Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat Köln, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-263).

High energy photon induced processes at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) constitutes a unique testing ground for physics within and beyond the Standard Model of Elementary Particles. Colliding protons can interact by the exchange of one or two high energy photons, leading to very clean final state topologies. Several issues related to the study of photon interactions at the LHC are addressed in this Thesis. The detection of forward scattered protons, after the photon exchange, requires near-beam detectors. Developments of edgeless sensor prototypes have been realised as possible solutions for such an application. A proper design of these detectors has required developing a dedicated simulator (Hector) for the transport of charged particles particles in beamlines. Finally, the analyses of detection in the CMS experiment of the photon-induced exclusive production of lepton pairs are presented. In view of application early from the LHC start-up, in particular for the absolute luminosity measurement – the fundamental parameter of the LHC.

In a Manila hospital, 204 mothers were randomized into three groups: two intervention groups receiving home-based counseling visits, one of them (n=68) by counselors trained to use a locally developed, two-tiered program of breastfeeding counseling, and the other by counselors trained in general childcare (n=67), were compared with a control group of mothers (n=69) who did not receive any counseling. All infants were scheduled for seven visits to the hospital for follow-up. During hospital visits, maternal and infant body measurements were made and an independent interviewer asked the mothers individually to recall how the infant had been fed. One study physician, blind to participant groups, was consulted at all scheduled and unscheduled infant visits. At six months, 44% of the breastfeeding-counseled mothers, 7% of the childcare-counseled mothers and none of the mothers in the control group were exclusively breastfeeding. Twenty- four mothers breastfed exclusively during the first six months, of whom 22 received breastfeeding counseling and 2 had no breastfeeding counseling. Among 24 infants who were exclusively breastfed from birth to six months there were no episodes of diarrhea. All infants had gained in weight, length and head circumference. Mean maternal weight loss at six months was similar whether her breastfeeding was exclusive or partial. The reasons why mothers without breastfeeding counseling introduced non-breast milk feeding before six months reflected lack of knowledge and support. Breastfeeding support during the first six months focusing on how to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems, particularly during the first two weeks, will enable mothers to choose to breastfeed exclusively up to six months. This study has provided fundamental evidence of successful intervention by breastfeeding counseling to achieve six months of exclusive breastfeeding among term, low-birthweight infants. The locally developed training program in breastfeeding counseling, which successfully prepared volunteers to counsel mothers at home, could be incorporated into primary health care in the Philippines. Mothers who received breastfeeding counseling appreciated how this helped them to achieve their breastfeeding goals for the first six months. Improved breastfeeding practices as a result of breastfeeding counseling provided infants with protection from diarrhea and respiratory infections, contributing to their health and development.

In recent time the pressure on companies from groups like governments, regular citizens and media on taking its social responsibility has increased in rapid pace. This has led to increased interest from companies all over the world about social issues and the companies’ responsibility for these issues. In the more competitive environment were companies act today the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to differentiate itself against other company’s increases in importance. Together with increasing interest from stakeholders about social issues has made it central for companies not only to be social responsible but also to be good at finding future social trends that will give them competitive advantage against other actors. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the three largest fashion chains in Sweden, Hennes & Mauritz, Lindex and KappAhl, are managing its CSR work now and how good their organisation is prepared to manage the CSR work in the future. The examination will focus on the factors that make the management of CSR successful or not, and to get an overview of if the conditions for current and future successful CSR is present at the companies. By doing a qualitative document analysis of the selected companies the conclusion is made that there is much work to be done at the three largest Swedish fashion chains to more effectively use CSR and the positive effects that a well developed CSR plan can bring to the companies. The conclusion is based on the lack of long-term remuneration incentives for the management that rewards a short-term decisions and the extensive use of collective commitments instead of exclusive CSR work.

