Zu den Wurzeln der Modernen Architektur, Teil I

Modern emerging technologies, such as additive manufacturing, bioprinting, and new material production, require novel metrology tools to probe fundamental high-speed dynamics happening in such systems. Here we demonstrate the application of the megahertz (MHz) European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) to image the fast stochastic processes induced by a laser on water-filled capillaries with micrometer-scale spatial resolution. The EuXFEL provides superior contrast and spatial resolution compared to equivalent state-of-the-art synchrotron experiments. This work opens up new possibilities for the characterization of MHz stochastic processes on the nanosecond to microsecond time scales with object velocities up to a few kilometers per second using XFEL sources

Molecular characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in the Netherlands; results of the 2014–2018 national laboratory surveillance

Objectives: Carbapenem resistance mediated by mobile genetic elements has emerged worldwide and has become a major public health threat. To gain insight into the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem resistance in The Netherlands, Dutch medical microbiology laboratories are requested to submit suspected carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment as part of a national surveillance system. Methods: Meropenem MICs and species identification were confirmed by E-test and MALDI-TOF and carbapenemase production was assessed by the Carbapenem Inactivation Method. Of all submitted CPE, one species/carbapenemase gene combination per person per year was subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: In total, 1838 unique isolates were received between 2014 and 2018, of which 892 were unique CPE isolates with NGS data available. The predominant CPE species were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 388, 43%), Escherichia coli (n = 264, 30%) and Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 116, 13%). Various carbapenemase alleles of the same carbapenemase gene resulted in different susceptibilities to meropenem and this effect varied between species. Analyses of NGS data showed variation of prevalence of carbapenemase alleles over time with blaOXA-48 being predominant (38%, 336/892), followed by blaNDM-1 (16%, 145/892). For the first time in the Netherlands, blaOXA-181, blaOXA-232 and blaVIM-4 were detected. The genetic background of K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates was highly diverse. Conclusions: The CPE population in the Netherlands is diverse, suggesting multiple introductions. The predominant carbapenemase alleles are blaOXA-48 and blaNDM-1. There was a clear association between species, carbapenemase allele and susceptibility to meropenem

Corporate social responsibility in Brand equity : A study on how CSR can increase local franchised fast food restaurants brand equity.

Introduction: Research claims that it is hard to divide the responsibility for the local community between the franchisee and the franchisor because of the franchisee does not have clear understanding to what degree they should be committed to local CSR. This research will study the importance of philanthropic CSR activities on local level and see if these activities can be used to strengthen fast food companies’ brand equity. Purpose: To further investigate the importance of philanthropic CSR activities on local level and see if these activities can be used to strengthen fast food companies brand equity. Research questions: Research have shown that fast food companies are involved in different kinds of philanthropic CSR activities, what part of brand equity has to be dealt with first? What are the important factors in building brand equity with philanthropic CSR activities? How important is the focus on local activities for franchised fast food companies when it comes to the philanthropic CSR activities? Methodology: This study is targeting the population of Kronobergs region between 18 and 64 years old. The literature review showed that the field of CSR effects on brand equity needed further studies. A construction of four variables within philanthropic CSR was matched towards brand equity with a sample size of 192. Conclusion: There is a weak positive significant relationship between CSR and brand equity in this study around fast food companies. As authors, we believe that the customers’ awareness is too low, for CSR to affect brand equity the level of awareness needs increase to motivate internal stakeholders for further investments in philanthropic CSR and to get more response from local citizen

Relationsmarknadsföringens möjligheter och hinder : - En studie från en inköpares perspektiv

Relationer mellan köpare och leverantören har funnits lika länge som det funnits handel. Relationsmarknadsföring beskrivs idag som viktig för företag då strategin anses hjälpa leverantörer i dess strävan efter lönsamma kunder. Vissa forskare beskriver dock relationsmarknadsföringens effektivitet som låg och menar att andra faktorer är betydligt viktigare då en kund ska välja leverantör. Syftet med denna studie är att utforska hur effektiv relationsmarknadsföring är i en leverantörs strävan att öka intäkter och etablera kundrelationer. Vilka faktorer påverkar en köpbeslutprocess vid inköparens val av leverantörer? Hur stor roll har relationskapandet vid en inköpares val av leverantör? Sex semi- strukturerade intervjuer, där inköpare var respondenter, låg till grund för det empiriska materialet i studien. Frågorna togs fram enligt en kvalitativ strategi och materialet analyserades senare också på ett kvalitativt vis. Enligt resultatet i studien kan relationsmarknadsföringens effektivitet ifrågasättas då respondenterna i studien ofta tenderade att uppfatta en leverantörs strävan efter att bygga relationer som onödig. Andra faktorer hade betydligt större inverkan i respondenternas val vilket kan innebära att en leverantör bör lägga mer resurser på dessa faktorer än de gör på relationsmarknadsföring.