The purpose of the thesis was to identify the tech startups main organizational resources and capabilities received from the Stockholm cluster. Correspondently, how those encourage to sustained competitive advantage internationally. The aim was to ensure a deeper understanding with a qualitative research method with a multiple case study and an abductive approach. The empirical findings were based on seven case companies that were committing within the tech sector and were internationalized. Further, the literature review takes off with the definition of the segment, namely the tech startups followed by industrial cluster, the network - and social network theory, the Resource-based view with concertation on the different firms’ resources, the VRIO framework, and capabilities, and thereby internationalization including international competitiveness. The conceptual framework has illustrated the correlation between investigated variables, mentioned above. Moreover, the empirical findings chapter was constituted of primary data presented by the seven companies. The analysis was established on the basis of the three voices, which are theoretical, empirical and authors to examine contrast and correlation with each other. The analysis part was followed by a conclusion chapter that presented the main findings/conclusions, thus answered the research question. In addition, the chapter provided with implications, , limitation and recommendations for future research.   The findings displayed that the main organizational resources and capabilities obtained from Stockholm consist of human and financial capital, alliances and relationships, innovation/technology and reputation. However, they are only three of them that bring sustained competitive advantage, which are the human capital, alliance and relationships, and reputation capability.

Attention is a key mental function in everyday life, but unfortunately we easily get distracted. The brain correlates underlying sustained attention, the so-called sustained attention network (SAN), have been well identified, as have the brain correlates underlying mind-wandering, the so-called default mode network (DMN). Nevertheless, even though we know about the underlying brain processes, this knowledge has not yet been translated in advanced brain-based attention training protocols. Here we proposed to use a novel brain imaging technique based on real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to provide individuals with information about ongoing levels of activity in the attention and the default mode networks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that, with the help of that fMRI-neurofeedback, individuals can learn how to improve controlling of, at the same time, SAN activation and DMN deactivation. This learning process was explained mainly in terms of DMN deactivation. Behavioral effects were observed when separating a group with the best learners in an overall measure of attention and specifically in the task-switching ability, controlled by a test-retest group performing the same behavioral tests battery. Neurofeedback-induced functional connectivity changes were also observed in multiple brain regions positively and negatively related to attention. Although the behavioral effects were no longer present two months after training, participants still held the learned ability of controlling self-regulation of the concerned networks. This approach potentially provides a non-invasive and non-pharmacological tool to deliver general enhancements in the attention ability for healthy subjects and it can be potentially beneficial to many neurological and psychiatric patients. We also show in this thesis compelling evidence that brain regions definition and other experimental parameters are crucial for inducing learning of self-regulation via fMRI-neurofeedback, in a similar study also considering differential signal of attention-related competitive networks. We finally present Personode, a useful, easy to use, and open access toolbox to neuroimaging researchers, for independent component analysis maps classification into canonical resting-state networks and regions-of--interest definition in individual and group levels. We also show that the toolbox leads to better results for task-induced activation and functional connectivity analyses. / A atenção é uma função mental crucial na vida cotidiana, mas infelizmente distrai-se facilmente. Os fundamentos cerebrais que sustentam a atenção, a chamada rede de atenção, foram satisfatoriamente identificados, assim como os fundamentos cerebrais que sustentam a divagação, a chamada rede de modo padrão. Entretanto, embora tais processos sejam conhecidos, este conhecimento ainda não foi transformado em protocolos avançados de treinamento de atenção baseado na atividade cerebral. Portanto, é proposto o uso de uma nova técnica baseada em imageamento por ressonância funcional (fMRI) em tempo real para proporcionar aos indivíduos informação sobre os níveis de atividade cerebral atuais nas redes de atenção e de modo padrão. Segundo nosso conhecimento atual, esse é o primeiro estudo a mostrar que, com o auxílio do neurofeedback baseado em fMRI, indivíduos podem aprender como melhorar o controle da ativação da rede de atenção e da desativação