This study aims to evaluate the preferences of drivers in Sweden, in regard to incar digital media players. As interfaces in cars, to some extent, are taking over thefunctionality of physical buttons and knobs, it is increasingly important for carmanufacturers to better understand what their users prefer.Through an analysis of current trends and measurements of user preferences, wehave identified areas for improvement and further development of these mediaplayer interfaces. These suggested improvements are as follows: • Using the screen real estate for important items • Emphasizing important elements by more efficient use of spacing andsizing • Removing or hiding menu items that are used sparingly • Using the concept of familiarity to create more user-friendly interfaces

Application mobile devient un canal important de l'accès internet mobile. Trois groupes d'utilisateurs finaux affiliés avec deux plates-formes bifaces sur le marché d'applications mobiles ont attiré une attention considérable. App store (App-store) est une plate-forme de distribution de l'application connectée avec les développeurs et les utilisateurs. Plateforme de publicitaire (Ad-store) fournit des services de publicité pour les annonceurs grâce à des applications de développeurs. Sur ce marché, les développeurs, les annonceurs et les utilisateurs sont trois groupes d'utilisateurs finaux. Le marché de l'application mobile est un marché biface compliqué. Il y a des externalités de réseau étendues et interactives. L’étude se concentre sur les stratégies de tarification pour la plate-forme App-store. L'App-store et Ad-store sont les deux plates-formes bifaces. L’App-store partage les revenus des ventes d'applications avec les développeurs. L'Ad-store partage les revenus publicitaires avec les développeurs. La plate-forme App-store met en oeuvre la tarification asymétrique côté développeur et côté utilisateur. Côté développeur est le côté de la subvention ainsi que du côté des recettes pour la plateforme App-store. Le cout d'achat de l'appareil mobile est une déterminante particulière de tarification. Les redevances d'adhésion sont négligeables dans ce marché et les redevances d'utilisation sont réalisables. C'est un duopole sur le marché des applications mobiles. Le modèle des ventes d'appareils mobiles d'Apple et le modèle d'in-app publicité de Google sont extrêmement réussis. App-store, Ad-store et les appareils mobiles sont les trois points de génération de profits. / Mobile app is becoming an important mobile internet access channel. Three groups of end users affiliated with two Two-sided platforms in the mobile app market have attracted considerable attention. App store platform (App-store) is an app distribution platform connected with developers and users. App ad platform (Ad-store) supplies advertising services for advertisers through developers’ apps. Developers, users and advertisers are end users. Mobile app market is a complicated two-sided market. There are widespread and interactive network externalities. The study focuses on the pricing strategies for the app store platform. App-store shares paid app sales and in-app purchase revenues with developers. Ad-store shares in-app advertising revenues with developers. The App-store platform implements asymmetric pricing to developer side and user side. Developer side is the subsidy side as well as the revenue side for App-store platform. Mobile device purchasing cost constitutes a particular App-store platform pricing determinant. Membership fees are negligible in the mobile app market. Usage fee is workable. It is a duopoly in the mobile app market. Apple and Google are the two giants with distinct business models. Both Apple’s mobile device sales model and Google’s in-app advertising model are extremely successful. App-store, Ad-store and mobile devices are the three key profit makers in this market. Vertical integration inside this ecosystem will generate considerable revenues. Chinese users have higher price elasticity of demand and they are particularly sensitive to the app prices when compared with the French.

Introduction. The Apple shelf is an established concept at public libraries in Sweden. These shelves contain accessible books and other media for disabled people of varying ages. A recent discussion within the librarian profession challenges the name – is there a better alternative to “The Apple shelf”? Our study aimed to gather both librarian and target group opinions of the current name and its suggested alternatives, and attempts to understand potential stigmatization with the application of Goffmans stigma theory.      Method. A multimethod (triangulation) approach was applied to collect data. An online survey was sent to all public libraries in the regions of Västerbotten, Västmanland and Uppsala; semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians, parents of disabled children, and a disabled youth accompanied by an aide; and an instance of participant observation was done in a network meeting setting. Recorded and transcribed interviews, survey responses, and meeting notes respectively formed the basis for the study’s analysis.  Analysis. A qualitative thematic analysis of the collected data found 4 common themes: (1) User and Target Group, (2) Name, (3) Shelf Arrangement, and (4) Awareness and Marketing. Goffman’s stigma theory was applied to each theme to highlight stigmatization risks related to both the existing name and proposed alternatives. Results. The Apple Shelf caters to a wider audience than originally intended. Both the current ”Apple Shelf” name and its proposed alternatives have advantages and disadvantages related to stigmatization.  Conclusion. Regardless of what name is chosen for Apple shelf it must be explained and marketed to the public. We argue that including disabled people in library changes, as well as actively updating and promoting the shelf locally, are more important than this change of name.     This is a two-year master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

