FASHION\TRENDS IN WEB DESIGN

In this paper we describe a preliminary, in-progress, research of fashion\trends in HCI. First, we present the motivation for this research, as this topic has not been methodically researched despite the accelerating pace and growing influence of fashion\trends in modern life. In order to provide appropriate theoretical background, we define and explain the fashion and trend phenomena using resources from multiple research disciplines such as trend, fashion, design research, sociology, psychology and economics. We have chosen to focus this research on web design trends; therefore we illustrate our approach with web design examples. We conclude with an outline of our research project, its goals and methods, and finally the potential implications and opportunities for future research

Nonionic Hydrophilic Surfaces: Adsorption and Interactions

An overview is given of recent studies of nonionic, hydrophilic surfaces formed by the adsorption of surfactants or surface active polymers. Hydrophobic surfaces can be easily hydrophilized by the adsorption of nonionic surfactants or block copolymers containing hydrophobic chain segments; the cooperative interaction between the hydrocarbon moieties contributes more to the free energy of adsorption than the interaction with the hydro- phobic surface. Hydrophilic layers are also readily formed on hydrophilic surfaces provided specific interaction between the hydrophilic end groups and the surface creates a sufficiently hydrophobic surface so that a second layer can be formed through cooperative interaction. The temperature dependence of the interaction forces between layers of surfactants can be closely correlated with their phase equilibria with water. In order to prevent protein adsorption the surface should be neither charged nor hydrophobic; it is shown that, accordingly, protein adsorption is extremely low on polyethylene oxide-covered surfaces

What makes icons appealing? The role of processing fluency in predicting icon appeal in different task contexts.

Although icons appear on almost all interfaces, there is a paucity of research examining the determinants of icon appeal. The experiments reported here examined the icon characteristics determining appeal and the extent to which processing fluency - the subjective ease with which individuals process information - was used as a heuristic to guide appeal evaluations. Participants searched for, and identified, icons in displays. The initial appeal of icons was held constant while ease of processing was manipulated by systematically varying the complexity and familiarity of the icons presented and the type of task participants were asked to carry out. Processing fluency reliably influenced users' appeal ratings and appeared to be based on users' unconscious awareness of the ease with which they carried out experimental tasks

It is real, it is happening - En kvalitativ studie av uppfattningar om sexuell trafficking hos ledande personer inom arbetet mot trafficking på nationell nivå i Uganda.

Syftet med vår studie var att undersöka hur ledande personer inom arbetet mot trafficking i Uganda ser på sexuell trafficking som socialt fenomen/problem. Vi ville ta reda på vad dessa uppfattningar påverkas av och hur de i förlängningen påverkar deras arbete mot sexuell trafficking och de utsatta. Vår undersöknings resultat och analys bygger på nio semistrukturerade intervjuer med praktiker och experter inom många olika fält som på ett eller annat sätt anknyter till arbetet mot trafficking. Resultaten av dessa intervjuer presenteras i tematisk form utifrån våra frågeställningar. Vår studies teoretiska utgångspunkter var postkolonial teori samt intersektionellt perspektiv. Vi använde oss av dessa teorier och perspektiv för att belysa både hur uppfattningarna kan tolkas samt hur påverkan av dessa uppfattningar kan förstås med Ugandas geopolitiska situation i åtanke. Vi vävde även in vår egen påverkan på studiens resultat i egenskap av att vara västerländska studenter i relation till våra respondenters kontext. Våra resultat pekar på vissa luckor i våra respondenters förståelse av sexuell trafficking som fenomen i fråga om offer och förövare, samt problematiserar arbetet mot trafficking i Uganda där organisationer som arbetar med dessa frågor finansieras utifrån av västerländska aktörer med en viss politisk och ideologiskt agenda på grund av den ugandiska statens ointresse för dylika frågor

Mini research projects as a mechanism to improve the quality of dementia care

Abstract Several models have been proposed to connect academia and practice in order to improve long-term care. In this paper we propose and describe the “Mini-Research Group” as an alternative model of such collaboration. The formation of mini-research groups was the unplanned by-product of a longitudinal action research project headed by the late Prof. Rebecca Bergman, a prominent nursing leader from the Department of Nursing at Tel-Aviv University. It involved a two-stage project aimed at developing, and later implementing, a specific tool to evaluate the quality of care provided in geropsychiatric units and to design a nursing intervention which entailed an improved model for care in specialized geropsychiatric units for persons with dementia. Initially, this article describes the projects that led to the development of mini-research groups, and then continues to describe several mini-research projects, focusing on the research questions which emerged from practice as well as the variety of methodologies used. Finally, we discuss the ways in which mini- research groups contributed to the quality of care for persons with dementia, benefited their families, professional staff, faculty participants, and advanced policy development. We argue that in light of the present array of ethical and legal restrictions which inhibit the recruitment of participants, using mini-research groups combined of practitioners and researchers, can provide a pragmatic solution, not only to overcome these barriers, but to improve the quality of care, stimulate clinical dementia research, and promote new insights into the lives of persons with dementia