da rede de modo padrão ao mesmo tempo. Este processo de treinamento poderia ser explicado principalmente em termos da desativação da rede de modo padrão. Efeitos comportamentais foram observados, ao separar um grupo com os melhores aprendizes, em uma medida de atenção geral e, especificamente, na habilidade de alternação de tarefas, controlado por um grupo teste-reteste realizando a mesma bateria de testes comportamentais. Alterações em conectividade funcional induzidas por neurofeedback foram também reveladas em múltiplas regiões cerebrais positiva e negativamente relacionadas à atenção. Embora os efeitos comportamentais não puderam ser constatados depois de dois meses após o treinamento, os participantes ainda mantiveram a habilidade de controlar a autorregulação das redes em questão. Esse método provê uma ferramenta não-invasiva e não-farmacológica para proporcionar melhorias gerais na habilidade de atenção para sujeitos saudáveis, o que pode ser potencialmente benéfico para muitos pacientes de desordens neurológicas e psiquiátricas. Nesta tese, são mostradas evidências convincentes de que a definição de redes cerebrais e outros parâmetros experimentais de neurofeedback baseado em fMRI são decisivos para a indução do aprendizado de autorregulação, em um estudo similar, também considerando o sinal diferencial de redes competitivas relacionadas à atenção. Finalmente, é apresentado Personode, uma ferramenta útil, de fácil utilização e de livre acesso direcionado a pesquisadores em neuroimagem, para classificação de mapas produzidos por uma análise de componentes independentes em redes de repouso canônicas e definições de regiões de interesse em níveis individuais e de grupo. É também mostrado que a ferramenta conduz a melhores resultados para análises de ativação induzida à tarefa e conectividade funcional.

A influência da atenção em processos de tomada de decisões é frequentemente avaliada através da tarefa denominada \"two-alternative choice\", em que os animais são treinados a emitir respostas baseadas na detecção e discriminação de dois estímulos discretos. Pela sua própria natureza, as possibilidades de se manipular a demanda atencional nessas tarefas é relativamente restrita. O desenho experimental básico adotado no presente conjunto de experimentos almejou possibilitar a variação das demandas atencionais durante o desempenho de uma tarefa que envolve discriminação auditiva, por meio da apresentação de sequências variáveis de \"beeps\" de mesma frequência (estímulos sonoros não informativos de 6 kHz) apresentados bilateralmente, seguidos de um estímulo informativo, um beep distinto de 3 ou 10 kHz, apresentado (1) bilateralmente, cuja frequência sinaliza a resposta a ser emitida (Experimento 1), ou (2) unilateralmente, cujo local de apresentação sinaliza a resposta a ser emitida (Experimento 2). No Experimento 1 observou-se uma redução dos tempos de reação para os estímulos alvo e uma redução da porcentagem de erros de comissão em função do aumento do número de estímulos não informativos, para ambos os estímulos informativos numa primeira fase e apenas para o de 10 kHz após a reversão da resposta inicialmente treinada. Curiosamente, os tempos de reação para o estímulo alvo de 10 kHz foram maiores em relação aos exibidos para o estímulo alvo de 3 kHz. Por outro lado, a redução da porcentagem de erros de comissão foi mais acentuada nas tentativas envolvendo o estímulo alvo de 10 kHz. No Experimento 2 houve aumento dos tempos de reação em função do aumento do número de estímulos não informativos apresentados. Os tempos de reação para o estímulo alvo de 10 kHz apresentado no lado esquerdo foram maiores em relação ao lado direito e também em relação ao estímulo alvo de 3 kHz apresentado no lado esquerdo ou direito. No mesmo sentido, houve menor percentagem de respostas corretas e maior percentagem de erros de comissão quando o estimulo alvo de 10 kHz foi apresentado no lado esquerdo. A porcentagem de respostas corretas assim como a redução dos tempos de reação são maiores no Experimento 2 em relação ao Experimento 1, sugerindo que nas presentes condições experimentais a identificação da fonte sonora é mais prontamente detectada do que a diferença de frequência dos estímulos alvo. Em conjunto os resultados obtidos mostram que o engajamento e manutenção de recursos atencionais longo do tempo variam em função da natureza periférica ou simbólica do estímulo alvo utilizado. A variação da frequência sonora dos estímulos alvo apresentados após uma sequência de estímulos não informativos também influencia o desempenho dos animais / The influence of attention in decision making processes is usually evaluated using two-alternative choice tasks in which the subjects react relying on detection and discrimination of two discrete stimuli. The possibilities of manipulating attentional demands in this kind of task is relatively restricted. The experimental design employed in the present experiments aimed at providing ways to manipulate the attentional demands during performance of an auditory task. This was achieved by presenting variable sequences of non-informative 6 kHz beeps, bilaterally, followed by one distinctive (either 3 or 10 kHz) informative beep presented either (1) bilaterally such that the frequency identifies the required