Cloud-based assistants like the Google Home and the Amazon Alexa have become ubiquitous in our homes. Users can simply communicate with the devices using a smartphone application. There are privacy concerns associated with cloud-based assistants. For example, users do not know what type of information is being sent to the device manufacturer, if the device is stealthily listening to conversations, data retention, or who else has access to the data. Privacy is about perception. The goal of this study is to determine user privacy concerns regarding cloud-based assistants by adopting a quantitative research method. The study used a privacy decision framework that lists three core components, which are technology controls, understanding user privacy preference, and government regulations. The research used Dervin's sensemaking model to describe users' privacy perception using the privacy decision framework and improved on a privacy perception survey instrument from previous dissertations. An understanding of user privacy concerns with cloud-based assistants is required to provide a comprehensive privacy guidance to stakeholders. The significance of this study is in the identification of the privacy perception of users of cloud-based assistants and the extent to which the components of the theoretical framework can impact user privacy perception. The results of this study serve as a guide for device manufacturers and other stakeholders in prioritizing privacy design decisions.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El oscurecimiento de los tejidos de frutas y verduras dañados puede provocar cambios indeseables y el rechazo por parte del consumidor. Este deterioro, conocido como pardeamiento enzimático, es causado principalmente por la enzima polifenol oxidasa (PPO), que oxida los compuestos fenólicos en pigmentos rojizos llamados melanoides. De esta forma, la prevención de la actividad de PPO en el procesamiento postcosecha tanto en frutas y verduras como en sus licuados, ha recibido desde siempre mucha atención por parte de la industria alimentaria. Sin embargo, los tratamientos actuales presentan diversos inconvenientes, entre los que podemos destacar los efectos negativos en la calidad nutricional de los productos y su elevado coste. El cometido de esta tesis doctoral se centra en el desarrollo y evaluación de nuevas estrategias no térmicas para la inhibición de la PPO con el objetivo final de detener el pardeamiento enzimático. Para esto se abordaron dos estrategias diferentes. Por un lado, se seleccionaron y evaluaron varias poliaminas macrocíclicas. Se determinó que la estructura química influye fuertemente en el poder inhibidor, existiendo dos compuestos altamente eficaces contra el pardeamiento enzimático, los cuales presentan IC50 de 10 µM y 0.30 mM. Su eficacia se validó en zumo de manzana recién licuado retrasando el pardeamiento enzimático y la pérdida de compuestos fenólicos totales. Por otro lado, se estudió el desarrollo y aplicación de partículas de sílice mesoporosas funcionalizadas con diversos grupos químicos. Los resultados mostraron que tanto la estructura del material como la funcionalización son determinantes. El soporte UVM-7 ofreció la inhibición más fuerte sobre la enzima PPO, y una vez funcionalizado con grupos tiol este aumentó notablemente su poder inhibidor, deteniendo el pardeamiento enzimático en zumo de manzana. Por el contrario, los grupos amino, aunque mostraron menor poder inhibidor, fueron capaces de inmovilizar a la enzima y eliminarla del medio. Finalmente, el soporte UVM-7 fue magnetizado para su fácil eliminación del medio, evitando así la etapa de filtración. El soporte UVM-7 magnetizado y funcionalizado con tioles logró mantener la concentración inicial de vitamina C y flavonoides en el zumo de manzana. Además, la capacidad antioxidante y el contenido de fenoles totales se mantuvieron casi sin cambios. / [CA] L'enfosquiment de fruïtes i verdures provoca un alt rebuig per part del consumidor. Aquest fet genera grans pèrdues econòmiques i un gran desaprofitament d'aliments. Aquest deteriorament, conegut com enfosquiment enzimàtic, és causat principalment per l'enzim polifenol oxidasa (PPO), que oxida els compostos fenòlics en pigments vermellosos anomenats melanoïdines. D'aquesta manera, la prevenció de l'activitat de la PPO en el processament postcollita tant en fruites i verdures com en els seus liquats, ha rebut des de sempre molta atenció per part de la indústria alimentària. No obstant això, els tractaments actuals presenten diversos inconvenients, entre els quals podem destacar els efectes negatius en la qualitat nutricional dels productes o el seu elevat cost. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi doctoral es centra en el desenvolupament i avaluació de noves estratègies no tèrmiques per a la inhibició de la PPO amb la finalitat de detindre el enfosquiment enzimàtic. Per això s'aborden dues estratègies diferents. D'una banda, es va seleccionar i avaluar diverses poliamines macrocícliques. Determinat que l'estructura química influeix fortament en el poder inhibidor, existint dos compostos altament eficaços contra el enfosquiment enzimàtic, els quals presenten IC50 de 10 µM i 0.30 mM. La seua eficàcia es va validar en el suc de poma recentment liquat retardant el enfosquiment enzimàtic i la pèrdua de compostos fenòlics totals. D'altra banda, es va estudiat el desenvolupament i aplicació de partícules de sílice mesoporoses funcionalitzades amb diversos grups químics. Els resultats van mostrar que tant l'estructura del material com la funcionalització foren determinants. El suport UVM-7 va oferir la inhibició més forta sobre l'enzim PPO, i una vegada funcionalitzat amb grups tiol aquest va augmentar notablement el seu poder inhibidor, detenint el enfosquiment enzimàtic en el suc de poma. Tot i això, els grups amina, encara que mostren menys poder inhibidor, foren capaços d'immobilitzar l'enzim i eliminar-la del medi. Finalment, el suport UVM-7 va ser magnetitzat per la seva fàcil eliminació del mig, evitant així l'etapa de filtració. El suport UVM-7 magnetitzat i funcionalitzat amb grups tiol va aconseguir mantindre la concentració inicial de vitamina C i flavonoides en el suc de poma. A més, la capacitat antioxidant i el contingut de fenols totals es van mantindre quasi sense canvis. / [EN] The browning of injured fruit and vegetable tissues can cause undesirable changes and consumers' rejection resulting in high economic losses and food waste. This damage, known as enzymatic browning, is mainly caused by the polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO) which oxidize the phenolic compounds found in these tissues into reddish pigments named melanonids. Thus, preventing PPO activity in post-harvest processing fruits and vegetables including their juices has received a lot of attention from the food industry. Nonetheless, the current alternatives have some drawbacks such as negative effects on the nutritional quality of products or high cost. Hence, the purpose of this doctoral thesis is focused on the development and evaluation of new non-thermal strategies for PPO inhibition and prevention of the enzymatic browning. For this purpose, two different strategies were addressed; On one hand, several macrocyclic polyamine compounds were selected and evaluated. The chemical structure was found to strongly influence the inhibitor power, and two different compounds were found to be efficient against the enzymatic browning with IC50 of 10 µM and 0.30 mM. Their effectiveness was proved in cloudy apple juice resulting in a delay of the enzymatic browning and the loss of total phenolic compounds. On the other hand, the development and application of mesoporous silica particles functionalized with diverse chemical groups were studied. The results showed that both the structure of the material and the type of functionalization are decisive. The UVM-7 support offered the strongest inhibition of the PPO. The functionalisation with thiol groups enhanced the inhibitor power stopping the enzymatic browning in cloudy apple juice. Alternatively, amine groups, although showing less inhibitory power, were able to immobilise the enzyme. Finally, the UVM-7 support was magnetized for easily elimination of the medium, thus preventing the juice filtration need. Cloudy apple juice treated with magnetized UVM-7 functionalized with tiol groups maintained the initial concentration of both vitamin C and flavonoids. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity and the total phenolic content remained almost unchanged. / Financial support by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (project RTI2018-100910-B-C44 and MAT2015-64139-C4-1), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (projects CTQ2016-78499-C6-1-R, Unidad de Excelencia MDM 2015- 0038 and CTQ2017-90852-REDC) and Generalitat Valenciana (projects PROMETEOII2015-002 PROMETEO/2018/024 and GVA/2014/13) is gratefully acknowledged. / Muñoz Pina, S. (2021). Mesoporous silica particles and macrocyclic ligands as modulators of polyphenol oxidase activity in food systems [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/174934 / TESIS / Compendio

