Developing the price competitiveness in project business : Case: International industrial company

The purpose of the the research is to determine how can the price competitiveness of project businesses be further increased by developing the key drivers of the presale period. Thesis is important, because it brings new perspectives to the concept of price competitiveness and it can be used as reference in researching industrial price competitiveness, especially in project-based businesses. The research problem were divided in sub areas: what are the key drivers influencing price competitiveness in project-based business, which drivers can be developed before the actual sale and finally how key drivers should be developed in order to increase price competitiveness. Theoretical section of the thesis go through models and factors for price competitiveness. In the conclusion and discussion section a new model is introduced for analysing price competitiveness in project-based businesses. This model is an extension of the Kim & Maubourne's 2004 generic model. The new model is taking more factors into consideration regarding price competitiveness and gives examples how these can be developed. The new model goes deeper into project-based business and examines how different factors affect each other and opens the theories behind them as well. Theoretical part of the thesis can also be used as a guideline which factors to take into considerations when building new competitiveness businesses and how to rethink the whole process. The empirical part of the thesis was done by interviewing key people inside the case company. Based on the theoretical section, a large number of detailed questions and themes had been selected. The author itself had a long and deep background in the subjects and good understanding of the factors and models in real-life, because he had led project-based businesses and business development in project-based businesses his whole career. The research identifies which factors influence price competitiveness in general. These were studied which are specific ones for project-based businesses. Three factors are highlighted in project-based businesses: the role of supply chain, pricing model and the importance of development activities to secure the contract and correct price levels. In these three areas, the research offers a wide range of ways to develop the price competitiveness

Developing the price competitiveness in project business : Case: International industrial company

The purpose of the the research is to determine how can the price competitiveness of project businesses be further increased by developing the key drivers of the presale period. Thesis is important, because it brings new perspectives to the concept of price competitiveness and it can be used as reference in researching industrial price competitiveness, especially in project-based businesses. The research problem were divided in sub areas: what are the key drivers influencing price competitiveness in project-based business, which drivers can be developed before the actual sale and finally how key drivers should be developed in order to increase price competitiveness. Theoretical section of the thesis go through models and factors for price competitiveness. In the conclusion and discussion section a new model is introduced for analysing price competitiveness in project-based businesses. This model is an extension of the Kim & Maubourne's 2004 generic model. The new model is taking more factors into consideration regarding price competitiveness and gives examples how these can be developed. The new model goes deeper into project-based business and examines how different factors affect each other and opens the theories behind them as well. Theoretical part of the thesis can also be used as a guideline which factors to take into considerations when building new competitiveness businesses and how to rethink the whole process. The empirical part of the thesis was done by interviewing key people inside the case company. Based on the theoretical section, a large number of detailed questions and themes had been selected. The author itself had a long and deep background in the subjects and good understanding of the factors and models in real-life, because he had led project-based businesses and business development in project-based businesses his whole career. The research identifies which factors influence price competitiveness in general. These were studied which are specific ones for project-based businesses. Three factors are highlighted in project-based businesses: the role of supply chain, pricing model and the importance of development activities to secure the contract and correct price levels. In these three areas, the research offers a wide range of ways to develop the price competitiveness

Role of Proteins and of Some Bioactive Peptides on the Nutritional Quality of Donkey Milk and Their Impact on Human Health

Donkey milk could be considered a good and safer alternative, compared to other types of milk, for infants affected by cow’s milk protein allergy, when breastfeeding is not possible. Interestingly, donkey milk has low allergenicity, mainly due to the low total casein amount, and the content of some whey proteins that act as bioactive peptides. The amount of lysozyme, an antibacterial agent, is 1.0 g/L, similar to human milk. Lactoferrin content is 0.08 g/L, with this protein being involved in the regulation of iron homoeostasis, anti-microbial and anti-viral functions, and protection against cancer development. Lactoperoxidase, another protein with antibacterial function, is present in donkey milk, but in very low quantities (0.11 mg/L). -lactoglobulin content in donkey milk is 3.75 g/L—this protein is able to bind and transport several hydrophobic molecules. Donkey milk’s alpha-lactalbumin concentration is 1.8 g/L, very close to that of human milk. beta-lactalbumin shows antiviral, antitumor, and anti-stress properties. Therefore, donkey milk can be considered as a set of nutraceuticals properties and a beverage suitable, not only for the growing infants, but for all ages, especially for convalescents and for the elderly

Human lactoferrin but not lysozyme neutralizes HSV-1 and inhibits HSV-1 replication and cell-to-cell spread

The frequent oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the absence of clinical disease suggests that symptomatic HSV-1 recurrences may be inhibited by the mucosal environment. Indeed, saliva has been shown to contain substances with anti-HSV activity. In the current study, we investigated the anti-HSV-1 activity of human lactoferrin (hLf) and lysozyme (hLz), two highly cationic polypeptides of the mucosal innate defence system

