórbico, compostos fenólicos totais e à capacidade antioxidante  somente no experimento sobre CE, em 2010. Os resultados obtidos no primeiro experimento indicam que a CE entre 1,2 e 1,5dS m-1 favoreceu o crescimento da planta e a produtividade das frutas. O crescimento e a produtividade diminuíram quando a CE foi mantida abaixo ou acima destes valores. Os teores de SST, de antocianinas e de ácido L-ascórbico das frutas foram aumentados com a elevação da CE para 1,7dS m-1. A concentração de compostos fenólicos totais elevou-se com a diminuição da CE para 1,2dS m-1. Enquanto os teores de SST, de antocianinas e de ácido L-ascórbico, respectivamente, diminuíram em 17, 17 e 15%, a produtividade foi aumentada em 52% e a concentração de compostos fenólicos totais em 22%, quando a CE diminuiu de 1,7 para 1,2dS m-1. O peso médio das frutas foi reduzido com a elevação da CE em 2009 e não foi afetado em 2010, assim como a ATT e a capacidade antioxidante. Conclui-se que a solução nutritiva com CE entre 1,2 e 1,5dS m-1 pode ser indicada para obter maior produtividade, sem grandes perdas na qualidade das frutas da cultivar Camarosa em sistema hidropônico NFT. Os resultados obtidos no segundo experimento indicam que o crescimento e a produtividade individual das plantas da cultivar de morangueiro Camino Real não foram afetados pela elevação da densidade de plantio, no intervalo entre 9,3 e 15,0 plantas m-2. O crescimento e a produtividade por unidade de área, bem como as características químicas relacionadas à qualidade organoléptica das frutas (concentração de SST e relação SST/ATT), apresentaram resposta linear ao incremento da densidade de plantio. Sugere-se a adoção da densidade de plantio de 12,5 plantas m-2, que proporciona rendimento elevado e frutas com adequadas características organolépticas e redução no número de mudas necessárias, em relação à densidade de 15,0 plantas m-2. Porém, existe a necessidade de desenvolver novos estudos com a cultivar Camino Real, a fim de promover adaptações no sistema e seu manejo e verificar a viabilidade econômica de seu cultivo em hidroponia.

<p>\textbf{Chapter 1}\\</p> <p>This paper explores the implications of the mismatch hypothesis in the context of the labor market using a survey on newly licensed US lawyers called the After the JD Study. Using a triple difference approach, I measure the impact of diversity quotas on marginal minority workers’ future salaries, promotion rates, and leaving rates for occupation and job. With middling statistical power, my findings are in line with the mismatch hypothesis in that beneficiaries of the diversity quota policy are made ex-ante worse off. My findings are also in line with recent literature on diminishing racial outcome gaps by skill.</p> <p><br></p> <p>\textbf{Chapter 2}\\</p> <p>In this paper, we provide theoretical framework for three models of Digital Media Firm behavior called \textit{Premium}, \textit{Free-to-Play}, and \textit{Play-to-Earn} as well as suggest an empirical measure of firm ponzi-likeness. First, we study a baseline model optimal price and quality of a digital product, the premium model. Second, we extend the baseline model where some customers, called minnows, receive the product for free and other customers, called whales, pay a price for a better version of the product, this is the free-to-play model. Finally, we explore a model where customers receive a security-like asset from the firm and this asset acts like a negative price while also subsidizing the firm's revenue. This final model provides an environment for much research. We show that, even when firms are ponzi-schemes in this final model, quality of the product need not be at a minimum. We also briefly discuss how one would measure the ponzi-likeness of a digital media firm in the third model setting. </p> <p><br></p> <p>\textbf{Chapter 3}\\</p> <p>In this paper, I explore unique measures of racial prejudice and their impact on black wages in the labor market using the General Social Survey, Current Population Survey and the NLSY79. I generate two variables to proxy for racial prejudice which are extracted from the GSS and the NLSY79. The first variable, drawn from the GSS, measures prejudice sentiment towards blacks and the second, drawn from the NLSY79, measures individual experience with racial discrimination. I use these measurements to proxy for racial prejudice and its impact on the black-white wage gap. I find that these variables are two distinctly different measures of racial discrimination in the labor market, providing a powerful instrument for measuring racial discrimination in the labor market. They also provide the insight that, while racial prejudice may be high in certain occupations and regions, this sentiment does not directly impact black outcomes. Specifically, wages are more sensitive to racial prejudice in WC jobs than in BC jobs. </p>

No description available.

No description available.

Handeln av non-fungible tokens (NFT) har vuxit fram i en drastisk fart de senaste tre åren med försäljningar till miljonbelopp. Begreppet non-fungible åsyftar en icke-utbytbar egendom som karaktäriseras av sin unika kvalité och dessa tokens bygger på blockkedjeteknik med decentraliserade system. NFT:s effektiviserar överlåtelsetransaktioner av såväl materiell som immateriell egendom genom kryptering av äganderättigheter.  Den här framställningen syftar till att studera ägande i förhållande till ny teknik och egendomsslaget kyprotillgångar. I uppsatsen utreds vilket äganderättsligt skydd som ges till innehavaren av en NFT och i vilka specifika delar de ur tekniken härrörande riskerna inte omfattas av förevarande lagstiftning. För att utreda rättsläget för dessa tokens görs en genomgång av äganderättsliga och immaterialrättsliga bestämmelser ämnat att bilda en förståelse för traditionella egendomsslag och hur ägandeskap har förändrats i takt med samhällsutvecklingen. Vidare görs en övergripande presentation av decentraliserade databaser, blockkedjor samt smarta kontrakt, vilka utgör teknologin bakom NFT:s. Därtill görs en längre studie av en NFT och dess risker, följt av en redogörelse för de bestämmelser som appliceras på handeln av dessa tokens idag. Avslutningsvis dras slutsatserna att ett förvärv av en NFT enbart ger äganderätt till denna token och inte per automatik ger äganderätt till ytterligare egendom. En sådan äganderätt tilllerkänner innehavaren en ensamrätt att använda, att modifiera, att sälja samt att exkludera andra från egendomen. I den mån en NFT även är tänkt att representera en underliggande tillgång krävs att parter överenskommit om det. Förutsatt att ett smart kontrakt erkänns som juridiskt bindande kan det ensamt aktualisera köplagen och andra avtalsrättsliga bestämmelser. Ett juridisk erkännande är avgörande och fram tills att så skett krävs en separat överenskommelse mellan kontraktsparter bortom blockkedjan. Kontrollen och besittningen över tillgångarna kan få praktisk betydelse. Framställningen landar i att NFT:s är unika, såväl i karaktär som i funktion, och bör betraktas som sui generis i stället för att försöka omfattas av redan befintlig lagstiftning. Förevarande lagstiftning är otillfredsställande och i praktiken är det svårt att vidga bestämmelser att även omfatta denna nya teknologi. Därför är ytterligare skyddsregler nödvändiga och teknologin fordrar skydd i en lagstiftning efter sitt eget slag, särskilt anpassad för handeln av NFT:s.