Questa tesi empirica si concentra sul ruolo svolto dal food marketing (sezione uno) e dal destination branding (sezione due) nel promuovere lo sviluppo di una regione . La tesi è strutturata come raccolta di 4 articoli. La prima sezione si basa su due ricerche empiriche inerenti il caso della Fontina, un tipico formaggio italiano. L'obiettivo è capire che tipo di valore può essere generato collegando un alimento tipico alla regione di origine / produttore / certificazione. L'analisi approfondisce e supporta studi precedenti sull’ importanza della certificazione DOP e contribuisce individuando un legame tra le preferenze dei consumatori per i prodotti DOP e le differenze territoriali. La seconda sezione si concentra sul tema della collaborazione nelle destinazioni turistiche, approfondendo il ruolo della fiducia nel rapporto tra benefici (economici e relazionali) realizzabili attraverso service bundling e l'orientamento degli albergatori al networking. Sono stati intervistati 164 albergatori valdostani. I risultati evidenziano che la fiducia media il rapporto tra benefici relazionali e orientamento al networking. Un ulteriore risultato interessante è l'effetto mediazione svolto dell’ innovatività degli albergatori nel rapporto tra benefici economici e orientamento al networking. Lo studio fornisce una segmentazione del settore dell'ospitalità in base all'orientamento al networking degli operatori. / This empirical thesis focuses on the role played by typical food marketing (section one) and destination branding (section two) in enhancing the development of a region. The thesis is structured as the collection of 4 papers. The first section is based on two empirical surveys on the case of Fontina, a typical Italian cheese. The aim is to understand which kind of value can be generated by linking a typical food to the region of origin/ producer/ certification. The analysis supports and builds on previous studies on the importance of PDO certification. Importantly, it contributes by eliciting consumers’ preferences for PDO according to territorial differences. The second section focuses on the topic of collaboration in tourism destinations. This research investigates the role of trust in the relationship between benefits (economic and relational) achievable through service bundling and hoteliers’ orientation to networking. 164 hoteliers located in Aosta Valley region in Italy were interviewed. Outcomes highlight that trust mediates the relationship between relational benefits and networking orientation. Another interesting result is the mediation effect of hoteliers’ innovativeness on the relationship between economic benefits and networking orientation. The study provides a segmentation of the hospitality industry according to operators’ networking orientation.

Since ancient times, roads have tied people and cultures together. Roads have been createdwith the aim of facilitating trade and cultural exchange among different regions in the world. After the technologic development in vehicle industry and dramatically increase of motoring in the world during the past century road communication has gained a great importance for transporting people and goods. Thus, good safety and accessibility on roads all year round is now a vital necessity for a healthy economy in all modern societies. In order to keep roads safe, available for use with high transport quality they need to be maintained in real time. One of the most difficult tasks in this context is to keep the roads in good condition and accessible even during winter. The main objective of this doctoral thesis is to attempt to specify the most efficient ways of executing winter road maintenance.  The preliminary issue in this context is whether it is the use of current assistive tools, that is, technical aspects that should be optimized and developed or whether it is the way in which winter maintenance services are procured and outsourced, that is, contractual aspects that should be improved which could give the optimal impact for both clients and contractors and make winter road maintenance more effective, or both issues. In order to define the outline of the research project a comprehensive state of the art survey was initiated with the intention of collecting and gaining insights into the earlier studies in the research area. Three basic areas associated with the performance of winter road maintenance were considered to be most relevant for review due to the anchorage between the areas. The selected areas were climatological, technical and contractual aspects. The literature review was followed by an electronic questionnaire survey. The results of the study in this stage showed that current technical methods almost functioned in a reasonable manner but there was an imprecise dissatisfaction with the current maintenance contract. The second stage of the research consisted of a number of additional empirical investigations in order to identify contractual problematic issues behind the current winter road maintenance in Sweden. Generally, those factors that are rarely considered as potential underlying causes to costly performance of winter road maintenance in Sweden were studied in this research project for example improper use of related technical assistive tools, procurement of improper bundled winter services and inappropriate contract structure. This thesis consists of six papers, five of which are related to each other, and the first one is completely independent but within research area. Findings in the thesis contributes to extend understanding about; how designing appropriate contracts can improve winter road maintenance, how proper use of assistive tools can reduce unnecessary winter road maintenance costs and minimize road traffic disruptions and delays, how a partnering structure in contracts can create confidence and trust between clients and contractors that in turn leads to minimizing or eliminating conflicts and disputes between parties involved, how choice of appropriate procurement methods through proper bundling of winter road services can contribute to shorten the procurement process and create incentives for contractors, and how selection of proper payment mechanisms can contribute to higher service quality of performed winter road measures. Additionally, an adequate knowledge and understanding of climate, proper knowledge of road weather and its impact on winter road traffic is essential for contribution of better planning of how to maintain the road network during winter. Since understanding about winter issues and its effect on winter road traffic is far from complete and winter road maintenance in the cold regions is a similar challenge, broad and complex, the results of this research may even contribute to improving winter maintenance problems in the countries with severe winters like Sweden. / <p>QC 20140227</p>