response (Experiment 1) or (2) unilaterally such that the place of presentation identifies the required response (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1 data showed a decrease in both reaction times for target stimuli and percentage of comission errors as a function of the number of non-informative stimuli. These effects occurred early in training for both, 3 and 10 kHz target stimuli, and only for 10 kHz target stimulus after reversal of training. Interestingly, reaction times for 10 kHz target stimuli were longer relative to those seen for 3 kHz target stimuli. In contrast, reduction of the percentage of comission errors was stronger in trials using 10 kHz target stimuli. In Experiment 2 reaction times increased as a function of the increase in the number of non-informative stimuli. In addition, reaction times for 10 kHz target stimuli presented in the left side were longer as compared to both 10 kHz target stimuli presented in the right side and 3 kHz stimuli presented in both sides. Congruently, a smaller percentage of correct responses and a greater percentage of comission errors were seen when the 10 kHz target stimuli were presented in the left side. The percentage of correct responses and reaction times reduction were greater in the Experiment 2 as compared to Experiment 1, suggesting that in the present experimental conditions, identification of the place for stimulus presentation is prompter as compared to the difference in the frequency of the target stimuli. Together these results show that engagement and maintenance of attentional resources along time vary as a function of the peripheral and simbolic nature of the target stimuli. The frequency of target stimuli presented after a variable sequence of non-informative stimuli also interferes in performance of the subject

Les systèmes in situ sont des liquides à base de polymère et de solvant organique pharmaceutiquement acceptable, contenant le principe actif. Après injection sous-cutanée, lors du contact avec les fluides corporels, le polymère précipite sous forme d'implant (ISI) ou de microparticules (ISM) qui se dégradent progressivement en libérant le principe actif. Dans ce travail, des ISI et des ISM réalisés à partir d'un copolymère d'acide lactique et glycolique ont été développés pour la libération prolongée de S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), des donneurs de monoxyde d'azote. L'influence du type de formulation, du solvant, de l'hydrophobie du principe actif et de l'environnement (in vitro ou in vivo) sur la solidification, la dégradation de la matrice polymérique et sur la libération du RSNO ont été étudiés. Les expériences in vivo ont prouvé la prolongation par la formulation de l'effet des RSNO sur la pression artérielle chez le rat (jusque 42 h). Néanmoins, le temps de dégradation des formulations est supérieur à 1 mois et doit donc être optimisé pour une application de longue durée. Le potentiel de ces formulations dans un modèle d'infarctus a été évalué. La faisabilité d'une injection directe dans le myocarde infarci a été démontrée. D'après les premiers résultats, ces implants chargés en RSNO permettraient d'améliorer la perfusion du coeur. Enfin, la porosité de ces systèmes augmente durant leur dégradation, ce qui rend la matrice susceptible de recruter et d'héberger des cellules. In vitro, des ISI ont permis l'adhésion et la prolifération de cellules musculaires. Ces formulations adaptées aux RSNO pourraient constituer un outil thérapeutique dans le cadre des maladies ischémiques / In situ forming injectable systems are liquids based of a polymer and a pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent, to which drug is added. After subcutaneous injection, contact with aqueous body fluids triggers polymer precipitation as implant (ISI) or microparticles (ISM). This matrix degrades then slowly while releasing the drug. In this work, ISI and ISM made of a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid were developed for sustained release of S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), prodrugs of nitric oxide. Influence of formulation type, solvent, drug hydrophobicity and environment (in vitro vs in vivo) on polymeric matrix solidification, degradation and on RSNO release was studied. In vivo experiments proved that formulation extend (until 42 h) RSNO effect on arterial pressure of rats. However, matrix life-span is higher than 1 month, thus need optimization in view of an application requiring a long lasting release. Evaluation of these formulations has begun in a model of cardiac infarction. First, the feasibility of a direct injection into the infarct area has been established. Second, first results seem to indicate that these implants loaded with RSNO could enhance heart perfusion. Finally, porosity of these systems increases during their degradation, allowing cell recruitment and colonization of resulting matrix. An in vitro study conducted on implants with porosity artificially increased showed adhesion and proliferation of muscular cells seeded onto the systems. As a result, in situ formulations are suitable drug delivery systems for S-nitrosothiols, and represent a potential therapeutic tool, in particular in the field of ischemic diseases