Despite global efforts, exclusive breastfeeding is rarely practiced in South Africa where infants are at risk of diarrheal infections, malnutrition and HIV transmission. The present study was conceptualized within the context of a multi-country, cluster randomized community-based behavioural intervention known as PROMISE-EBF in South Africa, Burkina Faso, Zambia and Uganda (www.clinicaltrials.gov, no: NCT00397150). The aim of this thesis was to identify and describe contextual factors that are important for the effectiveness of community-based peer counselling with a special focus on the promotion of exclusive breast and formula feeding. This thesis identifies the paradoxes and discrepancies embedded in the notion of community-based “peer” counselling approach, especially in the South African context of poverty, HIV and social distrust. Peer counselling, while perceived useful, was associated with social distrust which might have resulted in reduced effectiveness of the intervention. The thesis further illustrates that, while there is strong support for breast feeding, there was a general openness for early introduction of commercial foods and liquids. Mothers’ perceptions on infant feeding and peer counselling varied substantially according to HIV-status and geographical area. Nevertheless, the infant feeding peer counselling approach neither modified the mothers’ perceptions on feeding nor its associated barriers. Thus, several important barriers to exclusive breastfeeding including the risk for HIV stigmatization still remain. The results of this thesis highlight the need to rethink current approaches to the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding. It further draws attention to the gap between theoretical assumptions inherent in health interventions and the actual dynamic processes and realties of women in low-income high HIV settings.

Univ., Diss.--Paris, 2000. / Bibliogr.

Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) until 6 months followed by introducing iron-rich complementary foods (CFs) such as iron-fortified cereal and meat to prevent iron deficiency (ID). There is a concern that consumption of CFs with high iron dose may predispose infants to inflammation through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in their intestinal tract. The nutrient intake from these recommended first CFs had not been assessed in terms of meeting the daily requirements. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess if the recommended CFs are safe from a free radical and inflammatory perspective and to assess these CFs in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, feeding patterns, nutrient intake, iron status and growth. Eighty-seven EBF infants were randomly assigned to receive one of the following: iron-fortified cereal (Cer), iron-fortified cereal with fruit (Cer+Fr), meat (M). Urine and stool samples were collected before and after introduction of CFs to assess the following markers: urinary F2-Isoprostanes, fecal ROS, fecal iron and fecal calprotectin. Blood was collected from 18 infants to measure iron parameters. Socio-demographic characteristics and feeding patterns were obtained using questionnaires. Nutrient intake was collected using 3-day dietary records. There are maternal factors that were associated with selected feeding patterns. Nutrient intake was only adequate when provided by both breast milk and CFs. Plasma ferritin decreased over time in all groups (p = 0.04). Infants in M group had lower fecal iron than infants in Cer and Cer+Fr groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.014, respectively). An increase in fecal ROS formation (p < 0.002) after the introduction of CFs was observed. There are maternal socio-demographic factors such as lower parity and lower BMI that need to be targeted in the future to optimize feeding time, type and frequency. Infants with EBF may be at risk of developing ID despite the provision of iron-rich CFs. Untargeted iron fortification may result in untoward effects including ROS generation in the infant’s intestinal tract. In future, if these findings are further confirmed in EBF and formula-fed infants, reconsidering the strategies of iron fortifications to both meet infants’ requirements and minimizing oxidative stress maybe warranted. / October 2015

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This thesis consists of three independent chapters on entry deterrence. The first two chapters consider the use of contracts as a barrier to entry, while the final chapter examines the possibility of firms expanding their product lines to deter entry in a vertical differentiation model. In Chapter 1, the role of exclusive dealing contracts in the liner shipping industry is investigated. It is shown that if the entrant is capacity-constrained, exclusive dealing contracts can be an effective entry barrier, even if the entrant has a lower cost. Chapter 2considers an industry with two stages of production. It is shown that an upstream incumbent is able to deter the entry of a more efficient producer by establishing long-term contractual relations with downstream firms, provided the downstream firms are in direct competition against each other. Chapter 3 considers the question of entry deterrence in a one-dimensional market where goods are differentiated by quality. It is shown that an incumbent firm may decide to produce several products solely for the purpose of deterring entry. Again, it is possible that a lower-cost entrant is deterred. In all three chapters, the welfare consequence is clear: social welfare is lower, since more efficient entrants are excluded from the market.