Bacterial isolates from animals, foods and clinical samples with resistances to one or more antibiotics are being found frequently each year. Selective pressure exerted by antibiotic growth promoters in food animals has been considered a main cause for the development of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use has been strongly criticized as a serious public health threat. The gastrointestinal tract of animals not only serves as a reservoir of zoonotic agents but also as a spot for exchange of genetic information between pathogenic and commensal bacteria. Humans get infections from resistant bacteria either through the food chain, contaminated water or by direct contact with animals. In this situation much of the concern has been directed against the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animals. The removal of synthetic antibiotics from animal diets created other problems such as a decline in animal welfare and an increase in the use of therapeutic antibiotics. So there is a need for new alternatives to antimicrobial drugs to overcome resistance development and related problems. Plants and plant-derived compounds have long been considered to posess antimicrobial activity since they were frequently used in ancient medicine as natural remedies to treat human infections. Identifying new sources of natural antimicrobials and inhibitors of resistance development will yield novel therapeutic drugs and extend the useful life of existing antibiotics. In the present work, individual and combined effects of five essential oils (eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate (AIT)) and a formaldehyde-based feed additive, Termin 8, with antibiotics against 4 antibiotic resistant bacteria with known determinants for resistance were tested using broth microdilution and the checker board assay. The bacteria showed considerable susceptibility towards these antimicrobials and a significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics was noted when paired combinations of antibiotic and antimicrobial were used. The synergistic interaction was further confirmed by the extent of decrease in logarithmic count or viable population (Log DP). Although most of the combinations were synergistic by fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) values, fewer combinations showed synergistic interaction when Log DP was considered. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the antimicrobials than Gram-negative bacteria. In combination studies, carvacrol was more effective and showed synergistic interaction with at least three antibiotics. When used alone, AIT was more effective and the concentration needed to exhibit antimicrobial action was much lower when compared to other compounds. An in vitro study was conducted to assess the antibacterial effects of Termin 8 and thymol in chicken caecal digesta and poultry feed samples by using a thin agar layer (TAL) method. Concentrations greater than the MIC of both the compounds was required to exert antimicrobial activity in the feed and digesta samples. The natural antimicrobials and Termin 8 had significant inhibitory effects on the drug resistant bacteria and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of antibiotics when used in combination. Further studies are needed to test their effectiveness in animal models.

Bacterial isolates from animals, foods and clinical samples with resistances to one or more antibiotics are being found frequently each year. Selective pressure exerted by antibiotic growth promoters in food animals has been considered a main cause for the development of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use has been strongly criticized as a serious public health threat. The gastrointestinal tract of animals not only serves as a reservoir of zoonotic agents but also as a spot for exchange of genetic information between pathogenic and commensal bacteria. Humans get infections from resistant bacteria either through the food chain, contaminated water or by direct contact with animals. In this situation much of the concern has been directed against the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animals. The removal of synthetic antibiotics from animal diets created other problems such as a decline in animal welfare and an increase in the use of therapeutic antibiotics. So there is a need for new alternatives to antimicrobial drugs to overcome resistance development and related problems. Plants and plant-derived compounds have long been considered to posess antimicrobial activity since they were frequently used in ancient medicine as natural remedies to treat human infections. Identifying new sources of natural antimicrobials and inhibitors of resistance development will yield novel therapeutic drugs and extend the useful life of existing antibiotics. In the present work, individual and combined effects of five essential oils (eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate (AIT)) and a formaldehyde-based feed additive, Termin 8, with antibiotics against 4 antibiotic resistant bacteria with known determinants for resistance were tested using broth microdilution and the checker board assay. The bacteria showed considerable susceptibility towards these antimicrobials and a significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics was noted when paired combinations of antibiotic and antimicrobial were used. The synergistic interaction was further confirmed by the extent of decrease in logarithmic count or viable population (Log DP). Although most of the combinations were synergistic by fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) values, fewer combinations showed synergistic interaction when Log DP was considered. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the antimicrobials than Gram-negative bacteria. In combination studies, carvacrol was more effective and showed synergistic interaction with at least three antibiotics. When used alone, AIT was more effective and the concentration needed to exhibit antimicrobial action was much lower when compared to other compounds. An in vitro study was conducted to assess the antibacterial effects of Termin 8 and thymol in chicken caecal digesta and poultry feed samples by using a thin agar layer (TAL) method. Concentrations greater than the MIC of both the compounds was required to exert antimicrobial activity in the feed and digesta samples. The natural antimicrobials and Termin 8 had significant inhibitory effects on the drug resistant bacteria and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of antibiotics when used in combination. Further studies are needed to test their effectiveness in animal models.