The purpose of this study is to examine the evolution of six U.S. corporate logos – Apple, McDonald‟s, Nike, Pepsi, Shell, and Starbucks – from each logo‟s inception until the newest version of the graphic emblem today. The objective is to determine the meanings that logos have for a corporation‟s identity, mission, and relationships, as well as the messages that logos convey to viewers (i.e., mostly customers). By “evolution” of logos here, the researcher means “ongoing transformation” of logos. The semiotic model used in this analysis is Charles Sanders Peirce‟s (1958 [1931]) semiotic framework. Peircean semiotics is made up of a three-part paradigm of signification: the representamen (or the sign itself), the object (or “referent” – what the sign refers to), and the interpretant (the effect on the viewer, or the viewer‟s interpretation). Based on the semiotic data on logo evolution, the researcher found six main themes that emerged across the analyses of U.S. corporate logos. These themes are (1) Direction toward the Future, (2) Identity with Viewers, (3) Instant Recognition and Distinctiveness, (4) Consistency throughout Evolution, (5) Invocation of Change, and (6) True Representation of Corporate Identity. The ultimate conclusion of this analysis is that the communicative intent of a company, through its logo, tends to take a long time to develop. A successful logo is one that portrays the true objectives and principles of a company. For this reason, the ideal identity of a corporation tends to be built over a long period of time, which makes logo improvement “evolutionary” in nature. In all six cases, communication plays a major part in logo improvement.

