http://hdl.handle.net/10256/2943 2025-08-13T22:02:54Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27152 The factors affecting the fast-food industry and consumer trends in Sri Lanka Jayawardana, Dodamwalage Chaminda Deepal ENG- This doctoral thesis analyzes the consumption of fast-food in Sri Lanka with a focus on the consumers (demand side) and the fast-food restaurants (supply side), with the aim of providing new and recent evidence on the main influential factors and trends. To do this, several research objectives were covered: analyze consumers’ food preferences, motives for fast-food consumption and their determinants; identify the factors affecting fast-food consumption behavior; determine consumers’ level of satisfaction with the fast-food; the attributes defining a fast-food consumption experience from the perspective of the consumer; analyze fast-food consumption environment with a focus on the fast-food restaurants and their characteristics; identify consumers’ perceptions related to the sustainable practices of the fast-food restaurants; look into the social media and advertising strategies promoted by the fast-food restaurants and their impact on consumers’ fast-food purchasing behavior; identify the main changes to be undertaken by fast-food managers and the marketing implications within the framework offered by the 7Ps of the marketing mix; identify the most popular fast-food restaurant brands in Sri Lanka and the main implications for marketers in the fast-food industry of Sri Lanka and in the context of the global fast-food market. The empirical research is based on primary quantitative and qualitative data and secondary information provided by a case study. Data (459 observations and 10 qualitative interviews) were analyzed with quantitative and qualitative techniques. The thesis is structured into seven chapters: introduction, review of the related literature, fast-food restaurants’ integrated marketing communication strategies and main trends; the fast-food industry of Sri Lanka, method and data, results and discussion, and conclusions/limitations. Findings add to the existing evidence on the role of generational and gender differences in the formation of fast-food consumption habits in general, offering new evidence for the case of Sri Lanka with the role of family gastronomic culture as a determinant factor. The analysis extends existing research with the incorporation of new variables focused on fast-food restaurants, the assessment of the experience of consuming fast-food, the marketing strategies and promotional media used by fast-food restaurants, and sustainability and management practices from a marketing mix perspective, contributing to increase the value added of the research, and providing new evidence for the case of Sri Lanka, and also for international comparisons; CAT- La tesi doctoral analitza el consum de menjar ràpid a Sri Lanka amb el focus en els consumidors (la demanda) i els restaurants de menjar ràpid (l'oferta), amb la finalitat de proporcionar evidencies noves i recents sobre els factors determinants i les principals tendències. Els objectius de recerca van ser els següents: analitzar les preferències gastronòmiques dels consumidors, els factors que motiven el consum de menjar ràpid i els principals determinants; identificar els factors que afecten el comportament de consum de menjar ràpid; determinar el nivell de satisfacció dels consumidors amb el menjar ràpid; els atributs que defineixen una experiència de consum de menjar ràpid des de la perspectiva del consumidor; analitzar l'entorn de consum de menjar ràpid amb el focus en els restaurants de menjar ràpid i les seves característiques; identificar les percepcions dels consumidors relacionades amb les pràctiques sostenibles dels restaurants de menjar ràpid; analitzar les xarxes socials i les estratègies de màrqueting promogudes pels restaurants de menjar ràpid i el seu impacte en el comportament de compra de menjar ràpid dels consumidors; identificar els principals canvis que han d'emprendre els gestors de restaurants de menjar ràpid i les implicacions de màrqueting en el marc que ofereixen les 7Ps del màrqueting mix; identificar els restaurants de menjar ràpid més populars de Sri Lanka; i les principals implicacions per a la indústria del menjar ràpid en el context de Sri Lanka i del mercat global de la indústria. L’anàlisi empírica es basa en dades primàries (quantitatives i qualitatives) i la informació secundària proporcionada per l'estudi d’un cas. Les dades (una mostra de 459 observacions i 10 entrevistes qualitatives) s’han analitzat amb mètodes quantitatius i qualitatius. La tesi s'estructura en set capítols: introducció, revisió de la literatura relacionada, estratègies integrades de comunicació de màrqueting dels restaurants de menjar ràpid i les principals tendències; la indústria de menjar ràpid de Sri Lanka, metodologia i dades, resultats i discussió, i conclusions/limitacions. Els resultats se sumen a la recerca existent sobre el paper de les diferències generacionals i de gènere en la formació dels hàbits de consum de menjar ràpid en general, oferint noves evidències per al cas de Sri Lanka amb el rol de la cultura gastronòmica familiar. L’estudi amplia la recerca existent amb noves variables centrades en els restaurants de menjar ràpid, la valoració de l’experiència de consumir menjar ràpid, en les estratègies de màrqueting i els mitjans de promoció utilitzats pels restaurants de menjar ràpid, les pràctiques de sostenibilitat i de gestió des de la perspectiva del màrqueting mix, variables que augmenten el valor afegit de la recerca, aportant noves evidències per a el cas de Sri Lanka i per a comparacions internacionals 