We investigate with German data how the use of temporary agency work has helped establishments to manage the economic and financial crisis in 2008/09. We examine the (regular) workforce development, use of short-time work, and business performance of establishments that made differential use of temporary agency work prior to the crisis. Overall, our results suggest that establishments with a gr...

Scanning recent news sources, anyone preparing for the upcoming celebration of Christmas might wonder how exactly we can manage to celebrate wholeheartedly in a global climate of terrorist attacks, massive migrations of traumatized war victims and economic refugees, and generalized fear for the future. Commentators, syndicated columnists and political cartoonists in recent times have highlighte...

The production of metallo-β-lactamases is the most important strategy by which pathogenic bacteria become resistant to currently known β-lactam antibiotics. The emergence of these enzymes is particularly concerning for the future treatment of bacterial infections. There are no clinically available drugs capable of inhibiting any of the metallo-β-lactamases, so there is an urgent need to find su...

Beta-lactamases continue to be the leading cause of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics among gram-negative bacteria. In recent years there has been an increased incidence and prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), enzymes that hydrolyze and cause resistance to oxyimino-cephalosporins and aztreonam. The majority of ESBLs are derived from the widespread broad-spectrum beta-la...

β-lactam antibiotics are among the most popular classes of antibacterial agents, whose mechanism of action consists on the inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.1 The production of β-lactamase is the most important mechanism for bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.2 Secondary metabolites produced by bacteria exhibit potent biological activities and have been developed extensively...