In this paper, the role of the Internet as an instrument for investor relations activities is addressed. The empirical study compares the Internet investor relations activities of US, UK and German corporations. A sample comprising the respective country's relevant stock market 100 index (S&P, FTSE, DAX) is used. The authors find that, in the USA, investor relations via the Internet is more common and offers more features than in the other two countries. Although Internet technology offers a variety of possibilities to communicate with investors, the possibilities are only used partially in all three countries.

Within an extended challenge-hindrance framework, it is assumed that job demands are subjectively appraised both as challenges (that is, as working conditions that are associated with potential personal gains) and hindrances (as working conditions associated with constrains) at the same time. In accordance with transactional stress theory, the association between demand intensity and work-related attitudes (work satisfaction) and psychological strain (burnout) is expected to be mediated by individual appraisal. Moreover, because curvilinear relationships between demand and challenge and hindrance appraisals are assumed, and appraisal is expected to be moderated by job control and social support, we tested complex nonlinear moderated mediation models for four types of job demands (task difficulty, time pressure, interruptions, and responsibility). Based on cross-sectional data of a heterogeneous sample of employees, we confirmed simultaneous challenge and hindrance appraisals. Challenge components are positively associated and hindrance components are negatively associated with favorable outcomes (higher work satisfaction and lower burnout). Challenge appraisals are found to be more relevant for work satisfaction, while hindrance appraisals are more relevant for burnout. The relationship between demand intensity and challenge appraisal is confirmed as curvilinear, whereas hindrance appraisals are approximately linearly related to demand intensity. The relationship between demand intensity and outcome variables is partly mediated by challenge and hindrance appraisal, and significant interaction effects suggest that the appraisal process is moderated by job control and social support.

The extent to which bacterial products from contaminated dialysate enter a patient's blood depends upon the type and permeability of the hemodialysis membrane in use. This study was performed to assess the transfer of pyrogenic substances across both high- and low-flux membranes (DIAPES, Fresenius Polysulfone, Helixone, Polyamide S). All experiments were carried out in the saline-saline model. The dialysate pool was contaminated either with purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (250 and 500 EU/mL) or with sterile bacterial culture filtrates (20 EU/mL), and in vitro dialysis was performed under diffusive and convective conditions. A significant transfer of endotoxin was observed for both low- and high-flux DIAPES challenged with either LPS or with bacterial culture filtrates. Under identical conditions, no transfer of endotoxins was detectable across Fresenius Polysulfone and Helixone upon challenge with purified LPS. With bacterial culture filtrates, endotoxin concentrations for Polyamide S and Fresenius Polysulfone were about 10% and 1%, respectively, of those measured for DIAPES, whereas no transfer of endotoxin was detectable for Helixone. Using an alternative assay (induction of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, IL-1Ra, in whole blood), only the DIAPES membrane showed the passage of cytokine-inducing substances. Thus, when saline is present in both the blood and dialysate compartments (i.e., the situation during predialysis priming procedures), dialysis membranes differ profoundly with respect to their permeability to endotoxins.

The present on-line system performed safely from a microbiological view-point as both the dialysis fluid and infusate were consistently free of microorganisms, endotoxins, and cytokine-inducing substances. As a result, on-line HDF therapy had no effect upon the chronic inflammatory responses in end-stage renal disease patients.

On-line HDF treatment can routinely be provided with ultra-pure dialysis fluids and sterile substitution fluids at pyrogen-free levels. The online preparation of substitution fluids thus can be considered microbiologically safe.

On-line HDF, as the most effective renal replacement therapy, does not provoke inflammatory response and is both safe and highly biocompatible.

A variety of protein-bound or hydrophobic substances, accumulating as a result of pathologic conditions such as exogenous or endogenous intoxications, are removed poorly by conventional detoxification methods because of low accessibility (hemodialysis), insufficient adsorption capabilities (hemosorption), low efficiency (peritoneal dialysis), or economic limitations (high-volume plasmapheresis). Combining advantages of existing methods with microspheric technology, a module-based system was designed. Major operating parameters of the latter can be modified to allow for adjustment to individual clinical situations. An extracorporeal blood circuit including a plasmafilter is combined with a secondary high-velocity plasma circuit driven by a centrifugal pump. Different microspheric adsorbers can be combined in one circuit or applied in sequence. Thus, a prolonged treatment can be tailored using specially designed selective adsorber materials. Comparing this system with existing methods (high-flux hemodialysis, molecular adsorbent recycling system), results from our in vitro studies and animal experiments demonstrate the superior efficiency of substance removal.

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