Molecular recognition via noncovalent interactions plays a key role in many biological processes such as antigen-antibody interactions, protein folding, the bonding and catalytic transformation of substrates by enzymes, etc. Amongst these noncovalent interactions, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and metal-to-ligand bonding are the most prominent. Exploring noncovalent interactions in host-guest systems that range from small hydrocarbon systems to more complex systems is the main motivation of this thesis. The present study involves the design, synthesis and characterization of clip-shaped molecules as host structures, and an examination of their binding properties with a variety of guests using NMR spectroscopy. Several clips with a hydrocarbon or glycoluril backbone were synthesized. The binding of cations to small, hydrocarbon-based clips suggests that binding is enhanced by the rigidity and cooperativity between the two sidewalls of the clip. Binding is also very much dependant on the solvent properties. Glycoluril-based clips built with aromatic sidewalls provide a deep cavity for binding guest molecules. The binding properties of these hosts were studied with several guests such as cations, Lewis acids and Lewis bases. Lewis basic binding sites in the acenaphthene-terminated clip were dominating in guest binding. Complexation-induced conformational changes in the wall-to-wall distance were observed for this clip. In contrast, for a porphyrin-terminated clip with metal centers, very strong binding to a series of Lewis basic guests of various sizes into the clip cavity was observed. Conformational locking of guests with long alkyl chains was achieved, suggesting that, this clip could be useful as a potential molecular tool for the structural characterization of acyclic molecules with several stereogenic centers. This porphyrin clip was also shown to bind substituted fullerenes in the cavity.

Den innevarande studien utforskar hur enhetschefer och avdelningschefer i Skövde kommun upplever sin arbetssituation utifrån personalchefens arbete med Human Resource Management (HRM) praxis. Fokus är att utifrån upplevelsen undersöka vilka indikatorer som föreligger för ett psykologiskt kontrakt och hur det kan inverka på medarbetarnas beteende. Teorin om mentala schemata applicerades slutligen på resultatet och illustrerades i en överskådlig modell av forskningsområdet. Utifrån en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod har HRM praxis i Guest modell av HRM (1997) format forskningsprocessen. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördes på ett urval av nio respondenter. Utifrån en hermeneutisk analys visade resultatet ett positivt psykologiskt kontrakt överlag vid utvecklings- och utbildningsmöjligheter, förtroende, trygghet och flexibilitet, medan studien lämnar förbättringspotential vid arbetsbelastning, lön, friskvård och riktlinjer.

In this study, we investigated the molecular characteristics of hydrates which were synthesized from gas mixtures containing the two isomers of butane, or the pentane isomers neopentane and isopentane, in excess methane. Thereto various techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction and 13C NMR spectroscopy were employed. It turned out that shape and conformation of the guest molecule and hydrate structure both influence each other. In case of the mixed butane hydrate it could be confirmed that n-butane is enclathrated in its gauche conformation. This was verified by Raman spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and calculated data. While isopentane is known as a structure H former, our results from powder X-ray diffraction, 13C NMR and ab initio calculations show that it can be also incorporated into structure II when the hydrate is formed from a neopentane/isopentane/methane gas mixture.

Hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) with Mw 5,000 and 25,000 Da and different degrees of substitution with maltose (PEI-Mal) was firstly described by Appelhans et al. Its biocompatibility and the potential to complex anionic molecules was demonstrated previously. In this study, the characterisation of host-guest interactions of PEI-Mal with various anionic water-soluble guest molecules with aromatic moieties in the structure (adenosine triphosphate, rose bengal, and acid red 26) in solution was provided. Also, a multicomponent drug@PEI-Mal@hydrogel system was achieved.

