Vårdrelaterade infektioner (VRI) är ett ökande problem inom hälso- och sjukvården. På neonatalavdelningen på Länssjukhuset Ryhov i Jönköping har det förekommit inkonsekventa odlingsresultat vid misstänkt VRI orsakad av Staphylococcus aureus. Att förebygga VRI samt värna om patientsäkerheten kräver känsliga och pålitliga laboratorieanalyser. Syftet med studien var att bestämma och jämföra lägsta detektionsintervall för metoderna odling och qPCR med och utan anrikning i MAMSA-buljong, av S. aureus. Seriespädningar av S. aureus tillreddes och koncentrationer för ursprungsrören uträknades via viable count (VC). Odling på blodagar samt qPCR med och utan anrikning i MAMSA-buljong utfördes. Resultaten användes för att bestämma ett lägsta detektionsintervall. Odling gav ett lägsta detektionsintervall mellan 0,5–62 CFU/ml, och qPCR mellan 6400–140 000 CFU/ml. Anrikning med MAMSA-buljong innan qPCR-analys gav ett lägsta detektionsintervall mellan 0,6–140 CFU/ml. För detektion via odling räcker enstaka till tiotals CFU/ml i analysprovet. Vid qPCR behövs tusentals till hundratusentals CFU/ml i analysprovet, men vid qPCR med MAMSA-anrikning kan detektionsintervallet sänkas till nivåer jämförbara med odling. För att kunna applicera studiens resultat på den laborativa verksamheten krävs vidare studier med fler bakteriearter och replikat. / Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are an increasing problem in health care facilities. In the neonatal intensive care unit at Länssjukhuset Ryhov in Jönköping, inconsistent cultivation results have been observed for suspected HAI caused by Staphylococcus aureus. To prevent HAI and to maintain patient safety, sensitive and reliable laboratory tests are essential. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the lowest range of detection for cultivation and qPCR with and without enrichment in MAMSA broth, for S. aureus. Serial dilutions of S. aureus were made, and the original concentration was determined through viable count. Cultivation on blood agar and qPCR with and without enrichment in MAMSA broth was performed. The results were used to determine a minimum detection range. For cultivation, a minimum detection range of 0,5–62 CFU/ml was determined and for qPCR a range of 6400–140 000 CFU/ml. For qPCR after enrichment in MAMSA broth, a lowest detection range of 0,6–140 CFU/ml was determined. For detection with cultivation single to tenths of CFU/ml were needed in the sample. For qPCR thousands to tenths of thousands of CFU/ml were needed. For qPCR with enrichment in MAMSA broth the detection range could be lowered to levels comparable with cultivation. For clinical application, further studies are needed with more bacterial species and replicates.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka den antibakteriella effekten hos ett polyestertyg med tunna invävda koppartrådar. Frågeställningen som skulle besvaras var ifall koppartyget hade en baktericid eller bakteristatisk effekt. Koppartyget är ännu i prototypstadie och om det visar sig ha antibakteriella egenskaper är det tänkt att användas inom klinisk verksamhet för att förhindra bakterietillväxt i sår och andra känsliga lokaler. Koppar är ett essentiellt spårämne, men har också antimikrobiella egenskaper som utövas genom ett brett spektra av mekanismer där skador på cellmembranet är en av de viktigare. Metoderna som användes för att inokulera bakterier på tyget var absorptionsmetoden, där en näringsbuljong innehållande Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 pipetterades på tygproverna, och transfermetoden där tygproverna trycktes mot en agar som racklats med peptonsaltlösning innehållande S. aureus. Totalantalet viabla bakterier per tygprov beräknades efter kort kontakt (<1min) och inkubering (18-24 h vid 37±2°C) genom att räkna viable count. Resultaten efter inkubering visade signifikant skillnad i totalantal bakterier mellan koppartyget och negativ kontroll i tre av fyra försök. Kort kontakt visade tendens till viss antibakteriell effekt. Slutsatsen är att koppartyget skadade och dödade bakterier då de fick inkubera på tyget, medan fler försök behövs för att säkerställa effekten av kort kontakt med koppartyget. / The purpose of this study was to