University, Diss.--Frankfurt (Main), 2007.

in English While axon fasciculation plays a key role in the development of neural networks, very lit- tle is known about its dynamics and the underlying biophysical mechanisms. In a model system composed of neurons grown ex vivo from explants of embryonic mouse olfactory epithelia, we observed that axons dynamically interact with each other through their shafts, leading to zippering and unzippering behaviour that regulates their fasciculation. Taking advantage of this new preparation suitable for studying such interactions, we carried out a detailed biophysical analysis of zippering, occurring either spontaneously or induced by micromanipulations and pharmacological treatments. We show that zippering arises from the competition of axon-axon adhesion and me- chanical tension in the axons. This is upheld on quantitative level by conforming change of network global structure in response to various pharmacological treatments, without active involvement of growth cones. The calibrated manipulations of interacting shafts provide qualitative support for the hypothesis, and also allow us to quantify the mechan- ical tension of axons in our system. Furthermore, we introduce a biophysical model of the zippering dynamics, which efficiently serves the purpose of estimating the magnitude of remaining involved...

The carbon nanotube-based field effect transistor (CNTFET) possesses the potential to overcome limitations of state-of-the-art technologies such as silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors. However, the carbon nanotube (CNT) technology is still at its infancy and technology development is still necessary to exploit the CNT properties such as high charge carrier mobility, high current carrying capability, one-dimensional charge transport and their versatile integrability. Within this work significant progress has been achieved scientifically and technologically in the advance of high frequency (HF) CNTFETs for analog applications. According to simulations by others, a technology flow has been developed based on electron beam lithography for bottom gated HF CNTFETs which outperform state-of the art top gate architectures with respect to their parasitic capacitances. Moreover, the impact of electrostatic doping on the CNTFETs has been investigated. In particular, the dynamics of water desorption from the CNTFETs and the related reduction of p-type doping was investigated and the different impact of the n-type dopant polyethylenimine onto the channel region and contact region could be separated for the first time. Furthermore, the impact of doped CNT bundles on the device performance has been studied. It could be shown in detail for the first time, that high off-state source-drain leakage currents can be due to bundled semiconducting CNTs and does not necessarily imply the presence of metallic CNTs. The within the framework of this thesis designed and realized HF CNTFETs are operating in the GHz range with cut-off frequencies up to 14 GHz and maximum frequencies of oscillation up to 6 GHz at a channel length of 280 nm. Moreover, the impact of the spacer between the source-/ drain- to the gate electrode on the HF properties of the CNTFETs has been investigated experimentally for the first time. Simulations by others have successfully confirmed that a symmetrical reduction of the source to gate electrode spacer results in an increased device speed. By asymmetrically reducing the source to gate electrode spacer and in parallel increasing the drain-to-gate electrode spacer the device speed can be further enhanced. Moreover, within this work it has been experimentally indicated for the first time that the device properties of HF CNTFETs can be tuned by different device geometries towards either highest linearity or speed.

