Einflußfaktoren und Wechselwirkungen zwischen Pulsdruck und Echokardiografieparametern bei Normotensiven, Hypertonikern und Niereninsuffizienten

Thema der Studie war, Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Pulsdruck und Echokardiografieparametern im Vergleich zwischen Normotensiven (NT), Hypertonikern(HT) und Niereninsuffizienten(NI) zu untersuchen. In der Studie zeigt sich, daß bei den NI und HT mit zunehmendem Alter eine Erhöhung des Pulsdrucks sowie eine linksventrikuläre Hypertrophie vorliegt. Bei den NI besteht die ungünstigste Konstellation, da sie in jungen Jahren aufgrund eines vergleichsweise höchsten LVMI die schlechteste Ausgangsposition haben und im Verlauf des Älterwerdens die deutlichste Verschlechterung der Herzleistung durch die stärkste Zunahme des Pulsdrucks sowie die größte Abnahme des Fractional shortening zeigen. Dieses verdeutlicht die besonders hohe kardiale Vulnerabilität der NI. Es konnte keine Korrelation zwischen dem Pulsdruck und den echokardiografischen Parametern festgestellt werden, daher sollte der Pulsdruck als weiterer, unabhängiger Risikofaktor der kardiovaskulären Mortalität gewertet werden

Sharing More than Friendship — Nasal Colonization with Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci (CPS) and Co-Habitation Aspects of Dogs and Their Owners

BACKGROUND: Since the relationship between dogs and their owners has changed, and dogs moved from being working dogs to family members in post-industrial countries, we hypothesized that zoonotic transmission of opportunistic pathogens like coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) is likely between dogs and their owners. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: CPS- nasal carriage, different aspects of human-to-dog relationship as well as potential interspecies transmission risk factors were investigated by offering nasal swabs and a questionnaire to dog owners (108) and their dogs (108) at a dog show in 2009. S. aureus was found in swabs of 20 (18.5%) humans and two dogs (1.8%), and spa types which correspond to well known human S. aureus lineages dominated (e.g. CC45, CC30 and CC22). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the two canine strains revealed ST72 and ST2065 (single locus variant of ST34). Fifteen dogs (13.9%) and six owners (5.6%) harboured S. pseudintermedius, including one mecA-positive human isolate (MRSP). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed that one dog/owner pair harboured indistinguishable S. pseudintermedius- isolates of ST33. Ten (48%) of the 21 S. pseudintermedius-isolates showed resistance towards more than one antimicrobial class. 88.9% of the dog owners reported to allow at least one dog into the house, 68.5% allow the dog(s) to rest on the sofa, 39.8% allow their dogs to come onto the bed, 93.5% let them lick their hands and 52.8% let them lick their face. Bivariate analysis of putative risk factors revealed that dog owners who keep more than two dogs have a significantly higher chance of being colonized with S. pseudintermedius than those who keep 1-2 dogs (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: In conclusion, CPS transmission between dog owners and their dogs is possible. Further investigation regarding interspecies transmission and the diverse adaptive pathways influencing the epidemiology of CPS (including MRSA and MRSP) in different hosts is needed

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

Ansaetze und Modelle zur Informationsbeschaffung beim Handel mit landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugnissen und Betriebsmitteln

SIGLEAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, Duesternbrook Weg 120, D-24105 Kiel A 163619 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

The effect of environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumers' brand stereotypes and subsequent brand-related behavior