Abstract The importance of customer retention has become a major theme in the literature since the 1990s when empirical studies showed that retaining 5% of customers could lead to an increase in profits ranging from 25% to 85%. However, customer retention does not appear to have moved from the theoretical into the practical world. Specifically, there were few empirical studies which focused on customer retention and none were identified in the New Zealand accommodation sector. The travel and tourism industry contributes approximately 9% to New Zealand’s GDP, and 10% of all spending by travellers and tourists is in the accommodation sector. Impacts, such as seasonality, characterise the accommodation sector and many establishments have occupancy rates which can fluctuate from 90% to 30% in the off-season. With average annual occupancy rates for New Zealand hotels and motels hovering around 55%, retention is a strategy that owners and managers could implement in order to increase occupancy and profits. In this study the research question was based on a review of the literature and the a priori knowledge and experience of the researcher. To ensure the research question framing this study was answered in the most exhaustive and comprehensive manner a seven step research process based on work by Bourgeois (1979) was followed. Data was gathered using both deductive and inductive methods in order to nullify the two main research problems raised by Bourgeois (1979). First, that theories are cast at a high level which is removed from reality and second that empirical studies often result in just a description of the data. In the deductive phase of this study a survey was mailed to New Zealand accommodation establishments that provided accommodation and meals, and had a liquor licence. The main focus of this survey was to learn what owners and managers understood about guest retention and to answer the first research objective. It was discovered that New Zealand accommodation managers: actively work to retain their guests; know the value of guest retention; understand the links between guest satisfaction, loyalty and retention; understand the specific reasons behind guest defections; understand the importance service recovery; and understand how loyalty schemes lead to guest retention. The second phase was a case study involving three accommodation establishments. These findings added depth to the study and allowed for new knowledge to be extrapolated from the findings. It was discovered that in two establishments the focus was guest satisfaction and building relationships with customers. Whilst the resort hotel did have a strategy to encourage lapsed business to return this wasn’t measured or monitored. Thus the second research objective was answered. In the penultimate chapter an amended profit chain has been proposed which included ‘Building Customer Relationships’ as the link between satisfaction and profitability. This is based on the finding that the case establishments saw retention as a proxy for satisfaction and, therefore, focused on satisfying guests and building personal relationships as methods of guest retention. The research question framing this study can be answered by saying that the strategies used by owners and managers in New Zealand accommodation establishments to manage guest retention tend to be related to guest satisfaction and building personal relationships. However, this is not because they do not understand guest retention but see it as part of the bigger picture involving the building of relationships with guests.

Abstract The importance of customer retention has become a major theme in the literature since the 1990s when empirical studies showed that retaining 5% of customers could lead to an increase in profits ranging from 25% to 85%. However, customer retention does not appear to have moved from the theoretical into the practical world. Specifically, there were few empirical studies which focused on customer retention and none were identified in the New Zealand accommodation sector. The travel and tourism industry contributes approximately 9% to New Zealand’s GDP, and 10% of all spending by travellers and tourists is in the accommodation sector. Impacts, such as seasonality, characterise the accommodation sector and many establishments have occupancy rates which can fluctuate from 90% to 30% in the off-season. With average annual occupancy rates for New Zealand hotels and motels hovering around 55%, retention is a strategy that owners and managers could implement in order to increase occupancy and profits. In this study the research question was based on a review of the literature and the a priori knowledge and experience of the researcher. To ensure the research question framing this study was answered in the most exhaustive and comprehensive manner a seven step research process based on work by Bourgeois (1979) was followed. Data was gathered using both deductive and inductive methods in order to nullify the two main research problems raised by Bourgeois (1979). First, that theories are cast at a high level which is removed from reality and second that empirical studies often result in just a description of the data. In the deductive phase of this study a survey was mailed to New Zealand accommodation establishments that provided accommodation and meals, and had a liquor licence. The main focus of this survey was to learn what owners and managers understood about guest retention and to answer the first research objective. It was discovered that New Zealand accommodation managers: actively work to retain their guests; know the value of guest retention; understand the links between guest satisfaction, loyalty and retention; understand the specific reasons behind guest defections; understand the importance service recovery; and understand how loyalty schemes lead to guest retention. The second phase was a case study involving three accommodation establishments. These findings added depth to the study and allowed for new knowledge to be extrapolated from the findings. It was discovered that in two establishments the focus was guest satisfaction and building relationships with customers. Whilst the resort hotel did have a strategy to encourage lapsed business to return this wasn’t measured or monitored. Thus the second research objective was answered. In the penultimate chapter an amended profit chain has been proposed which included ‘Building Customer Relationships’ as the link between satisfaction and profitability. This is based on the finding that the case establishments saw retention as a proxy for satisfaction and, therefore, focused on satisfying guests and building personal relationships as methods of guest retention. The research question framing this study can be answered by saying that the strategies used by owners and managers in New Zealand accommodation establishments to manage guest retention tend to be related to guest satisfaction and building personal relationships. However, this is not because they do not understand guest retention but see it as part of the bigger picture involving the building of relationships with guests.