本研究經由兩個系列的實驗設計以探討套票的使用行為與續購行為。其中，實驗一是以虛擬情境檢視套票型式影響消費者的使用意圖，並以受測者的規範導向做為調節變數；實驗二則更進一步地以較接近真實生活的情境來進行操弄，更明確地檢測了消費者對套票的實際使用情形以及續購行為，除仍以受測者的生理規範導向做為調節變數，另探討了套票持有的前期與後期對使用行為的調節效果。 實驗一的結果顯示透過不同套票類型所引發持有者沉入成本上的差異，可能導致受測者在套票的使用意願不同。具體來說，愈是能讓受測者感受到不使用便等同於虧損的套票，受測者的使用意願便會更高。此外，不同規範導向的受測者所重視的目標不同。積極導向動機較強的受測者，行為較易受到努力得到想要結果的動機驅策，所以比較在意結果是否能獲得之前欠缺的東西；反過來說，保守導向動機較強的受測者，行為較易受到努力保持現有結果的動機引導，所以比較在意結果是否會失去之前擁有的東西。以不同動機系統為主的不同類型受測者的行為會有很大的差異。積極導向者比較容易追尋更完美的結果，所以當競爭者推出可能是較佳的替代品時，轉換意願較高；至於保守導向者則較在意持有現有可接受的結果，所以發現可能是較佳的替代品時，則寧願使用手中持有的套票。 至於實驗二的結果則顯示受測者在套票持有的前期較易於使用套票，換言之，隨著套票持有的時間愈久，對未使用完畢套票的沉入成本感受會隨著時間降低，使用套票的可能性也就因此愈低。此外，不同的套票型式對保守導向者的影響比較大，對保守導向動機較強的受測者而言，若所持有的套票型式是較容易感受到當未使用套票時，就意謂著沉入成本無法回收時，使用套票的意願會較高。而當持有的型式是較不容易感受到套票成本的型式時，使用此套票的可能性就相對降低了。但是積極導向動機系統為主的受測者來說，套票的實體型式對使用行為的差異就不太明顯了。不同型式的套票，並不會對積極導向者產生太大使用行為上的差異。 若保守導向者持有的是較容易感受到此套票成本的型式時，在套票持有的前期與後期間的使用差距不太會有明顯的改變，也就是說，他們比較不會因為套票持有的時間較久就明顯地降低使用行為，但若持有的是比較不容易感受到成本的套票時，在套票持有的後期會比前期容易不去使用套票。至於對積極導向者來說，這項因為套票型式上的差別造成在持有套票的前期與後期使用套票上的變化就不太明顯，事實上，積極導向者無論持有何種型式的套票，在後期都會明顯的降低使用套票的行為。 當套票使用完畢後，原持有的是較不容易感受到成本的套票型式受測者，續購意願比較高。而原持有的是較容易感受到套票成本的型式時，相對上的續購意願會較低。這項影響僅對保守導向者有影響，至於對積極導向者來說，就沒有什麼明顯的差異。 研究的結果大致與研究假說一致，因此，對於理論與實務上亦據本研究的結論提一些的建議。 關鍵詞: 沉入成本效果、規範導向論、動機系統、價格組合、套票、認知評估論 / This study utilized two experimental designs in testing consumer behavior in the usage and repurchase of bundled tickets (price bundling). In the first experiment, a traditional context was employed by using respondent regulatory focus as the moderator to test the impact of bundled ticket types on consumer usage intention. In the second experiment, a more realistic context was employed to examine consumers’ real usage and repurchase behavior with the bundle. Here in addition to using respondents’ regulatory focus as pure-moderator, study two also included bundling quasi-moderator—possession phases. The results of the first study showed that the difference in sunk cost effects caused by the two types of bundling would result in different bundling utilization intentions. Moreover, respondents within different motivation systems showed significantly different behavior patterns—promotion focus respondents were more likely to seek better gains, thus when competitors provided better alternatives, these respondents were more likely to make the switch. Prevention focus respondents, on the other hand, cared more about losses, making them more likely to remain with the original service provider. The result of the second study showed that compared with the later phase, bundling usage propensity was higher in the earlier holding phase. Moreover, different forms of bundled tickets had different extent influences on prevention focus respondents. Prevention focus respondents held that separate types caused them to have higher intentions in using bundling, but they would be relatively less likely to use bundling when they were in possession of an integrated one. However, the effect of different types of bundling on the usage behavior of promotion focus respondents was not significant. Among prevention focus respondents who were more sensitive to bundled ticket costs, there is no significant difference in their utilization of bundling from earlier to later phases. However, if the bundled tickets in possession were the integrated type, they were less likely to use the tickets in the later phase than in the earlier one. Regarding promotion focus respondents, the effect of bundled ticket form in the usage of said tickets in the two phases was not significant. In fact, no matter what form the bundling took, promotion focus respondents displayed significantly less use for the bundling in the later phase. Bundling possession forms had the direct impact on repurchasing behavior. In this regard, respondents holding integrated bundling types displayed a higher incidence of repurchase behavior. This was, however, only effective when it came to prevention focus respondents; no significant difference was found regarding promotion focus respondents. The results of this study yielded suggestions for both theoretical and practical areas. Key Words: Sunk Cost Effect, Regulatory Focus Theory, Motivation Systems, Price Bundling, Bundled Ticket, Cognitive Evaluation Theory