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-06-04T12:32:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Adriana Posenato.pdf: 594960 bytes, checksum: d7e99144afc1d2927d22547fb11bcb2c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-04T12:32:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Adriana Posenato.pdf: 594960 bytes, checksum: d7e99144afc1d2927d22547fb11bcb2c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Objective: To verify the influence of the sustained auditory attention ability in the results of the central auditory processing conventional tests of students from a public school of São Paulo. Method: Observational and transversal clinical study were carried out in 49 children without any hearing loss (29 of the male and 20 females of nine years old). For the evaluation, the following tests were used: audiometry tonal and vocal, measurements of acoustic imitância, test of the ability of sustained auditory attention (THAAS), Speech test with Noise (TFR), Monótica and Dicótica Listening test with sentence identification (SSI), digit Dicótico test (TDD), masking differential threshold (MLD), Gaps in Noise (GIN), frequency pattern (PPS) and duration pattern test (DPS). Results: Of the total sample, 27 (55.1%) children presented normal results in all procedures (THAAS and central auditory processing tests) while (22 – 44.9%) showed change in at least one of the tests. The test that presented the largest number of altered cases was the THAAS (14-29%) followed by the integration TDD test (8-16.3%). In the THAAS test, the analysis of the total errors identified 35 (71%) with responses within the normality standards for age and 14 (29%) with non-compliant responses, being seven (50%) of the male gender and seven (50%) of the female. Statistically significant differences between THAAS and gender results were not observed. In the Association test Qui-square using the result of total errors of the THAAS as an outcome (normal and altered category) showed evidence of association with the tests TDD integration (P = 0.020) and TDD separation (P = 0.007). For the result of the THAAS divided into three categories (≤ 5, from 6 to 26 and ≥ 27), associations were observed with the tests TDD integration, TDD separation and MLD (P-values equal to 0.044, 0.025 and 0.027, respectively). Conclusions: The ability of sustained auditory attention has been associated with both the hearing ability of a background for verbal sounds and the ability of binaural interaction. There is also evidence of the influence of the auditory attention sustained in the results of some tests used to evaluate the cap. A criteria for the use of the test is necessary due to the fact that its demand differ among the central auditory processing tests / Objetivo: verificar se a habilidade da atenção auditiva sustentada influência nos resultados de testes convencionais de avaliação do processamento auditivo central em crianças de nove anos de idade, estudantes de uma escola pública de São Paulo. Método: estudo clínico observacional e transversal, realizado em 49 crianças sem perdas auditivas (29 do gênero masculino e 20 do feminino, todos com nove anos de idade. Para avaliação foram utilizados os seguintes testes: audiometria tonal e vocal, medidas de imitância acústica, teste da habilidade de atenção auditiva sustentada (THAAS), teste de fala com ruído (TFR), synthetic sentence identification(SSI), teste dicótico de dígitos (TDD) nas etapas de separação e integração, masking level difference (MLD), Gaps in noise (GIN),pitch pattern sequence test (PPS), duration patternsequence test (DPS). Resultados: Do total da amostra, 27 (55,1%) crianças apresentaram resultados normais em todos os procedimentos (THAAS e testes de processamento auditivo central). Os demais (22 – 44,9%) apresentaram alteração em pelo menos um dos testes. O teste que apresentou o maior número de casos alterados foi o THAAS (14 - 29%), seguido do TDD Integração (8 - 16,3%). No teste THAAS, a análise do total de erros identificou 35 (71%) com respostas dentro dos padrões da normalidade para a idade e 14 (29%) com respostas não compatíveis, sendo sete (50%) do gênero masculino e sete (50%) do feminino. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre resultados do THAAS e gênero. No teste de associação qui-quadrado utilizando o resultado de total de erros do THAAS como desfecho (categoria normal e alterado), houve evidência de associação com os testes TDD Integração (p= 0,020) e TDD Separação (p= 0,007). Para o resultado do THAAS dividido em três categorias (≤ 5, de 6 até 26 e ≥ 27), foram observadas associações com os testes TDD Integração, TDD Separação e MLD (valores-p iguais a 0,044, 0,025 e 0,027, respectivamente). Conclusões: Na amostra da presente pesquisa, a habilidade de atenção auditiva sustentada mostrou-se associada tanto à habilidade auditiva de figura fundo para sons verbais, quanto a habilidade de interação binaural. Há evidências de influência da atenção auditiva sustentada nos resultados de alguns testes usados para avaliar o PAC. Necessário critério para o uso do teste, pois sua demanda difere entre os testes de processamento auditivo central