2025-06-23T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27151 Geografía sensible y horticultura de la escucha. Un estudio de caso entre la teoría y la práctica Esclapez, Christine; Boë, Caroline; Pardo Salgado, Carmen; Taravilla Baquero, Olga In a world where the visual seems to dominate everything, from the saturation of images on screens to the photographic omnipresence of social networks, the sound dimension, especially listening, tends to be forgotten. However, actively listening to the world is an essential practice, far from passivity, which, moreover, directly influences how we perceive and relate to our environment. Paying attention to sounds, whether natural, urban or media, allows us to reconsider our interpersonal, spatial and temporal relationships. How can we listen attentively to the world, how can we cultivate this conscious and sensitive listening, and how can we transmit it to the maximum number of people while respecting diversity and individual differences?This article explores the role of listening in contemporary society, looking at some cognitive, social and emotional benefits of a more attentive and environmentally aware listening practice. It is approached through a case study based on a theoretical-practical proposal, the result of collaboration between researchers and artists from the University of AIX-Marseille and the University of Girona, combining aesthetic, musicological and artistic perspectives; En el mundo contemporáneo en el que lo visual parece prevalecer sobre todos los aspectos de la vida cotidiana —desde la saturación de imágenes en pantallas hasta la omnipresencia fotográfica en redes sociales—, la dimensión sonora, especialmente la escucha, tiende a quedar relegada a un segundo plano 2025-07-26T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27150 The role of artificial intelligence in the assessment of the spine and spinal cord Martín Noguerol, Teodoro; Oñate Miranda, Marta; Amrhein, Timothy J.; Paulano Godino, Félix; Xiberta, Pau; Vilanova, Joan Carles; Luna Alcalá, Antonio Artificial intelligence (AI) application development is underway in all areas of radiology where many promising tools are focused on the spine and spinal cord. In the past decade, multiple spine AI algorithms have been created based on radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. These algorithms have wide-ranging purposes including automatic labeling of vertebral levels, automated description of disc degenerative changes, detection and classification of spine trauma, identification of osseous lesions, and the assessment of cord pathology. The overarching goals for these algorithms include improved patient throughput, reducing radiologist workload burden, and improving diagnostic accuracy. There are several pre-requisite tasks required in order to achieve these goals, such as automatic image segmentation, facilitating image acquisition and postprocessing. In this narrative review, we discuss some of the important imaging AI solutions that have been developed for the assessment of the spine and spinal cord. We focus on their practical applications and briefly discuss some key requirements for the successful integration of these tools into practice. The potential impact of AI in the imaging assessment of the spine and cord is vast and promises to provide broad reaching improvements for clinicians, radiologists, and patients alike 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27149 Single-pass forward osmosis for efficient feed concentration: optimizing multiple modules arrangement and flow distribution Yalamanchili, Rajashree; Olives Cegarra, Pere; Galizia Amoraga, Albert; Rodríguez-Roda Layret, Ignasi; Blandin, Gaetan Forward osmosis (FO) is gaining prominence as a concentration process. However, most systematic studies remain limited to setups involving recirculating feed solution (FS) and draw solution (DS), and employing small membrane coupons or single module, thereby limiting insights into high-recovery concentration performance at the system scale. Realizing the full potential of FO for concentration purposes and maximizing osmotic energy efficiency requires a detailed understanding of module arrangements, flow dynamics, and their influence on operational scalability. This study presents pilot-scale investigation of FO modular arrangements, including series and tree configurations operated in single-pass mode under both co-current and counter-current flow orientations, combined with MATLAB-based mass transfer modeling. Experiments used Aquaporin HFFO2 hollow fiber (HF) modules and tested both low-osmotic-pressure (DI water) and high-osmotic-pressure (5 g/L saline) FS. The model showed strong agreement with experimental results and enabled detailed evaluation of spatial performance variations, enhancing evaluation of system scalability and efficiency. The full potential of countercurrent flow emerged in multi-module setups. With a 5 g/L FS, series and tree arrangements initially performed similarly, achieving FS concentration factors of 4.59 and 5.10, respectively. Simulations revealed that water permeation in the series arrangement progressively diluted the DS, increasing its volumetric flow and leading to hydraulic imbalances that limit the system's ability to handle long-term stable operation. The tree arrangement faced similar challenges under co-current flow, but counter-current operation mitigated them by ensuring balanced flow distribution across stages, sustaining stable flux (4.76 -6.71 LMH) and achieving an overall recovery of 80.40 %. To further enhance the system performance, the impact of hydraulic conditions was explored through simulations to identify operating regimes with optimal trade-offs 2025-11-15T00:00:00Z