Fortschrittliche ingenieurtechnische Anwendungen stellen hohe Ansprüche an neuartige Materialien sowohl hinsichtlich e.g. mechanischer Eigenschaften wie Festigkeit und Duktilität als auch hinsichtlich einer möglichst vielfältigen Einsetzbarkeit (Maßschneiderung etc.). Zudem sind Ressourcenschonung und nachhaltige Produktion bei gleichzeitig hoher Performance zu realisieren. Entsprechend existiert grundlagenseitig Forschungsbedarf zu innovativen Materialien (e.g. Kompositwerkstoffe) und ihren Prozessierungen. In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden submikro-/nanokristalline mehrphasige Gradientenmaterialien zum Einen mittels experimenteller Methoden wie der zweidimensionalen Röntgenmikrobeugung (in geeigneter Weiterentwicklung) sowie zum Anderen mittels analytischer und numerischer Modellrechnungen bezüglich spezieller Eigenschaften und deren Korrelation zum Herstellungsprozess (starke plastische Verformung durch akkumuliertes Rundkneten) untersucht. Insbesondere werden lokale Verteilungen kristallografischer Textur sowie mechanischer (Eigen-)Spannungen analysiert und in Hinblick auf materialrelevante Eigenschaften (e.g. mechanisch, mikrostrukturell) interpretiert und korreliert. Derartige Beziehungen sind hinsichtlich perspektivischer Applikationen, e.g. im Bereich hochfester Leichtbaulösungen, von technischer Relevanz.

The thesis contains the theoretical basis for study of possibilities of pricing information goods. The source areas are microeconomics, marketing, competitive advantage and economics of information goods. The model of market is created with constraints defined on the ground of theoretical basis. The thesis analyzes requirements that define the system that supports the choice of pricing strategy. It includes detailed design of the prototype of such system. The prototype is designed with robustness because of the future improvements. The design describes the prototype's input parameters and their transformation into useful outputs that cover basic characteristics of information goods. The designed prototype is implemented. The thesis includes demonstration of the prototype and possible directions for improvements that lead to validity of proposed model of market.

Fortschrittliche ingenieurtechnische Anwendungen stellen hohe Ansprüche an neuartige Materialien sowohl hinsichtlich e.g. mechanischer Eigenschaften wie Festigkeit und Duktilität als auch hinsichtlich einer möglichst vielfältigen Einsetzbarkeit (Maßschneiderung etc.). Zudem sind Ressourcenschonung und nachhaltige Produktion bei gleichzeitig hoher Performance zu realisieren. Entsprechend existiert grundlagenseitig Forschungsbedarf zu innovativen Materialien (e.g. Kompositwerkstoffe) und ihren Prozessierungen. In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden submikro-/nanokristalline mehrphasige Gradientenmaterialien zum Einen mittels experimenteller Methoden wie der zweidimensionalen Röntgenmikrobeugung (in geeigneter Weiterentwicklung) sowie zum Anderen mittels analytischer und numerischer Modellrechnungen bezüglich spezieller Eigenschaften und deren Korrelation zum Herstellungsprozess (starke plastische Verformung durch akkumuliertes Rundkneten) untersucht. Insbesondere werden lokale Verteilungen kristallografischer Textur sowie mechanischer (Eigen-)Spannungen analysiert und in Hinblick auf materialrelevante Eigenschaften (e.g. mechanisch, mikrostrukturell) interpretiert und korreliert. Derartige Beziehungen sind hinsichtlich perspektivischer Applikationen, e.g. im Bereich hochfester Leichtbaulösungen, von technischer Relevanz.