The manufacturing of recombinant protein is traditionally divided in two main steps: upstream (cell culture and synthesis of the target protein) and downstream (purification and formulation of the protein into a drug substance or drug product). Today, cost pressure, market uncertainty and market growth, challenge the existing manufacturing technologies. Leaders in the field are active in designing the process of the future and continuous manufacturing is recurrently mentioned as a potential solution to address some of the current limitations. This review focuses on the application of continuous processing to the first step of the manufacturing process. Enabling technologies and operation modes are described in the first part. In the second part, recent advances in the field that have the potential to support its successful future development are critically discussed.

Purpose -The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of consumers' perception of online retailers' ethical behavior on consumer purchase and revisit intentions. Design/methodology/approach -A sample of 259 online shoppers was employed to test the relationships between perceived ethics of online retailers and the intention to revisit and purchase. The measurement model and structural relationships were estimated using AMOS 18. Findings -Results show that perceived ethics of an Internet retailer's website significantly affect consumers' trust and attitudes to the retailer's website that eventually have positive impacts on purchase and revisit intentions. Website trust was positively related to attitude toward the site. The results do not show support for a direct effect between perceived ethics and behavioral intentions, but attitude and trust toward the website mediate these effects. Practical implications -The findings support the idea that despite the physical distance between online retailers and customer, behaving ethically has an effect on revisit and purchase intentions. This suggests that online vendors should invest in methods that strengthen consumers' trust of websites. To convey a sense of ethics of the website, websites should ensure that privacy policies are easy to understand, explain clearly how customer information is used, offer secure payment methods, display clearly the terms and conditions of the online transactions, fulfill the orders, and avoid deceptive practices and exaggerations of product characteristics. Originality/value -Research integrating perceived ethical conduct of retailers and consumer behavior is still in the beginning, and has not explored all outcomes of perceived ethics. This study is an initial attempt to investigate the effects of perceived ethics of retailers on revisit and purchase intentions. This study contributes to the knowledge of consumer perceived ethics and behavioral intentions.

Humic substances (HS) and quinones can accelerate dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction by electron shuttling between microorganisms and poorly soluble iron(III) (hydr)oxides. The mechanism of electron shuttling for HS is not fully understood, but it is suggested that the most important redox-active components in HS are also quinones. Here we studied the influence of HS and different quinones at low concentrations on ferrihydrite reduction by Geobacter metallireducens. The aquatic HS used were humic and fulvic acids (HA and FA) isolated from groundwater of a deep aquifer in Gorleben (Niedersachsen, Germany). HA stimulated iron reduction stronger than FA down to total HA concentrations as low as 1 mg/L. The quinones studied showed large differences: some had strong accelerating effects, whereas others showed only small effects, no effects, or even inhibitory effects on the kinetics of iron reduction. We found that the redox potentials of the most active quinones fall in a narrow range of -137 to -225 mV vs NHE at pH 7. These results give evidence that the kinetic of microbial iron reduction mediated by electron shuttles is mainly controlled by thermodynamic parameters, i.e., by the redox potential of the shuttle compound, rather than by the proportion of dissolved vs adsorbed compound.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) is an increasingly popular consumer behavior, but little is known about this large consumer segment. We undertake a depth interview study and review diverse literatures to develop a conceptual model of DIY behavior that explores the reasons why consumers DIY and the benefits they receive. The purpose of the model is to improve our understanding of a consumer segment that, in many ways, behaves differently from typical consumers. Research propositions are derived and discussions of implications and ideas for future research follow.

Purpose-This paper aims to examine the effects of consumers' perceptions concerning the ethics of online retailers on web site satisfaction and loyalty. Design/methodology/approach-An online survey instrument was administered to a sample of 220 students who were enrolled in various business undergraduate classes at a mid size university located in the southwestern USA. Participants completed a questionnaire based on their latest online purchase. The measurement model and structural relationships were estimated using AMOS 18. Findings-Non-deception, fulfillment, and security are significant predictors of web site satisfaction. Only privacy is related directly with loyalty. While direct effects of fulfillment and non-deception on loyalty are not significant; satisfaction mediates these relationships. Results provide a strong support for the web site satisfaction-loyalty relationship. Practical implications-Internet retailers must address ethical issues surrounding their web sites by protecting financial and personal information, delivering accurate products, and avoiding deceptive practices. Originality/value-The current research is one of few studies in online retailing that examines the relationship between perceived online ethics, satisfaction and loyalty. By offering evidence to prior conflicting results in the literature, a strong association between what consumers perceive as ethical online retailing, their satisfaction and loyalty to online retailers was confirmed.

Data from a group consisting of patients with CRF, patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment, and renal transplant recipients provide evidence that conventional risk factors such as the presence of diabetes, ESRD, as well as elevated levels of the considered risk factor CRP, seem to play a more important role for cardiovascular outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease than elevated levels of AGEs, tHcy, and related metabolites. The evidence suggests that routine CRP measurement can be recommended in cases of chronic renal insufficiency.

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