test the antibacterial effect of thin copper treads woven into a polyester fabric. The investigation was done by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus strain ATCC 6538 to the fabric and evaluation of the number of viable cells post exposure by viable count. The issue to be answered was whether the copper fabric had a bactericide or bacteriostatic effect? The fabric is still in prototype stage, and if proven to have antibacterial properties the aim is to use it to prevent bacterial growth in wounds and other vulnerable locations in clinical care. Copper is an essential trace element, but also has antimicrobial properties through a wide range of mechanisms where cell membrane damage is one of the more important. Methods used for inoculation was the absorption method, where a nutrient broth containing S. aureus was pipetted on to the fabric specimens, and the transfer method where the fabric specimens were pressed onto an agar plate that had previously been spread with peptone salt solution containing S. aureus. Total number of bacteria per fabric specimen after short contact (<1 min) and incubation (18-24 h at 37±2°C) was calculated. Incubation showed significant difference in total number of bacteria between the copper fabric and negative control in three of four tests. Short contact showed a tendency of antibacterial effect. The conclusion was that the copper fabric harmed and killed bacteria during incubation but that more records would be needed to be sure about the effects of short contact on bacteria.

L'état viable mais non cultivable (VNC) a été étudiée en détail chez les bactéries. En revanche,l'état VNC chez d'autres micro-organismes, y compris en particulier les eucaryotes, a reçubeaucoup moins d'attention.Pour fournir des preuves concluantes de l'existence d'un état VNC chez la levure, en particulierchez S. cerevisiae, la capacité des différentes souches de S. cerevisiae à devenir viable et noncultivable après un stress sulfite avec différentes concentrations de SO2 a été étudiée parcytométrie de flux (CMF) en utilisant une sonde fluorescente comme un marqueur de viabilité(fluorescéine diacétate (FDA)) et par étalement sur milieu de culture. La capacité des cellules àrécupérer leur cultivabilité après l’élimination du stress en augmentant le pH du milieu a étéétudiée. Pour confirmer l’existence de l'état VNC, le temps de génération de cellules VNC aprèsl’élimination du stress a été comparé aux cellules cultivables et viables dans des conditions deculture identiques. En outre, la comparaison des différentes phases du cycle cellulaire descellules sortent de l'état VNC et les cellules en état VNC a été réalisée par CMF. Par ailleurs,l'implication du gène SSU1 codant pour la pompe SO2 dans l'état VBNC a été étudiée.Après l'application du stress, la comparaison entre la population cultivable déterminée sur milieude culture et la population viable évaluée par FCM met en évidence la présence de cellulesviables mais non cultivables. L'augmentation du pH du milieu permet aux cellules de S.cerevisiae viables mais non cultivables à redeviennent cultivables. Le temps de génération, decellules cultivées dans les mêmes conditions que celles rencontrées au moment de la sortie del’état VNC, est comparé au temps de sortie calculé au cours de la reprise de la cultivabilité. Ladifférence entre ces deux paramètres observés affirme que le temps mis par les cellules poursortir de l’état VNC n’était pas caractéristique d’une multiplication cellulaire.Finalement nous avons étudié l'implication du SSU1 dans l'état VNC. Les résultats montrent quele SSU1 n’est pas impliqué dans le maintien de l'état VNC chez S. cerevisiae / The viable but not culturable (VBNC) state has been studied in detail in bacteria. Bycontrast the VBNC state in other microorganisms, including particularly eukaryotes, has receivedmuch less attention. However, it has been suggested that in wine, Brettanomyces yeast cells mayenter a Viable But Not Culturable State, in particular in the presence of high, sulfur dioxide(SO2) concentration.To provide conclusive evidences for the existence of a VBNC state in yeast, especially in S.cerevisiae as a model organism, the capacity of different S cerevisiae strains