Private labels for premium products: The example of organic food

This paper inquires into the tendency of German food retailers to market organic products as private-label products (PLs). After a review of the literature, we present preliminary results of a survey of retailers and processors. 62.5 % of the interviewed processors produce organic PL. Retailers sell organic PLs, because they care about food safety, retail as a brand and health, hoping to reach new customers. Requests for entry fees, investment grants and equipment allowances are less important for processors of organic PLs than for those not producing PLs. However, PL producers have to meet other conditions imposed by retailers. --organic products,premium products,private label,retailing

Nonlinear instrument variable methods based on local linear models

The aim of the present study is to derive nonlinear instrument variable methods by using local linear models. Two algorithms to estimate consistent local ARX-models of the system order are presented. A local ARX-model with a regressor of higher order than the system is simulated to estimate an approximately noise-free data set. In the first algorithm this approximately noise-free data is used as estimation data to a local ARX-model of the system order. The second algorithm uses the simulated data as instrument in a local instrument variable method. The algorithms are demonstrated on both simulated and laboratory data

nestor endorsement of TRUST Principles

Nestor - the German-speaking competence network for digital preservation - welcomes the TRUST principles as outlined in the white paper (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0486-7) and joins the call for endorsement by the Research Data Alliance (https://www.rd-alliance.org/rda-community-effort-trust-principles-digital-repositories). nestor clearly sees the need for further development of the principles as they move into practise. As part of this, an ad-hoc WG TRUST discussed the principled and has released the statement "nestor endorsement of TRUST Principles". Benefits and recommendations at a glace • provides a common framework to facilitate discussion by all stakeholders • mnemonic helps to raise awareness • provides a low-threshold entry point • principles do not convey a sufficiently comprehensive picture of the requirements • preservation planning and suitable long-term preservation strategies are missing • TRUST Principles must be linked with established and accepted criteria suited to measuring trust-worthines

The experience of motivation and adherence to group-based exercise of Norwegians aged 80 and more: a qualitative study

Background: Physical activity is crucial for public health; worldwide, across all age groups, exercise has been recognised as a factor that leads to improved health. However, many people do not engage in regular physical activity and hence miss the opportunity to achieve these significant physical and mental health benefits. With the benefits of exercise in mind, the aim of the present study is to describe the experiences of older people’s motivation for participating in and adhering to a group-based exercise intervention in a local community setting. Methods: A qualitative design was used in which semistructured interviews of three men and four women of an advanced age (81–92) were conducted; the participants described their experiences with their participation in and adherence to a long-term group exercise intervention programme in a community setting. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation and discussed in light of the salutogenetic theory. Results: Four main themes emerged from the data collection: (1) Experience of health challenges: A meaningful starting point; (2) Adherence motivated by increased life-manageability; (3) Comprehensibility through skilled instruction and (4) Social and professional support enhancing motivation. The participants; who had experienced negative changes to their health and function, as well as to their life situation, chose to sign up for the exercise groups and continued to participate throughout the entire intervention. Attending group exercise sessions meant positive changes to physical, mental and social functions enhancing the participants’ motivation to sustain their attendance and leading to positive behavioural changes that were important to their everyday lives. Conclusion: Essential factors for these participants’ decision to sign up for the exercise groups were the following: having important life areas connected to physical activity in their history and having belief in exercise as an effective way to restore function and coping; as well as having current experience of health challenges. Adherence to the group exercise was associated with better coping and the ability to fulfil roles and keep up with important life areas. Support from family, friends and professionals also contributed, both to the process of signing up, and adhering to this longterm intervention. The professionals’ skills and the way the instructor tailored group instruction were emphasized as very important to the participants’ adherence. Understanding of motivational factors for participation in and adherence to, exercise programmes is of great importance to older people, health professionals and society.publishedVersio

Schauplätze des Reparierens und Selbermachens: Über neue urbane Infrastrukturen der Sorge und der Suffizienz in Wien

Können die Schauplätze des Repair- und Do-it-yourself-Urbanismus wesentliche Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen Stadtentwicklung leisten, die die hegemonialen Praktiken heutiger Wegwerfgesellschaften überwinden? Anhand einer praxeologischen Forschung in zwei Wiener Bezirken analysieren die Autor*innen die Schauplätze des Tauschens und Teilens, des Reparierens, des Upcyclings und des Kreativ-Seins, in denen sich Menschen im öffentlichen Raum für den Erhalt von Dingen engagieren. Mit dem Begriff des Schauplatzes rücken sie die öffentlichkeitswirksamen Praktiken eines nachhaltigen Umgangs mit den Dingen in den Vordergrund und verbinden diese mit aktuellen Diskussionen über notwendige Entwicklungen urbaner Infrastrukturen der Sorge und der Suffizienz

