The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Benefits in the Satisfaction Formation Process

In this paper we investigate the mediating role of psychosocial benefits in the customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction formation process. Most research on this subject deals with the causality direction of psychosocial benefits and satisfaction, sometimes preceded by an overall functional benefit construct. We focus on the relationships of specific functional benefits and psychosocial benefits within a customer satisfaction framework. Knowledge of which functional benefit can control which psychosocial benefit directly enables the management of customer satisfaction and indirectly purchase intention. Using Partial Least Squares, we find interesting relationships in the restaurant business

Candida Biofilm Analysis in the Artificial Throat Using FISH

Biofilm formation is a common complication of the use of prosthetic devices. In clinical settings, biofilms can be comprised of one or more microbial species. In order to investigate the interaction between different species within a biofilm, a reproducible, reliable model system has to be utilized and an appropriate system for species identification applied. The present chapter describes the artificial throat model, a model system for growing mixed species biofilms on shunt prostheses. The model is used in conjugation with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), which facilitates identification and localization of the resident microorganisms within biofilms