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka effekten av en dos mindfulness session på 45 minuter och dess relation till: (1) Upprätthållandet av uppmärksamhetsförmågan, (2) exekutiv uppmärksamhetsförmåga samt (3) perceptuell förmåga. En experimentell studie genomfördes på idrottare (n=48) som uppfyllde särskilda krav för att få ingå i studien. Resultatet visade inga signifikanta skillnader gällande samtliga tre variabler mellan experimentgrupp och kontrollgrupp. Avslutningsvis diskuteras studiens resultat och implikationer i förhållande till tidigare forskning, med stöd av teoretiska referensramar. / The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of one 45 minute mindfulness session on: (1) Sustained attention abilities, (2) executive attention abilities, and (3) perceptual abilities. An experimental study was carried out on athletes (n = 48) who all met the specific requirements for being able to participate in this study. The results showed no significant difference in all three variables between the experiment group and the control group. In conclusion, the results and implications are discussed in relation to previous research, supported by theoretical frames of references.

Les connaissances actuelles indiquent la nécessité d’induire une réponse immunitaire à large spectre et notamment des anticorps multifonctionnels pour protéger de l’infection par le VIH. Les approches vaccinales traditionnelles n’étant pas capables d’induire d’anticorps neutralisants à large spectre (bNAbs) suffisamment puissants contre le VIH-1, des stratégies alternatives sont étudiées afin d’induire ces bnAbs. Les avancées majeures concernent le développement de (i) glycoprotéines d’enveloppe optimisées comme immunogène, (ii) vecteurs transportant et présentant l’immunogène de manière efficace et (iii) la forme galénique permettant d’augmenter la durabilité de la réponse protectrice. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de ce doctorat est d’évaluer les réponses immunitaires induites par des nanoparticules biodégradables fonctionnalisées avec des glycoprotéines d’enveloppe du VIH et d’optimiser la libération prolongée in vivo de l’immunogène. Dans un premier temps, nous avons comparé plusieurs glycoprotéines et sélectionné une glycoprotéine d’isolat primaire optimisée (SOSIP BG505) pour ses capacités à s’adsorber de manière stable à la surface des nanoparticules biodégradables, tout en exposant les épitopes de neutralisation, et capable d’induire in vivo une réponse immunitaire systémique. Nous avons ensuite conçu un hydrogel thermosensible à base de poloxamers capable d’incorporer ces nanoparticules tout en gardant leur stabilité colloïdale et analysé leur biodistribution par imagerie corps entier chez la souris. L’injection par voie sous cutanée de cet hydrogel permet d’induire une réponse immunitaire humorale forte, stable et des IgGs de forte affinité. Cette nouvelle formulation, innovante et simple à mettre en place, apparait comme une nouvelle stratégie de vaccination applicable à de nombreuses pathologies virales nécessitant l’induction d’anticorps neutralisant de forte affinité et à large spectre / Current knowledge indicates the need to induce a broad-spectrum immune response including multifunctional antibodies to protect against HIV infection. As traditional vaccine approaches are not capable of inducing potent broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1, alternative strategies are being investigated to induce these bnAbs. Major advances include the development of (i) optimized envelope glycoproteins as immunogens, (ii) efficiently carrying and immunogenic carriers, and (iii) the dosage form that would increase the durability of the protective response. In this context, the objective of this PhD is to evaluate the immune responses induced by biodegradable nanoparticles functionalized with HIV envelope glycoproteins and to optimize the in vivo sustained release of the immunogen.First, we compared several glycoproteins and selected an optimized primary isolate glycoprotein (SOSIP BG505) for its ability to be adsorbed to the surface of biodegradable nanoparticles, while exposing neutralization epitopes, and capable of inducing a systemic immune response in vivo. We then designed a thermosensitive, poloxamers-based hydrogel, capable of incorporating these nanoparticles while maintaining their colloidal stability and we have analyzed their biodistribution by whole-body imaging in mice. The subcutaneous injection of this hydrogel makes it possible to induce a strong, stable humoral immune response with high affinity IgGs. This new formulation, innovative and easy to implement, appears as a new vaccination strategy applicable to many viral diseases requiring the induction of high affinity neutralizing antibodies and broad spectrum

