Pop-up Stores: The Attraction of Ephemeral Experiences - A phenomenological study on consumers' experiences in pop-up stores

The purpose of this paper is to contribute with a new understanding of pop-up stores through a phenomenological perspective by examining how consumers experience pop-up stores. The study also aims to look at a micro and macro perspective to better understand how this phenomenon links to and is shaped by macro level trends of the contemporary consumer culture. Given the purpose and aim of the report, a qualitative method design with a multi-site study has been chosen. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with a phenomenological design have been conducted with consumers visiting pop-up stores in New York City, in combination with participant observations. A finding of the study showed that the exclusiveness of pop-up stores could be instigated by its ephemeral nature, which attracts consumers of today in their search for new and exclusive experiences. It also emphasizes the importance for brands to provide consumers with a physical retail context for trust and relationship building, especially online retailers. Thus, making the artificial online brand online more real and authentic. This is aligned with another conclusion of the study that short-term solutions, like pop-up stores, could result in long-term relationships for brands and consumers

En strävan mot fred - Det civila samhällets bidrag till fred i Mocambique

Undersökningen i denna uppsats kretsar kring det civila samhällets roll under fredsprocessen i Moçambique. Trots att ett brutalt inbördeskrig drabbade invånarna hårt lyckades de upprätthålla ett stort engagemang för fred. Direkt fred uppnåddes genom det avtal som signerades 1992. Sedan dess har landet haft fred i drygt 15 år, trots att inga vanligt förekommande försoningsverktyg som sanningskommissioner och rättegångar upprättades. Uppsatsen ämnar undersöka det civila samhällets roll för dels den direkta freden men framförallt deras omfattande arbete för att se till att försoning skapades i landet. Experter på området har flera gånger varnat för risk för att ny konflikt kan bryta ut men så har inte skett. Civila samhällets bidrag för att uppnå fredlig samexistens är därför av stort intresse. Uppsatsen syftar till att beskriva hur detta arbete såg ut och på vilket plan det skedde. Vad undersökningen sedan konstaterar är att det civila samhället bidrog till en direkt fred men också till att försoning kunde etableras i landet

Properties of the thioredoxin fold superfamily are modulated by a single amino acid residue

The ubiquitous thioredoxin fold proteins catalyze oxidation, reduction, or disulfide exchange reactions depending on their redox properties. They also play vital roles in protein folding, redox control, and disease. Here, we have shown that a single residue strongly modifies both the redox properties of thioredoxin fold proteins and their ability to interact with substrates. This residue is adjacent in three-dimensional space to the characteristic CXXC active site motif of thioredoxin fold proteins but distant in sequence. This residue is just N-terminal to the conservative cis-proline. It is isoleucine 75 in the case of thioredoxin. Our findings support the conclusion that a very small percentage of the amino acid residues of thioredoxin-related proteins are capable of dictating the functions of these proteins

Efficacy of Synaptic Inhibition Depends on Multiple, Dynamically Interacting Mechanisms Implicated in Chloride Homeostasis

Chloride homeostasis is a critical determinant of the strength and robustness of inhibition mediated by GABAA receptors (GABAARs). The impact of changes in steady state Cl− gradient is relatively straightforward to understand, but how dynamic interplay between Cl− influx, diffusion, extrusion and interaction with other ion species affects synaptic signaling remains uncertain. Here we used electrodiffusion modeling to investigate the nonlinear interactions between these processes. Results demonstrate that diffusion is crucial for redistributing intracellular Cl− load on a fast time scale, whereas Cl−extrusion controls steady state levels. Interaction between diffusion and extrusion can result in a somato-dendritic Cl− gradient even when KCC2 is distributed uniformly across the cell. Reducing KCC2 activity led to decreased efficacy of GABAAR-mediated inhibition, but increasing GABAAR input failed to fully compensate for this form of disinhibition because of activity-dependent accumulation of Cl−. Furthermore, if spiking persisted despite the presence of GABAAR input, Cl− accumulation became accelerated because of the large Cl− driving force that occurs during spikes. The resulting positive feedback loop caused catastrophic failure of inhibition. Simulations also revealed other feedback loops, such as competition between Cl− and pH regulation. Several model predictions were tested and confirmed by [Cl−]i imaging experiments. Our study has thus uncovered how Cl− regulation depends on a multiplicity of dynamically interacting mechanisms. Furthermore, the model revealed that enhancing KCC2 activity beyond normal levels did not negatively impact firing frequency or cause overt extracellular K− accumulation, demonstrating that enhancing KCC2 activity is a valid strategy for therapeutic intervention