The classification of North American species of Prionus (Prionus) Geoffroy is reevaluated, with three subgenera recognized: P. (Antennalia) Casey, revived status, P. (Neopolyarthron) Semenov, revived status, and P. (Prionus). Prionus (Neopolyarthron) is revised and consists of P. imbricornis (Linnaeus), P. debilis Casey, revived status, and P. cuneatus Casey, revived status, with the latter two species removed from synonymy with P. imbricornis. Prionus robustus Casey, new synonymy, and P. fissicornis parviceps Casey, revised synonymy, are transferred from synonymy with P. imbricornis to synonymy with P. cuneatus and P. fissicornis respectively. Keys to North American subgenera of Prionus and to species of P. (Neopolyarthron) are provided. Species of P. (Neopolyarthron) are redescribed, diagnosed, and illustrated, and the distribution, hosts, habitat, and conservation status of each are discussed. Species distribution maps are provided, along with 26 new state records. Prionus fissicornis is diagnosed, and type specimens of its synonyms are reviewed and illustrated.

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No description available.

Human motion analysis (HMA) can play a crucial role in sports and healthcare by providing unique insights on movement mechanics in the form of objective measurements and quantitative data. Traditional, state of the art, marker-based techniques, despite their accuracy, come with financial and logistical barriers, and are restricted to laboratory settings. Markerless systems offer much improved affordability and portability, and can potentially be used outside of laboratories. However, these advantages come with a significant cost in accuracy. This thesis attempts to address the challenge of democratizing HMA by leveraging recent advances in smartphone technology and machine learning.\newline\newlineThis thesis evaluates two modalities of performing markerless HMA: Single smartphone using Apple Arkit, and multiple smartphone setup using OpenCap, and compares both to a state of the art multiple-camera marker-based system from Vicon. Additionally, this thesis presents and evaluates two approaches to improving the single smartphone modality: Employing a Gaussian Process Model (GPR), and a Long-short-term-memory (LSTM) neural network to refine the single smartphone data to align with the marker-based result. Specific movements were recorded simultaneously with all three modalities on 13 subjects to build a dataset. From this, GPR and LSTM models were trained and applied to refine the single camera modality data. Lower limb joint angles, and joint centers were evaluated across the different modalities, and analyzed for potential use in real-world applications. While the findings of this thesis are promising, as both the GPR and LSTM models improve the accuracy of Apple Arkit, and OpenCap providing accurate and consistent results. It is important to acknowledge limitations regarding demographic diversity and how real-world environmental factors may influence its application. This thesis contributes to the efforts in narrowing the gap between marker-based HMA methods, and more accessible solutions. / Rörelseanalys av människokroppen (HMA) kan spela en betydelsefull roll i både idrott och hälso- och sjukvården. Genom objektiv och kvantitativ data ger den unik insikt i mekaniken bakom rörelser. Traditionella, toppmoderna, markör-baserade tekniker är mycket precisa, men medför finansiella och logistikbaserade barriärer, och finns endast tillgängliga i laboratorier. Markör-fria system erbjuder mycket bättre pris, portabilitet och kan potentiellt användas utanför laboratorier. Dessa fördelar går dock hand i hand med en betydande minskning av nogrannhet. Denna avhandling försöker ta itu med utmaningen att demokratisera HMA genom att utnyttja de senaste framstegen inom smartphoneteknik och maskininlärning. Denna avhandling utvärderar två sätt att utföra markör-fri HMA: Genom att använda en smartphone som kör Apple Arkit, och en uppsättning med flera smartphones som kör OpenCap. Båda modaliteter jämförs med ett markör-baserat system som använder flera kameror, från Vicon. Dessutom presenteras och utvärderas två metoder för att förbättra modaliteten med endast en smartphone: Användning av en Gaussisk Process modell för Regression (GPR) och ett Long-short-term-memory (LSTM) neuronnät för att förbättra data från en smartphone modalititeten, så att det bättre överenstämmer med det markör-baserade resultatet. Specifika rörelser spelades in samtidigt med alla tre modaliteter på 13 försökspersoner för att bygga upp ett dataset. Utifrån detta tränades GPR- och LSTM-modeller och användas för att förbättra data från en kamera modaliteten (Apple Arkit). Ledvinklar och ledcentra för de nedre extremiteterna utvärderades i de olika modaliteterna och analyserades för potentiell använding i verkliga tillämpningar. Även om resultaten av denna avhandling är lovande, då både GPR- och LSTM-modellerna förbättrar nogrannheten hos Apple Arkit, och OpenCap ger korrekta och konsekventa resultat, så är det viktigt att erkänna begränsningarna när det gäller demografisk mångfald och hur miljöfaktorer i verkligheten kan påverka tillämpningen.