Aeroacoustic whistles are a significant source of customer complaints to automotive manufacturers. Whistles can occur on many such components, but the relative position and configuration of rearview mirrors means they are a more problematic source of tonal noise on vehicles. The low subsonic complex turbulent flow, combined with small cavity scales, determines the possible whistle mechanisms. The one considered to be most problematic, fluid-dynamic cavity resonance, is the topic of this research thesis. The research scope is limited to the automotive environment of external rearview mirrors and the fluid-dynamic resonance mechanism: low subsonic Mach number, M = 0.05 - 0.13; laminar boundary layers; and two-dimensional, acoustically compact cavities. The low unit-cost of rearview mirrors and the desire to have simple identification and prediction schemes, that could be used by production engineers, determined an empirical approach. A search of the existing literature revealed that there were some data on cavities of the above scale in low Mach number flow, but quoted errors in empirical descriptions were large and there was very little research on the effects of flow yaw angle on the chosen resonance mechanism. The research therefore aims to determine whether existing empirical descriptions of fluid-dynamic cavity resonance are suitable for the prediction of the resonance characteristics, with sufficient accuracy to enable unambiguous identification of the presence of the resonance and its mechanism. A second aim is to investigate the effects of a feature of the automotive flow environment, flow yaw angle, on the resonance. Flow yaw angle is determined by those components of the flow in the same plane as the surface in which the cavity is situated. An experimental program was undertaken using a purpose-built aeroacoustic wind tunnel and a simple cavity model. Testing with two types of cavity configurations, as well as flow visualisation, investigated the main features of the resonance in time-averaged yawed flow. Within the scope of this thesis, it is shown that fluid-dynamic cavity resonance characteristics can be accurately identified by a simple empirical model, even in yawed flow. Various descriptors allow identification of the resonance threshold, stage, frequency and relative amplitude in non-yawed flow, while the frequency and stage can also be identified in yawed flow. The relative decrease in resonance amplitude in yawed flow, although identified for these experiments, would depend on the degree of spanwise variation in the boundary layer characteristics for a given cavity configuration. The results also identify significant issues with testing in a free jet tunnel, due to the nature of fluid-dynamic cavity resonance and the fluctuation energy content in free shear layers. Despite this, the thesis aims are achieved, and appropriate design guidelines are produced for automotive designers.

<p>This thesis is a collection of seven papers reporting a research effort that started in January 1999. The theme of the thesis is interaction support for mobile CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work). The interest in this theme is motivated by the trend towards a networked and nomadic society, the technical trends towards embedded, ubiquitous, and mobile technology, and the emergence of mobile CSCW settings. It is also motivated by current trends within the area of CSCW to focus on actual work practices, invisible and ubiquitous computer support, and mobile work settings where interaction with others is critical to get the work done.</p><p>For some time now mobile technology has been widely used to support dispersed mobile interaction, and recently the importance of co-located ”mobile meetings” to get the work done, has been recognized in the area of CSCW. However, current technology is not well suited when it comes to support interaction in mobile work settings across co-located and dispersed settings. Here, this problem is approached from an informatics perspective. Informatics can be described as a theory and design oriented study of information technology use. The scope of this thesis can be defined as understanding transformations of work practice through the use of mobile technology, and how it might be supported. The overall research question is: What are the specific needs of interaction support related to mobile meetings and dispersed interaction, how might these be supported, and what are the implications for current interaction models and support within CSCW? To answer this question several activities have been undertaken. This thesis contains empirical studies of mobile work among service technicians at Telia Nära, models of mobility and mobile meetings, and design and evaluations of a prototype system called RoamWare.</p><p>The overall conclusions related to the question stated in this thesis are that mobile interaction can be described as ongoing across mobile meetings, including both co-located face-to-face and dispersed interaction. Further, the interaction is maintained by the mobile workers through their efforts of re-establishing different threads of interaction across co-located and dispersed settings. Overall: There is a need to bridge co-located and dispersed meetings with sustained interaction support. Concerning the second part of the overall research question one conclusion is that sustained interaction across co-located and dispersed settings can be supported with mobile physical/virtual meetings support systems through the use of personal and public interaction histories. To illustrate and test this idea a prototype system called RoamWare was developed. However, evaluations of RoamWare revealed that synchronous support for sustained interaction divides users’ attention between co-located and dispersed interaction. As a consequence a second version of RoamWare