to become viableand not cultivable after a sulfite stress with various concentrations of SO2 was studied by flowcytometry (FCM) using fluorescent probe as a viability marker (Fluorescein diacetate (FDA))and by plating on culture medium. The ability of cells to recover cultivability after stress removalby increasing the pH medium was investigated. To confirm the VBNC state, the rate ofgeneration of VBNC cells after stress removal was compared to cultivable and viable cells insame culture conditions. In addition, the comparison of different cell cycle phases of cells exitingthe VBNC state and cells in VBNC state was performed by FMC. Moreover, the involvement ofSSU1 gene coding for the SO2 pump in VBNC state was studied.After stress application, comparison between cultivable population determined on culturemedium and viable population assessed by FCM demonstrated the presence of the viable cellswhich became uncultivable after 24 to 48 hours depending on the strains under study. Increasingthe pH medium allows the viable but uncultivable S. cerevisiae cells to become cultivable again.The generation rate of cells exiting VBNC state was not consistent with growth of residualculturable cells, which support a true VBNC state. The absence of cell proliferation, the stabilityof the population during the increase of the cultivability and the decrease in esterase activity forVBNC cells allows us to conclude the presence of the VBNC state in S. cerevisiae in correlationwith the VBNC state definition.In order to determine whether SSU1 gene, encoding a sulfite pump efflux, was involved inVBNC, we compare a wild type S. cerevisiae strain to its nul mutant Δ ssu1. Our resultsdemonstrate that SSU1 gene does not seem to be involved in VBNC phenotype

La capacité de Listeria monocytogenes à adhérer et à persister sur les surfaces dans les ateliers agro-alimentaires pendant de longues périodes malgré l’application correcte et fréquente des opérations de nettoyage & désinfection (N&D), peut être responsable de la contamination croisée de produits alimentaires par simple contact avec une surface contaminée. De plus, il est important de prendre en considération la présence potentielle de bactéries viables non cultivables (VNC) qui ne sont pas détectées par les méthodes culturales utilisées lors de la recherche de L. monocytogenes dans un prélèvement de surface.Un des objectifs a été de vérifier si les milieux de culture conventionnels fréquemment utilisés pour les expérimentations en laboratoire étaient représentatifs des conditions environnementales des ateliers agro-alimentaires et de définir pour la suite des expérimentations un milieu synthétique pouvant modéliser une souillure alimentaire. Pour assurer la sécurité sanitaire des aliments et préserver la santé des consommateurs, optimiser les opérations d’hygiène est une nécessité. Dans ce but, la survie des cellules adhérentes de L. monocytogenes soumises à des conditions simulant en laboratoire l’alternance des phases de N&D et de production a été étudiée. Plusieurs facteurs pouvant influencer la survie de ces cellules ont été pris en considération et combinés par un plan d’expériences fractionnaire : la souillure alimentaire, la souche de L. monocytogenes, le matériau de surface, la présence d’une souche de Pseudomonas fluorescens qui favorise l’adhésion de L. monocytogenes et le scénario de l’opération d’hygiène. Dans les industries agro-alimentaires, les bactéries sont soumises à de nombreux stress, nécessitant pour survivre l’expression et l’induction appropriées de gènes et de protéines de réponse aux stress. Les mécanismes de réponse aux stress mis en place par les cellules de L. monocytogenes adhérentes après stress hydrique (dessiccation), stress chimique (N&D) et stress froid ont été déterminés par une analyse transcriptomique.Selon les critères étudiés (croissance, forces d’adhésion, distribution spatiale et état physiologique des cellules adhérentes), il s’avère que le milieu TSB/5m peut modéliser le jus de saumon fumé. Au contraire, aucun des milieux synthétiques testés ne permet de remplacer l’utilisation de l’exsudat de viande pour mimer les conditions de terrain. Concernant les facteurs influençant la survie de L. monocytogenes, les