The presented thesis deals with provided services of selected accommodation, specifically is it guest house U Studeného potoka. The aim of the thesis is to analyze current offer of selected accommodation and current offer of competitive accommodations in selected area. The important aim of the thesis is to suggest the innovation of product of guest house U Studeného potoka. The thesis will identify satisfaction of customers with currently offered services of selected accommodation and their proposals for development. The survey will be extended by information provided by operator of selected accommodation.

The aim of my thesis is to aprise the reader with the meaning and purpose of classification of accommodation in the Czech Republic. I am trying to compare the classification of 2009 with the present classification valid since 2010 till 2012 but also with classifications of other countries. For this comparison I chose the classification of the accommodation in Great Britain which is according my opinion very detailed but also with the classification of other, mainly European countries (with the American classification I compare the classification only in general terms).

O presente trabalho visa delimitar quais os fatores os fatores constitutivos da peça El burlador de Sevilla, tanto do ponto de vista histórico -- isto é, os fatores sociais, políticos e religiosos --, quanto do ponto de vista da estrutura literária -- relacionados à forma artística em que os primeiros ganham forma --, e o modo como esses fatores se relacionam na composição do mito que sustenta o enredo da obra. / The present work intents to delimitate what are the containing factors from the play El burldor de Sevilla, by the historic view -- social, politics and religious facts -- as well as the literary structure view -- related to the artistc form in which the previuous ones gain shape --, and the way those factors associate to each other compounding the plot sustaining myth.

Cette thèse soutient que les politiques de migrations temporaires entravent la mobilité de l'individu, à partir du cas des migrants indiens dans la région du golfe persique. La pratique et le droit international définissent la mobilité comme le droit à la « liberté de mouvement » sans dispositions supplémentaires pour faciliter le choix de s’établir, permettant aux Etats de pratiquer ces politiques de convenance. Ce travail interdisciplinaire qui privilégie l’angle sociologique interroge les implications politiques et le droit international. Il montre que le non-respect prolongé des droits des migrants, surtout par les pays d’accueil, produit des conditions et des résultats restrictifs pour tous les acteurs- des indicateurs montrent l’exclusion systématique du migrant dans la société d’accueil. Cinq chapitres présentent empiriquement le « migrant » dans le golfe qui expérimente la vulnérabilité à différentes échelles : entrepreneurs, marchands-patriarches, travailleurs en col blanc, travailleurs en col bleu, et les femmes migrantes. La politique de migration temporaire des six Etats du Conseil de coopération du Golfe (GCC)- Arabie Saoudite, Oman, Émirats Arabes Unis, Qatar, Bahreïn et Koweït- constitue un exemple heuristique. Sans être un cas unique, il montre une exclusion plus sévère en raison de la nature conservatrice de ces monarchies et de la place de l’Islam comme religion d’Etat. Les politiques de migrations circulaires sont populaires aujourd’hui et les Etats en profitent à leur convenance en privilégiant la flexibilité et la non-intégration pour éviter les responsabilités vis-à-vis des migrants. Le migrant temporaire est donc, le travailleur précaire dans le marché mondial du travail. Le statut d’incertitude structurelle est aussi un des principaux éléments qui séparent « l’Indien du golfe » du reste des Indiens non-résidents (NRI). / The thesis highlights the evidence in the Arab-Gulf region with the Indian migrants to argue that the temporary migration policies hinder the individual’s mobility. International practice and law articulate mobility narrowly as merely the right to “freedom of movement” without also provision to facilitate the choice to settle, which allows states to perpetuate such expedient policies. The work is an inter-disciplinary approach, with mainly a sociological lens and interrogates the implications for policy and international law. It shows that mainly the receiving states’ prolonged non-respect of the migrant’s rights using the “temporary” frame produces limiting conditions and outcomes for all the actors- selected indicators show the systematic exclusion of the migrant in the host society. Five chapters empirically present the “guest worker” in the Gulf who experiences vulnerability at different levels: entrepreneur, trader-patriarch, white-collar worker, blue-collar worker and female migrant. The guest-worker policy practice of the six oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries- Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait- is a heuristic example. The GCC region is not a unique case although it might show more severe exclusion, due to the conservative regimes as monarchies and following Islam as the state-religion. Circular migration policies are popular today and states manifest expediency by privileging flexibility and non-integration to evade responsibility for the migrant. The guest-worker is hence, the precarious worker in the global labour market. The structural uncertainty is a factor that mainly also separates the “Gulf-Indian” from the larger non-resident Indian (NRI) population elsewhere.