was developed as an unobtrusive support for sustained interaction in between mobile meetings through seamless reestablishment of different threads of interaction, by offering support for converting interaction histories into project contexts. Finally, and according to the last part of the question stated above, this thesis concludes that current session management models need to be extended to handle sustained and dynamic sessions of interaction across co-located and dispersed mobile meetings and that, techniques for addressing groups need to be extended to enable dynamic addressing of participants in co-located mobile meeting. Finally, the exploration of how to support sustained interaction in between mobile meetings reveals important aspects to consider when trying to automatically frame spontaneous interaction with mobile technology.</p><p>Directions for future work include questions of how to design filters to support: maintenance, participation in, and negotiation about participation in between, different mobile meetings. Further, more work is needed related to how to capture spontaneous face-to-face interaction technically. Finally, new methods are needed to enable good evaluations of the impact of IT in mobile work settings.</p>

<p>The central theme of the present thesis revolves around the exploration of similarities and differences in brain activity patterns invoked by the component processes underlying mnemonic, executive and attentional functions. The primary aim was to identify and functionally characterize commonly recruited brain regions in terms of shared component processes, which has been a largely neglected area of research in cognitive neuroscience. The vast majority of functional brain imaging investigations of cognition has focused on delineating differences between cognitive functions or processes, with the purpose of isolating the unique functional neuroanatomy that underlies specific cognitive domains. By contrast, the present thesis builds on the results from three imaging studies that focused primarily on detecting commonalities in functional brain activity across different forms of memory processes. In study I, the imaging data from two positron emission tomography (PET) experiments were re-analyzed to identify common activation patterns associated with nine different memory tasks incorporated across the experiments, three each separately indexing working memory, episodic memory, and semantic memory. A generic prefrontal cortex (PFC) network involving discrete subregions of the left hemisphere located in ventrolateral (BA 45/47), dorsolateral (BA 9/44/46), and frontopolar (BA 10) sectors of PFC, as well as a midline portion of the frontal lobes, encompassing the dorsal part of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (BA 24/32), was conjointly recruited across all tasks. In study II, we used a novel mixed blocked/event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) design, which enables separation of brain responses associated with different temporal dynamics to further investigate commonalities of neural activation across working memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and attention/vigilance. A similar set of common PFC regions, as that discovered in Study I, was found to elicit overlapping brain activity across all memory tasks, with a subset of regions also activated in the attention/vigilance task. Furthermore, the task-induced brain activity was dissociated in terms of the temporal profiles of the evoked neural responses. A common pattern of sustained activity seen across all memory tasks and the attention task involved bilateral (predominantly right-lateralized) ventrolateral PFC (BA 45/47), and the dorsal ACC (BA 24/32), which was assumed to reflect general processes of attention/vigilance. A pattern of sustained activity elicited in all memory tasks, in the absence of attention-related activity, involved the right frontopolar cortex (BA 10), which was assumed to reflect control processes underlying task set maintenance. In addition, common transient activation evoked in the memory tasks relative to the attention task was found in the dorsolateral (BA 9/44) and ventrolateral (BA 47) PFC, the superior parietal cortex (BA 7), and cerebellum. In study III, a mixed fMRI design was used to assess the degree of common brain activity associated with increased executive demand, which was independently manipulated within episodic and working memory. Unitary control modulations involved a shared tonic executive component subserved by fronto-striatal-cerebellar circuitry, assumed to govern top-down context processing throughout task periods, and a stimulus-synchronous phasic component mediated by the intraparietal sulcus (BA 7), assumed to support dynamic shifting of the ‘focus of attention’ among internal representations. Collectively, the theoretical implications of shared neural mechanisms are discussed, with a special focus on human memory and its multifaceted relationships with attention and executive control functions. Finally, the presented imaging data are used to outline a tentative hierarchical neurocognitive model that attempts to give an account of how different unitary component processes might work together during cognitive task performance.</p>