opérations d’hygiène impactent uniquement la cultivabilité des cellules adhérentes ; toutefois, le séchage des surfaces permet une optimisation de l’efficacité de la procédure de N&D, d’autant plus lorsqu’il est réalisé quotidiennement / Despite the correct and frequent application of cleaning & disinfection (C&D), Listeria monocytogenes has the ability to adhere to and persist on surfaces in food processing plants for long periods. Consequently, L. monocytogenes may be responsible for cross-contamination of food through contact with contaminated surfaces. In addition, it is important to consider the potential presence of viable but non culturable (VBNC) bacteria that are not detected by the microbiological methods used in the research of L. monocytogenes in a surface sample.One aim was to verify whether the conventional culture media commonly used for laboratory experiments were representative of the environmental conditions of food processing plants and define for further experiments a synthetic medium that can model a food soil. Optimization of the C&D procedures is a necessary to ensure food safety and protect the health of consumers. For this purpose, the survival of L. monocytogenes adherent cells subjected to laboratory conditions simulating alternating phases of C&D and production was studied. Several factors that may influence the survival of these cells were considered and combined with a fractional factorial design, including: the food soil, the strain of L. monocytogenes, the surface material, the presence of a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, which enhances the adhesion of L. monocytogenes, and the scenario of the sanitation procedure. Moreover, in the food industry, bacteria can be subject to many stresses; thus, the expression and induction of appropriate genes and stress response proteins are required for survival. The stress response mechanisms set up by the adherent L. monocytogenes cells after hydric stress (i.e. desiccation), chemical stress (i.e. C&D), and cold stress were determined by a transcriptomic analysis.According to the criteria studied (i.e. growth, adhesion forces, spatial distribution, and physiological state of adherent cells), TSB/5m medium was found to be a sufficient model for smoked salmon juice. In contrast, none of the tested synthetic media can replace the use of meat exudate to mimic field conditions. About the factors influencing the survival of L. monocytogenes, C&D procedures were found to only impact the culturability of adherent cells; however, drying surfaces were found to optimize the effectiveness of the C&D procedures, especially when performed daily

Everyday ideas are born that change the world, ideas that beat the high-risk market of entrepreneurship. Relating to the question, what gives way to an optimal market establishment? The purpose of the thesis is to provide information related to what type of methodologies that contribute to the endeavours of a startup to successfully create a product that serves the markets needs. Achieved through careful and qualitative assessments of relevant sources in an abductive approach. The empirical findings from an observed startup serves as the basis for research, subsequently correlated and defined through scientific findings of the methodologies of the business model canvas, minimum viable product, and Lean Startup Methodology. The foundation of observations revolves around the startup company Swift, whose vision is to eliminate the risk of discrimination in the job-searching process through innovate and technical measures. Furthermore, quantitative data was gathered to assess the applicability of this study to the general startup market. The analyses of the startups utilization of the methodologies indicated flaws revolving human bias factors of interpreting data, and the effects of presenting minimum viable products to the market could effect the market establishment, relating to the customer perception within the innovation- spectrum. Conclusively, by utilizing methods that optimize multi-variable understanding, and continuous feedback by customers to validate market related hypothesises; give way to higher chances of an optimal product-market-fit.