<p>Företag som exporterar varor är utsatt för ekonomisk exponering. Sker en valutaförändring så kommer det att påverka nettoinflödet företaget har i den valuta som de exporterar i. Genom att skuldsätta sig i den valuta som företaget exporterar i så kan företaget neutralisera valutarisken på hela sin ekonomiska exponering. Från exportrådets databas över svenska exporterande tillverkande företag har ett urval gjorts för att undersöka om det finns tendenser hos svenska företag att valutasäkra sig genom att skuldsätta sig i den valuta de exporterar i. Undersökningen visar att svenska exporterande företag inte väljer att placera skulder i utländsk valuta.</p><p>I stora drag är våra slutsatser att företagen väljer att säkra sig i tron att de skyddar sig helt mot valutarisk genom terminssäkring eller dylikt. Men i själva verket så kommer den sanna exponeringen grovt att underskattas.</p>

Företag som exporterar varor är utsatt för ekonomisk exponering. Sker en valutaförändring så kommer det att påverka nettoinflödet företaget har i den valuta som de exporterar i. Genom att skuldsätta sig i den valuta som företaget exporterar i så kan företaget neutralisera valutarisken på hela sin ekonomiska exponering. Från exportrådets databas över svenska exporterande tillverkande företag har ett urval gjorts för att undersöka om det finns tendenser hos svenska företag att valutasäkra sig genom att skuldsätta sig i den valuta de exporterar i. Undersökningen visar att svenska exporterande företag inte väljer att placera skulder i utländsk valuta. I stora drag är våra slutsatser att företagen väljer att säkra sig i tron att de skyddar sig helt mot valutarisk genom terminssäkring eller dylikt. Men i själva verket så kommer den sanna exponeringen grovt att underskattas.

Syfte: Hantering av valutarisker i ett exporterande företag kan vara avgörande för att nå framgång. Syftet är att undersöka hur valutariskexponering uppstår samt att se hur valutarisk hanteras i två exporterande företag. Uppsatsen behandlar ett stort multinationellt företag och ett mindre företag. Studien jämför olika förhållningssätt i de två företagen samt hur extern respektive intern hantering av riskerna kan skilja sig. Metod: I studien har en kvalitativ ansats tillämpats genom intervjuer med representativa befattningshavare i de båda företagen. Intervjuerna utgår från ett hermeneutiskt synsätt som sedan också till stor del är genomgående i uppsatsen. Förutom intervjuer så har trovärdig sekundärdata använts i förekommande fall.  Resultat &amp; slutsats: Möjlighet till intern hantering av valutarisker skiljer sig mellan stora och små företag. Sandvik har stora resurser för att kunna hantera valutarisker internt samtidigt som CardGroup har mindre resurser och kunskaper för detta. Företagens förhållningssätt till risk skiljer sig men skillnaden beror inte på storleken utan snarare synen på hur affärer görs. Företagens externa metoder för valutariskhantering är snarlika då samma derivatinstrument används, med undantag för hur företagen tillämpar dem genom olika metoder. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: En intressant ansats för vidare studier skulle vara att använda en kvantitativ metod för forskning inom området för att kunna dra mer allmänna slutsatser. Fokus för fortsatta studier kan även vara att utgå från ekonomisk eller omräkningsexponering. Uppsatsens bidrag: Uppsatsen har bidragit till ökad kunskap om vilka metoder och instrument exporterande företag använder och varför. Dessutom har studien belyst hur arbetet kan skilja sig mellan ett stort och ett litet företag. / Aim: Currency risk management can be crucial to reach success in an international environment. The aim of this thesis is to examine currency exposure in exporting companies and to see how they handle currency risk. The thesis consists of one large multinational company and one small local business. Differences in risk approach, internal and external management are examined. Method: The study has a qualitative approach applied by interviews with representative employees in both companies. A hermeneutic approach is used for the interviews and then also to a large extent throughout the essay. In addition to interviews, reliable secondary data where used when appropriate. Result &amp; Conclusions: Internal currency risk management is different depending on the company’s size. Sandvik have great resources in managing currency risk internally while CardGroup have less knowledge and resources to do so. The companies approach to risk is different but the difference is not due to size but rather the perception of how business is done. The external methods of managing currency risk are similar between the companies. The same derivatives are used with exception for how the companies apply them through various methods. Suggestions for future research: An interesting approach for further studies in this field of finance would be to use a quantitative approach to receive general conclusions. Operating and translation exposure can also be focus for future studies. Contribution of the thesis: The thesis has contributed to increased knowledge of which instruments companies use and why companies apply certain methods. In addition the essay examines how this differs between a large and a small company.

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