USABILITY OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DISABILITY ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE IN CHRONIC TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Objectives: To investigate functioning measured with the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) in patients with mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury, and to compare patients' experiences with assessments made by their significant others and by consultant neurologists.Methods: A total of 112 consecutive patients with traumatic brain injury (29 mild, 43 moderate, 40 severe) and their significant others completed a 12-item WHODAS 2.0 survey. A neurologist assessed functioning with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health minimal generic set.Results: The total patient and proxy WHODAS 2.0 sum score was rated as severe, and impairments in household tasks, learning, community life, emotional functions, concentrating, dealing with strangers, maintaining friendships, and working ability as around moderate in all 3 severity groups. In standing, walking, washing, and dressing oneself the reported impairments increased from mild in mild traumatic brain injury to moderate in severe traumatic brain injury. A neurologist rated the overall functioning, working ability, and motor activities most impaired in severe traumatic brain injury, while there were no between-group differences in energy and drive functions and emotional functions.Conclusion: Patients with chronic traumatic brain injury perceive a diversity of significant difficulties in activities and participation irrespective of the severity of the injury. We recommend assessing disability in traumatic brain injury with the short and understandable WHODAS 2.0 scale, when planning client-oriented services

Prolonged injury symptoms and later visits to psychiatric care after mild traumatic brain injury in school-age

Objective To investigate demographic and pre-injury factors in Finnish school-aged children admitted to pediatric neurology services after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The relation of these factors to prolonged injury symptoms and later visits into psychiatric care was assessed. Methods Demographic information, pre-injury learning status, and neuropsychological test results of 120 patients aged 7-16 years were retrospectively collected from the hospital medical records. Data were compared with self- or parent-reported injury symptoms at 1-3 months post-injury and later visits to psychiatric care. Results According to medical records, 14.2% of the children with mTBI had a diagnosed neurobehavioral or psychiatric condition pre-injury. Additionally, 53.3% of the children had some neurobehavioral or psychiatric concerns or traits prior to the injury. Over half (56.7%) of the children studied were symptomatic at 1-3 months following the injury. Female gender and presence of prolonged symptoms were predictive for later visit into psychiatric care. Conclusions Pre-injury neurobehavioral or psychiatric problems may predict prolonged injury symptoms following pediatric mTBI. In this retrospective patient series, prolonged symptoms and female gender seem to predict the need for later psychiatric care. Monitoring the recovery of children with mTBI and pre-injury risk factors is important for timely interventions.Peer reviewe

Cognitive functions and symptoms predicting later use of psychiatric services following mild traumatic brain injury in school-age

Objective To investigate whether neuropsychological test performance or presence of some specific injury symptoms at 1-3 months following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can help to identify the children at risk for developing post-traumatic psychiatric symptoms. Methods Data from 120 children and adolescents aged 7-15 years, treated at Turku University Hospital between 2010 and 2016 due to mTBI, and who had undergone neuropsychological evaluation at 1-3 months following injury, were enrolled from the hospital records. Neuropsychological test performancesand injury symptom reports were retrospectively retrieved from the patient files. Results Slow information processing speed (p = 0.044), emotion regulation deficit (p = 0.014), impulsivity (p = 0.013), verbal processing difficulties (p = 0.042) and headache (p = 0.026) were independent predictors for having later contact in psychiatric care. Conclusions Neuropsychological examination containing measure of information processing speed, injury symptom interview, and parental questionnaires on behavioural issues of the child at 1-3 months following mTBI seems to be useful in detecting children with risk for post traumatic psychiatric symptoms. Targeted support and guidance for this group of children and adolescents and their families are recommended to prevent the development of an unfavorable psychosocial outcome.Peer reviewe

Metabolomics Profiling As a Diagnostic Tool in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex disease with a multifaceted pathophysiology. Impairment of energy metabolism is a key component of secondary insults. This phenomenon is a consequence of multiple potential mechanisms including diffusion hypoxia, mitochondrial failure, and increased energy needs due to systemic trauma responses, seizures, or spreading depolarization. The degree of disturbance in brain metabolism is affected by treatment interventions and reflected in clinical patient outcome. Hence, monitoring of these secondary events in peripheral blood will provide a window into the pathophysiological course of severe TBI. New methods for assessing perturbation of brain metabolism are needed in order to monitor on-going pathophysiological processes and thus facilitate targeted interventions and predict outcome. Circulating metabolites in peripheral blood may serve as sensitive markers of pathological processes in TBI. The levels of these small molecules in blood are less dependent on the integrity of the blood–brain barrier as compared to protein biomarkers. We have recently characterized a specific metabolic profile in serum that is associated with both initial severity and patient outcome of TBI. We found that two medium-chain fatty acids, octanoic and decanoic acids, as well as several sugar derivatives are significantly associated with the severity of TBI. The top ranking peripheral blood metabolites were also highly correlated with their levels in cerebral microdialyzates. Based on the metabolite profile upon admission, we have been able to develop a model that accurately predicts patient outcome. Moreover, metabolomics profiling improved the performance of the well-established clinical prognostication model. In this review, we discuss metabolomics profiling in patients with severe TBI. We present arguments in support of the need for further development and validation of circulating biomarkers of cerebral metabolism and for their use in assessing patients with severe TBI