Microorganisms are monitored as a key indicator of water quality. Measurement of “total viable organisms” (TVO, similar to “heterotrophic plate count”, HPC) is used to indicate the general hygiene level of the water, and is often used to assess water treatment. Automated, instrumental TVO detection in water samples using an enzyme reaction method shortens the detection time compared to conventional HPC methods. A method that can detect TVO without interference in water samples by monitoring enzyme activities through fluorescent signals in small custom sample cells was developed. In this method, fluorogenic substrates were cleaved by specific enzymes to make fluorescent products, which then partitioned into a non-polar siloxane polymer film on the bottom of the sample cell. A miniature spectrometer monitored fluorescence in the polymer to give a present/absent result for bacteria. There is no interference from sample color and turbidity because the light never passes through the sample matrix. Eight substrates that can be converted by six different enzymes were characterized. These had fluorescent products coupled to glucose, glucuronic acid, galactose, phosphate, sulfate and alanine. Four different products were produced, providing detection of some enzymes simultaneously but independently, depending on the substrates chosen. Candidate fluorescent products were first tested with different siloxane polymers and two dimethyl-siloxane polymers were identified to detect all the products separately. Fifteen laboratory bacteria strains (including E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were added individually to a substrate solution containing minimal nutrients and incubated. All bacteria types were successfully detected by at least one substrate, with most detected by several substrates. Sterility of water samples from lake water, treated lake water and tap water were tested with those eight substrates separately or in combination. The lake water had the highest bacteria level and included coliforms and possibly E. coli. Treated lake water and tap water were E. coli and coliforms free, and were safe for drinking. Treated lake water had higher TVO levels than tap water, indicating a lower hygiene level. The results of combined substrate tests matched the corresponding single substrate tests, suggesting specific bacteria strains can be distinguished in a single test. / Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-01 18:03:54.111

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T18:39:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 30 / Nenhuma / A despeito de quaisquer outros objetivos que possam ter as organizações empresariais, a principal meta a ser alcançada é o lucro. Para que o lucro seja al-cançado as empresas lançam mão de estratégias que são traduzidas em passos tá-ticos e que seguem implícita ou explicitamente as orientações de uma teoria. Essa teoria é sempre uma projeção racional da realidade. A efetividade das estratégias adotadas é resultado, em primeiro lugar, da correspondência entre a teoria adotada e a realidade. A teoria adotada deve ser capaz de descrever a realidade, indicar meios de interferir nela e de fazer previsões dos resultados dessa interferência. Em segundo lugar, a efetividade das estratégias depende de uma formulação adequada para as condições particulares do meio onde ela será aplicada. Em terceiro lugar, a efetividade da estratégia depende de ações que transformem a realidade segundo os objetivos que se quer alcançar. O Programa Visão Viável da Teoria das Restri-ções é uma dessas estratégias para alavancar o crescime / In spite of any other tasks that commercial organizations have, the main goal to be reached is profit. In the aim to reach that, companies make use of strategies that are translated in tactical steps which follow implicitly or explicitly the orientation of a the-ory. This theory is always a rational projection of reality. The effectiveness of the adopted strategies results, in first place, from the correspondence between the adopted theory and the reality. The adopted theory must be capable to describe the reality, to indicate ways to intervene with it and to make forecasts of the results of this interference. In second place, the effectiveness of the strategies depends on an ap-propriated formularization adjusted for the particular conditions of the environment where it will be applied. In third place, the effectiveness of the strategy depends on objective actions that transform the reality accordingly to the tasks to be reached. The program Viable Vision of the Theory of Constraints is one of these strategi

Cette thèse rappelle les fondements du pilotage des systèmes logistiques et montre l'intérêt de la mise en place d'un SCP (Systèmes Contrôlés par le produit). L'intégration de tels systèmes doit d'abord prendre en compte la cohérence entre les différents éléments le constituant. Ainsi les systèmes centralisés cherchent à proposer des plans de moyen, long termes visant un optimal de coût, mais aussi une certaine stabilité et peu de nervosité. Par ailleurs, les systèmes distribués ont démontré leur capacité à permettre une réaction rapide à des événements impromptus survenant dans le système physique. L'hybridation de ces deux types de pilotage est donc une voie de gain de productivité pour les systèmes logistiques et industriels. Le premier chapitre de la thèse décrit l'évolution des systèmes de planification et de pilotage de la production, avec l'objectif d'identifier les forces et faiblesses des