Seeking to Understand Subaru’s Turbocharged Appeal: A study of brand communities, product utility, and corporate promotion

This study attempts to analyze Subaru’s significant and unique appeal in the greater automotive market. The primary research findings are presented in a video documentary, while frameworks for existing research on certain facets of brand management and consumer groups are presented in the following paper. Based on analysis of existing data and interviews conducted with people connected to the brand, we can conclude that the phenomenon is a result of an appealing product that offers differentiated utilities at an affordable price, the formation of consumer groups around the various offerings, and insightful promotion on Subaru’s part. The degree to which each of these factors is responsible for cultivating a following varies based on the consumer group; the convergence of these three phenomena is, if not unique in the vehicle marketplace, very distinctive

Virtual personal assistant

Abstract This report discusses ways in which new technology could be harnessed to create an intelligent Virtual Personal Assistant (VPA) with a focus on user-based information. It will look at examples of intelligent programs with natural language processing that are currently available, with different categories of support, and examine the potential usefulness of one specific piece of software as a VPA. This engages the ability to communicate socially through natural language processing, holding (and analysing) information within the context of the user. It is suggested that new technologies may soon make the idea of virtual personal assistants a reality. Experiments conducted on this system, combined with user testing, have provided evidence that a basic program with natural language processing algorithms in the form of a VPA, with basic natural language processing and the ability to function without the need for other type of human input (or programming) may already be viable

Virus host shifts in Drosophila: The influences of virus genotype and coinfection on susceptibility within and across host species

Virus host shifts are a major source of outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases, and continue to cause considerable damage to public health, society, and the global economy. Predicting and preventing future virus host shifts has become a primary goal of infectious disease research, and multiple tools and approaches are being developed to work towards this goal. In this thesis, I examine three key aspects of infection that have implications for our wider understanding of virus host shifts and their predictability in natural systems: whether the outcome of infections across species is correlated between related viruses, whether the presence of a coinfecting virus can alter the outcomes of cross-species transmission, and the influence of host genetics and immunity on the outcomes of coinfection. These experiments make use of a large and evolutionarily diverse panel of Drosphilidae host species, and infections with two insect Cripaviruses: Drosophila C virus (DCV) and Cricket Paralysis virus (CrPV), with the outcomes of infection quantified throughout as viral loads via qRT-PCR. In Chapter Two, phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models are applied to data on the outcome of single infections with three isolates of DCV (DCV-C, DCV-EB, DCV-M) and one isolate of CrPV, to look for correlations in viral load across host species. Strong positive corrections were found between DCV isolates and weaker positive correlations between DCV and CrPV, with evidence of host species by virus interactions on the outcome of infection. Of the four viruses tested, the most closely related isolates tended to be the most strongly correlated, with correlation strength deteriorating with the evolutionary distance between isolates, although we lacked the diversity or sample size of viruses to properly determine any effect of evolutionary distance on correlation strength. Together, this suggests that hosts susceptible to one virus are also susceptible to closely related viruses, and that knowledge of one virus may be extrapolated to closely related viruses, at least within the range of evolutionary divergence tested here. In the remainder of this thesis, I examine the outcome of coinfection with DCV-C and CrPV across host species (Chapter Three) and across genotypes and immune mutants of Drosophila melanogaster (Chapter Four). These chapters aim to assess the potential for coinfection to alter the outcomes of cross-species transmission – and so interfere with predictions of virus host shifts – and the potential influence of host genetics and immunity on the outcome of coinfection. Chapter Three finds little evidence of systematic changes in the outcome of single and coinfection for both viruses across species, suggesting that coinfection may not be a required consideration in predictive models of every host-virus system. Effects of coinfection were found in a subset of species but were not recapitulated in a follow-up experiment looking at tissue tropism during coinfection on a subset of host species. Together, this suggests that any effects of coinfection across species with DCV and CrPV are due to stochastic effects within individual hosts. Chapter Four finds small but credible effects of coinfection across genotypes of D. melanogaster, but these effects showed little host genetic basis or effect on the genetic basis of susceptibility to each virus separately. Mutations in several immune genes caused virus-specific changes in viral load between single and coinfection, suggesting that coinfection interactions between viruses can be moderated by the host immune response. This thesis has aimed to explore several fundamental features of cross-species transmission that are relevant to our understanding – and ability to predict – virus host shifts. Both the finding that correlations exist between viruses and the approach used to characterise coinfection across and within host species would now benefit from an increased diversity of experimental pathogens, to better investigate the influence of virus evolutionary relationships on the outcomes of virus host shifts and present a broader understanding of the potential impact of coinfection on the outcomes of cross-species transmission.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

HIV risk: is it possible to dissuade people from having unsafe sex?