Repair und Do-it-yourself Urbanism in Wien aus Bezirksperspektive

In Wien werden jährlich Tonnen von Alltagsgegenständen entsorgt, obwohl diese oftmals weiterverwendet werden könnten. Zugleich lässt sich ein Anwachsen von Do-it-Yourself-Aktivitäten und Repair-Initiativen beobachten, die unter den Begriff Repair und Do-it-yourself Urbanism gefasst werden können. Auf der Basis umfangreicher empirischer Forschung werden für die Wiener Bezirke Neubau und Ottakring allgemeine Entwicklungsmerkmale herausgearbeitet. Anschließend wird eine Typologie unterschiedlicher Phänomene des Repair und Do-it-yourself Urbanism vorgestellt, die einen gesättigten Einblick in die aktuelle bezirksspezifische Entwicklung des Feldes vermittelt. Deutlich wird, dass sich sowohl die Rahmenbedingungen als auch die Entwicklungsweisen des Repair und Do-it-yourself Urbanismin beiden Bezirken erheblich voneinander unterscheiden. Deutlich wird auch, dass die Verbreitung des Repair und Do-it-Yourself Urbanism umfangreicher Förderung bedarf, um signifikante Beiträge zur Entwicklung resilienter Stadtbezirke zu erzielen.In Vienna vast quantities of everyday items are thrown away each year even though they could still have been used further. At the same time, there has been a clear rise in DIY activities and repair initiatives in the city, all of which can be subsumed under a repair and do it yourself urbanism label. Drawing on extensive empirical research, we identify and describe the corresponding developments in two districts in Vienna (Neubau and Ottakring). We then present a typology of repair and do it yourself urbanism phenomena that offer deep insight into the current developments in this field at a local level. Our study reveals clear differences in the general parameters and ways in which repair and do it yourself urbanism has developed in these two districts. It also reveals that substantial support and facilitation will be needed to ensure that the trends in repair and do it yourself urbanism can deliver a significant contribution towards the development of resilient urban districts

First-principles-informed energy span and microkinetic analysis of ethanol catalytic conversion to 1,3-butadiene on MgO

Kinetic modeling of single-step catalytic conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene is necessary to inform accurate process design. This paper uses first-principles-informed energy span and microkinetic analysis to explore the reaction free energy landscapes and kinetic limitations of competing reaction pathways on a MgO (100) step-edge. Previous studies suggested mechanisms proceeding via both dehydrogenation and dehydration of ethanol, and highlighted sensitivity to conditions and catalyst composition. Here, we use the energy span concept to characterize the theoretical maximum turnover and degree of turnover frequency control for states in each reaction pathway, finding the dehydration route to be less active for 1,3-butadiene, and suggesting rate-determining states in the dehydrogenation, dehydration, and condensation steps. The influence of temperature on the relative rate contribution of each state is quantified and explained through the varying temperature sensitivity of the free energy landscape. A microkinetic model is developed to explore competition between pathways, interaction with gas-phase species, and surface coverage limitations. This suggests that the turnover may be significantly lower than predicted solely based on energetics. Turnover frequency determining states found to have high surface coverage include adsorbed ethanol and two longer, oxygenated hydrocarbons. The combined energy span and microkinetic analysis permits investigation of a complex system from two perspectives and helps elucidate conflicting observations of rate determining steps and product distribution by considering both energetic and kinetic limitations. The impact of uncertainty in the energy landscape is quantified using a correlated error model. While the range of predictions is large, the average performance and trends are similar

Bis(N-triisopropyl­silyl­quinolin-8-aminato)nickel(II)

The reddish-brown title complex, [Ni(C18H27N2Si)2], was prepared via the salt-metathesis reaction of N-triisopropyl­silyl-8-amido­quinoline lithium with nickelocene (NiCp2). The asymmetric unit contains two symmetry-independent mol­ecules with the Ni atoms in distorted tetra­hedral environments

Design of F-Band Transition From Microstrip to Ridge Gap Waveguide Including Monte Carlo Assembly Tolerance Analysis

(c) 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.This paper describes the design and realization of a transition from a microstrip line to a ridge gap waveguide operating between 95 and 115 GHz. The study includes simulations, measurements, and a Monte Carlo analysis of the assembly tolerances. The purpose of this tolerance study is to identify the most critical misalignments that affect the circuit performance and to provide guidelines about the assembly tolerance requirements for the proposed transition designThis work was supported in part by the Swedish Research Council VR, the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems VIN-NOVA via a project within the VINN Excellence center Chase, and the European Research Council (ERC) under Grant ERC-2012-ADG-20120216.Algaba-Brazález, A.; Flygare, J.; Yang, J.; Vassilev, V.; Baquero Escudero, M.; Kildal, P. (2016). Design of F-Band Transition From Microstrip to Ridge Gap Waveguide Including Monte Carlo Assembly Tolerance Analysis. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. 64(4):1245-1254. doi:10.1109/TMTT.2016.2535334S1245125464