différentes approches proposées jusqu'à nos jours et permettent définir l'objectif général de la thèse. Le chapitre deux analyse l'état de l'art concernant les outils de modélisation des systèmes de production centralisés/distribués et aussi le concept de contrôle par le produit. Ce chapitre sert de base pour définir les objectifs spécifiques de la thèse. Le chapitre trois présente le cadre de modélisation proposé. Ce cadre est basé sur une approche cybernétique, et plus spécifiquement sur le modèle de système viable (VSM). Le chapitre démarre avec une présentation générale du modèle de système viable, puis présente un modèle générique de modélisation de systèmes contrôlés par le produit. Enfin, le chapitre décrit une application de ce cadre général aux systèmes de planification et pilotage de la production de type SCP. Le chapitre quatre définit les différentes méthodes de décision, tant centralisées que distribuées, développées pour l'implémentation du modèle générique définit dans le chapitre trois. Aux niveaux centralisés et distribués ces méthodes sont basées sur des modèles de programmation mathématique développés pour considérer l'adaptabilité et la flexibilité du système. Le chapitre cinq montre les principaux résultats grâce à une application basée sur un cas industriel qui a nécessité le développement d'un outil de simulation qui considère des variables de court, moyen et long termes pour les différents modèles d'optimisation. Ces résultats montrent l'intérêt de ce type d'hybridation.

Background: There is an increasing amount of arguments made that new business models are the solution when companies and industries face radical changes in the environment. To be able to prosper in the long run, organizations must reinvent themselves over and over again. Many authors (e.g. Abernathy & Utterback, 1978; Christensen, 1997; Kim & Mauborgne, 2005; Ries, 2011) claim that big, radical, reconfigurations are needed in order to prosper in the long-term. Theories, concepts and framework have been developed to answer how this reconfiguration should happen within organizations. However, the concepts derived are just parts of the solution, and none take a holistic approach, trying to cover them in a practical framework that could be used by organizations. Aim: The aim of the thesis is to propose a framework that enables organizations to systemize their innovation processes, making them flexible enough to repetitively seize opportunities through business model innovation where new value can be created and captured. The proposed framework aims to enable organizations to start discussing how they should create and capture new value and give them a more pragmatic view on the innovation process. It also aims to act as a starting point for future research. Methodology: The thesis follows March & Smith’s (1995) design science methodology in order to build and evaluate the framework. This is done in three steps; first by building a model from theory. Second, the emergence of business models in three different case companies are compared and investigated qualitatively. Lastly the model and the factors derived from the data are contrasted and a framework is built and evaluated. Findings & Conclusion: The basis of the derived framework proposes for big steps to change, and create and capture new value; analyze the basis of competition in the macro and micro environment, analyze and experiment with different non-customer tiers, experiment with the creation of value and experiment and analyze the capture of the value created. More tangible tools are proposed for each of these steps. Actually testing the framework and further evaluating and theorizing of the framework is proposed as future research directions.

Striving towards service excellence, a public entity can embark on various service and product delivery strategies as well as functional management strategies or management tools. The primary objective of this study is to indicate to what extent a public entity such as Gerotek can meet the different approaches to economically viable service delivery to the government and commercial environments respectively, where different rules, regulations, means and ways of contracting apply. In order to realise this objective, the characteristics of public entities and those of private entities competing in the same market were explored and comparisons made between the different entities to indicate the level of success each one is able to achieve. Public-Private Partnerships, Project- Partnering and Management, as well as Black Economic Empowerment involvement, as different forms of partnership agreements or other forms of business models, were investigated to distinguish best practice in service and product delivery strategies. The effectiveness of various management tools was discussed, such as the South African Excellence Model, Total Quality Management, and the Balanced Scorecard, which can be applied to assist management in improving service delivery. Interviews were conducted according to an interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain information pertaining to the literature study of the above, in order to determine the effectiveness of service delivery within a public entity competing in government and commercial environments. The respondents agreed that a public entity could meet best practice to deliver economically viable services and products to both environments, with the reservation that continuous improvements should be made. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.