The cumulative number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections worldwide has reached 60 million in little over 30 years. HIV continues to spread despite a detailed understanding of the manner in which it spreads and measures which can prevent spread. Some governments have been highly successful in containing the spread of HIV through blood products and from mother to child and among injecting drug users. Lack of political will, lack of resources or challenges to widely accepted scientific evidence have held back similar interventions in other countries. It has proved much more difficult to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV in both high and low income countries. A wide range of strategies has been identified but it remains unclear which strategies deserve priority and what methods of promoting them have the greatest effect.There is ample evidence that awareness of HIV and changes in sexual behaviour have occurred widely but the penetration of information remains poor in some vulnerable groups especially adolescents and women in poorer countries. Further obstacles face those who have information about the risk.The subordinate position of women and a desire for large families are important obstacles to condom negotiation and use. Urbanization, poverty, conflict and declining public services all exacerbate unsafe sexual behaviour.We argue that so-called ‘structural’ interventions directed at these wider contexts of unsafe behaviour merit greater attention. Such approaches have the added benefit of being less susceptible to ‘risk compensation’ which has the potential to undermine strategies directed at reducing the transmission efficiency of HIV

Human serum haptoglobin is toxic to Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

Innate immune responses are important in the control of malaria, particularly in those who have not yet mounted an effective adaptive response. Here we report that the human serum acute phase protein, haptoglobin is toxic to Plasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro. This effect is phenotype-dependent and occurs during the trophozoite phase of the asexual life cycle. We propose that the increased levels of haptoglobin seen in the acute phase response may be protective against malaria in humans

Economic and Monetary Union : Implications for Scotland

This short paper sets out background to current EU policy on European and Monetary Union (EMU), looking at both the management of monetary policy focusing on the Euro and the parallel system for economic policy coordination which is primarily the responsibility of member states. It describes the way in which EU countries coordinate economic policy (notably through the Economic Reform Programmes and processes such as deficit reduction procedures) and how the EU institutions will support countries in the delivery of EU policies, including the mobilisation of investment funds to support EU policy priorities. It then looks as Scotland’s experience, describes the most recent Scottish Economic Reform Programme 2016 and postulates that the close degree of alignment between Scottish and EU economic and social priorities would allow a basis for joint working if Scotland decides to pursue a more close approach to EU policies than the rest of the UK. It also notes that if Scotland pursues the independence in Europe option, Euro membership would not be an issue of substance in the early years and that the focus of EMU discussions would likely be on the need for a deficit reduction programme for Scotland

Freedom of Movement : Why It Is Central to Scotland's Interests in the Brexit Negotiations

The UK Government’s determination, following the UK vote to leave the EU in June 2016, to introduce controls on the ability of EU nationals to live and work in the UK, is expected to be a central point of dispute in the framing of a new trading relationship between the EU and the UK. The reason for this is that freedom of movement of people is one of the four founding principles of the EU and is integral to the single market. It is not an add-on which can be traded away against other trade principles or pressures. Within the UK this has particular consequences for Scotland, which has used freedom of movement to make significant economic gains in recent years

Scotland after Brexit : Environmental Law

Environmental law is a founding competence of the Scottish Parliament. It is also an area of extensive EU competence as a flanking policy of the single market and in response to developments in international law. Setting a Scottish specific approach to the repatriation of environmental competence from the EU will be a key area of policy development during and after the Brexit negotiations. As such it will be a key shaper of the overall approach Scotland takes to determining its post Brexit future. This blog looks at the key issues involved, including whether there will be opportunities to extend Scottish powers with regard to those held at UK level. It also looks at ways in which Scotland can keep in line with EU environmental policy and practice, for example if it decides to pursue constitutional change to allow a closer relationship with the EU than the UK seems ready to develop

Brexit, Powers and the Scottish Parliament : The Case of Agriculture and Fisheries

The announcement on 13 March 2017 by Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, that she plans to seek approval from Westminster to hold an independence referendum before the UK leaves the EU has placed the issue of Scottish independence and potential EU membership at the centre of public debate. That said, a key issue in the Brexit debate, and a key determinant of the case for remaining in the United Kingdom, will be the extent to which powers returning from Brussels are devolved to the Scottish Parliament, as many Brexit proponents promised before the referendum vote. This policy brief looks at the positions of the different parties and discusses some of the key factors which will determine the way such powers might operate. It focuses on the key policies of agriculture and fisheries, which have been the responsibility of Scottish based Government departments since the establishment of the Scottish Office in the early 20th century

The influence of social capital on service quality evaluation

Purpose: This research provides guidance for the global manager by determining the manner through which social interaction influences service quality evaluation. Furthermore, this paper explores the function of economic development in altering the role of social relationships in service quality evaluation. Design/methodology/approach: Consistent with the critical realism paradigm a multi-method design is adopted for this study. Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu‟s (1986) structuralist perspective of culture is utilised as the analytical framework. Findings: The findings challenge both marketing and sociology theory that propose that individuals are less focussed on nurturing inter-personal relationships as they are empowered economically. Indeed it is found that social networks (i.e. social capital) perform a key role in service quality preference formation and dissemination. The evidence suggests that economic development has not mitigated the influence of social relationships upon service consumption. Research limitations/implications: Identifies a research agenda towards developing a measure of service quality that more comprehensively probes the social element of the service encounter. In order to more fully explore the impact of economic capital on the service quality construct it is identified that a longitudinal study is required that focuses upon nations as they transition from developing to developed nation status. Practical implications: This study has significant implications for marketing managers seeking to build a presence in Taiwan or other similarly profiled Confucian based societies. It is advised that strategists should adopt a customised strategic plan when operating within Taiwan and similarly profiled cultures. In particular this study encourages a focus upon nurturing inter-personal relationships and leveraging these relationships to effectively communicate to target markets in Confucian societies. Originality/value: This study adopts a sociological perspective of the cultural influence upon the service quality evaluation process.This approach is presented as preferable to the national values-oriented studies (e.g. Hofstede, 1984) that have dominated research in the area