Der Druck auf Marken ihrer ökologischen Verantwortung gerecht zu werden, wächst kontinuierlich in Zeiten von "Fridays for Future" und alarmierenden Klimaprognosen. Viele Studien haben bereits den Einfluss von ökologischen CSR Initiativen auf das Konsumentenverhalten untersucht. Bisher ist jedoch wenig über die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen bekannt, die zu unterschiedlichen Reaktionen der Konsumenten auf diese Initiativen führen. Die Marketingliteratur hat gezeigt, dass Markenstereotypen häufig die Emotionen und das Verhalten von Konsumenten beeinflussen. Das Konzept der Markenstereotypen beruht darauf, dass Konsumenten Marken entlang der Dimensionen Wärme und Kompetenz wahrnehmen, die durch die guten oder schlechten Absichten der Marke sowie die Fähigkeit der Marke, diese Intentionen umzusetzen, geprägt werden. Daher ist es das Ziel dieser Arbeit herauszufinden, ob ökologische CSR Markenstereotypen verbessert und ob dieser Effekt zwischen Marken je nach ihrer ursprünglichen Wärme und Kompetenzwahrnehmung variiert. Außerdem wird untersucht, ob die Markenwahrnehmung nach der CSR Initiative sich auf die Einstellung der Konsumenten gegenüber der Marke und dadurch auf ihr Verhalten auswirkt, und ob dieser Effekt durch die Skepsis Konsumenten gegenüber der Initiative beeinflusst wird. In einer empirischen Studie wurden Markenstereotypen und Verhaltensabsichten von 257 Verbrauchern gegenüber Modemarken gemessen, bevor und nachdem sie über die ökologische CSR Initiative der Marken informiert wurden. Die Studie bestätigt, dass ökologische CSR allgemein zu günstigeren Markenstereotypen führt, jedoch nicht alle Marken gleichermaßen von einer Wärme- und Kompetenzsteigerung profitieren. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass insbesondere die Wärme und Kompetenz jener Marken steigt, die ursprünglich als wenig warmherzig oder kompetent angesehen wurden, was der warmherzigen und kompetenten Initiative widerspricht und daher in Frage gestellt wird. Außerdem zeigt die Studie, dass höhere Wärme und Kompetenz nach der CSR Initiative zu einer günstigeren Markeneinstellung und dadurch wiederum zu einer höheren Kaufabsicht und Word-of-Mouth führt. Unter Berücksichtigung, dass nicht alle Marken von günstigeren Markenstereotypen nach ihrer CSR Initiative profitieren, liefern diese Ergebnisse eine Erklärung, warum CSR Initiativen nicht für alle Marken zu positiveren Konsumentenreaktionen führen. Durch die Verknüpfung von Markenstereotypen und (ökologischer) CSR tragen die Erkenntnisse dieser Studie zur internationalen Fachliteratur beider Forschungsgebiete bei. Außerdem liefert die Arbeit wertvolle Erkenntnisse für Markenmanager, ob sie durch ökologische CSR die Wahrnehmung und dadurch auch das Verhalten der Konsumenten gegenüber ihrer Marke verbessern können.In times of Fridays for Future and emerging forecasts concerning the dawning climate crisis, the pressure on brands to assume their environmental responsibilities is continuously growing. So far, there has been much research on consumer responses to environmental CSR, but not much is known about the underlying mechanisms causing different consumer responses to brands’ initiatives. Previous branding literature suggests that stereotypes often influence consumers' affective and behavioral responses toward brands with or without them being aware of it. The concept of brand stereotypes builds on the notion that consumers perceive brands along the two dimensions of warmth and competence, referring to the perceived good or bad intentions of the brand and its perceived ability to pursue those intentions. Against this background, the present research investigates whether environmental CSR enhances brand stereotypes and whether the pre-post CSR difference in warmth and competence varies across brands with different initial stereotypes. Also, it examines whether brand stereotypes after CSR influence consumers’ brand attitude, through it, their behavioral responses to CSR and whether this effect is moderated by CSR skepticism. An empirical study measured brand stereotypes and behavioral intentions of 257 consumers toward fashion brands before and after providing them with information about the brands’ environmental initiative. The results indicate that overall environmental CSR enhances brand stereotypes, but that not all brands benefit equally from higher warmth and competence after CSR. In particular, those brands benefit from enhanced brand stereotypes who are initially regarded as low in brand warmth or competence, which contrasts with CSR as a warm and competent activity. The results also show that higher brand warmth and competence after CSR enhance brand attitude, which, in turn, leads to higher purchase intention and positive word-of-mouth (pWOM) after CSR. Considering that not all brands benefit from enhanced stereotypes after CSR, these findings explain why not all brands generate more positive consumer responses when they engage in CSR. By linking the concepts of brand stereotypes and (environmental) CSR, the findings contribute to marketing theory in both fields. Also, they provide valuable insights for brand managers as to whether engaging in and communicating environmental CSR is an option to enhance their brands’ perception leading to more favorable consumer behavior