Service Processes as a Sequence of Events

In this paper the service process is considered as a sequence ofevents. Using theory from economics and psychology a model isformulated that explains how the utility of each event affects theoverall evaluation of the service process. In this model we especiallyaccount for the peak-and-end rule and negative consumer timepreference. This model is tested in the context of telephone servicecalls in the financial service market. Our results show that both theaverage utility and the positive peak of the events positively affectcustomer satisfaction with the service call. Surprisingly, the end ofthe sequence has a negative effect. Theoretical and managerialimplications of these findings are discussed.satisfaction;economic psychology;consumers;sequence of events;services

Service Processes as a Sequence of Events

In this paper the service process is considered as a sequence of events. Using theory from economics and psychology a model is formulated that explains how the utility of each event affects the overall evaluation of the service process. In this model we especially account for the peak-and-end rule and negative consumer time preference. This model is tested in the context of telephone service calls in the financial service market. Our results show that both the average utility and the positive peak of the events positively affect customer satisfaction with the service call. Surprisingly, the end of the sequence has a negative effect. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed

Chaos Synchronization and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Symmetrically Delay Coupled Semiconductor Lasers

PACS: 05.45.Xt, 42.55.Px, 42.65.SfWe present experimental and numerical investigations of the dynamics of two device-identical, optically coupled semiconductor lasers exhibiting a delay in the coupling. Our results give evidence for subnanosecond coupling-induced synchronized chaotic dynamics in conjunction with a spontaneous symmetry-breaking: we find a well-defined time lag between the dynamics of the two lasers, and an asymmetric physical role of the subsystems. We demonstrate that the leading laser synchronizes its lagging counterpart, whereas the synchronized lagging laser drives the coupling-induced instabilities.Peer reviewe

Prospective application of melanized fungi for the biofiltration of indoor air in closed bioregenerative systems

Cultures of melanized fungi representative of the black yeast orders Capnodiales (Cladosporium cladosporioides and Neohortaea acidophila) and Chaetothyriales (Cladophialophora psammophila) were confined with indoor air from the laboratory during 48 h. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the headspace were analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography time-of-fly mass spectrometry (TD-GC-ToFMS, detection threshold 0.1 μg m−3) and compared against an abiotic control. A mixture of 71 VOCs were identified and quantified in the indoor air (total concentration 1.4 mg m−3). Most of these compounds were removed in the presence of fungal biomass, but 40 newly formed putative volatile metabolites were detected, though at comparatively low total concentrations (<50 μg m−3). The VOCs emission profile of C. cladosporioides, a ubiquitous and well-known species often associated to the sick building syndrome, was consistent with previous literature reports. The specialized C. psammophila and N. acidophila, isolated respectively from gasoline polluted soil and from lignite, displayed rather specific VOCs emission profiles. Mass balances on the fungal uptake and generation of VOCs resulted in overall VOCs removal efficiencies higher than 96% with all tested fungi. Applied aspects and biosafety issues concerning the suitability of black yeasts for the biofiltration of indoor air have been discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Vapour-phase crystallisation of silica from SiF4-bearing volcanic gases

Thermodynamic modelling of magmatic gases shows that SiF4 may be an important F-bearing species at the high pressures typical of magma reservoirs. Upon decompression during degassing, SiF4 will react with water vapour to form HF and silica. Common magmatic gases of high-T fumaroles seem to contain too little SiF4 to be a significant source of silica, except if extremely large amounts of gas percolate through a small volume of rock, as is the case in lava domes. Only if fluorine contents of the gases exceed 1 mol% detectable amounts of silica may be formed, but such high fluorine contents have not yet been observed in natural gases. Alternatively, silica may be formed by heating of cool SiF4-rich gases circulating in cooling lava bodies. We suggest that these mechanisms may be responsible for the deposition of crystalline silica, most probably cristobalite, observed in vesicles in lavas from Lewotolo volcano (Eastern Sunda Arc, Indonesia). Silica occurs as vapour-crystallised patches in vesicles, and is sometimes associated with F-phlogopite, which further supports F-rich conditions during deposition. Because of the connection between F-rich conditions and high-K volcanism, we propose that late-stage gaseous transport and deposition of silica may be more widespread in K-rich volcanoes than elsewhere, and long-term exposure to ash from eruptions of such volcanoes could therefore carry an increased risk for respiratory diseases. The dependence of SiF4/HF on temperature reported here differs from the current calibration used for temperature measurements of fumarolic gases by remote sensing techniques, and we suggest an updated calibration

Isolation and Identification of Black Yeasts by Enrichment on Atmospheres of Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons

Black yeast members of the Herpotrichiellaceae present a complex ecological behavior: They are often isolated from rather extreme environments polluted with aromatic hydrocarbons, while they are also regularly involved in human opportunistic infections. A selective technique to promote the in vitro growth of herpotrichiellaceous fungi was applied to investigate their ecophysiology. Samples from natural ecological niches and man-made environments that might contain black yeasts were enriched on an inert solid support at low humidity and under a controlled atmosphere rich in volatile aromatic hydrocarbons. Benzene, toluene, and xylene were provided separately as the sole carbon and energy source via the gas phase. The assayed isolation protocol was highly specific toward mesophilic Exophiala species (70 strains of this genus out of 71 isolates). Those were obtained predominantly from creosote-treated railway ties (53 strains), but isolates were also found on wild berries (11 strains) and in guano-rich soil samples (six strains). Most of the isolates were obtained on toluene (43 strains), but enrichments on xylene and benzene also yielded herpotrichiellaceous fungi (17 and 10 isolates, respectively). Based upon morphological characterizations and DNA sequences of the full internal transcriber spacers (ITS) and the 8.5S rRNA genes, the majority of the obtained isolates were affiliated to the recently described species Exophiala xenobiotica (32 strains) and Exophiala bergeri (nine strains). Members of two other phylogenetic groups (24 and two strains, respectively) somewhat related to E. bergeri were also found, and a last group (three strains) corresponded to an undescribed Exophiala species