The process of technology commercialization : A case study of project CHRISGAS

This thesis investigates, describes and understands the extensive process of technology commercialization. What stages there are, important aspects and implications. It is structured as a case analysis of project CHRISGAS development. CHRISGAS is a Swedish project, based in Värnamo, developing the technique of direct gasification of biomass to fuels. The work has its origin in the debate of the imminent climate changes, where society needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The automotive sector (particularly transport) is significantly reliant. However, current attempts to transition to biofuels have not completely succeeded. New, efficient technologies must be commercialized, and the technology of wood gasification is said to be particularly promising for launching the next generation of biofuels

Att utveckla ett ordförråd : En systematisk litteraturstudie om metoder för att utveckla ordförråd hos barn och elever med dövhet och hörselnedsättning

Barn med dövhet och hörselnedsättning får inte som normalhörande barn tillgång det talade språket automatiskt via hörseln. Ord och begrepp måste läras in på ett medvetet och systematiskt sätt för att denna elevgrupp inte ska komma efter i språkutvecklingen. En utvecklad hörselteknik har gett bättre förutsättningar att få tillgång till det talade språket än tidigare. På så sätt har utvecklingen av ordförrådet underlättats för denna elevgrupp, men trots det har de fortsatt stora brister i sin ord- och begreppsuppfattning. Beroende på den tekniska utvecklingen kan föräldrar till döva och gravt hörselskadade barn oftast välja språk för sitt barn: teckenspråk, tal eller både och. Utifrån språkval hamnar barnen på olika skolor med eller utan teckenspråk. Syftet med denna studie är att belysa vilka möjligheter till utveckling av ordförråd och begrepp som evidensbaserad forskning beskriver i olika undervisningsmetoder för barn och elever med dövhet och hörselnedsättning i en talspråkig skolmiljö i förhållande till en tvåspråkig skolmiljö. Metoden som användes var systematisk litteraturstudie där elva artiklar sorterades fram och sedan analyserades för att få svar på våra forskningsfrågor. Sammanfattningsvis har metoderna vi tittat på lett till utveckling av ett förstorat och fördjupat ordförråd kopplat både till ordbild, tecken och i vissa fall tal. Metoderna har även gett möjlighet för elever att utöka sin morfologiska användning av nya ord samt att få ett utökat teckenförråd med korrekt teckenspråkig fonologi

Prevalence of molecular markers of drug resistance in an area of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in children in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially in children. In Senegal, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) previously referred to as intermittent preventive treatment in children (IPTc) is a new strategy for malaria control in areas of high seasonal transmission. An effectiveness study of SMC, using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus amodiaquine (AQ), was conducted in central Senegal from 2008 to 2010 to obtain information about safety, feasibility of delivery, and cost effectiveness of SMC. Here are report the effect of SMC delivery on the prevalence of markers of resistance to SP and AQ. METHODS: This study was conducted in three health districts in Senegal with 54 health posts with a gradual introduction of SMC. Three administrations of the combination AQ + SP were made during the months of September, October and November of each year in children aged less than 10 years living in the area. Children were surveyed in December of each year and samples (filter paper and thick films) were made in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The prevalence of mutations in the pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr1 and pfcrt genes was investigated by sequencing and RTPCR in samples positive by microscopy for Plasmodium falciparum. RESULTS: Mutations at codon 540 of pfdhps and codon 164 of pfdhfr were not detected in the study. Among children with parasitaemia at the end of the transmission seasons, the CVIET haplotypes of pfcrt and the 86Y polymorphism of pfmdr1 were more common among those that had received SMC, but the number of infections detected was very low and confidence intervals were wide. The overall prevalence of these mutations was lower in SMC areas than in control areas, reflecting the lower prevalence of parasitaemia in areas where SMC was delivered. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of P. falciparum to SMC drugs should be regularly monitored in areas deploying this intervention. Overall the prevalence of genotypes associated with resistance to either SP or AQ was lower in SMC areas due to the reduced number of parasitaemia individuals