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Counterinsurgency
No full textNoCounterinsurgencies, or the array of military, political and socio-economic efforts to counter an armed insurgency, are an ancient, enduring form of warfare, but the concept itself did not develop and cohere until the late colonial period. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, counterinsurgency was associated with a specific bundle of tactics and principles such as control of the population, use of minimum force to facilitate a political solution and unity of effort, with these principles being revived and updated during the ‘Global War on Terror’. Debates have been dominated by clashes over the general political and analytical relevance of counterinsurgency as a way of war, at the expense of comparative and theory-generative work. Recent works have increasingly integrated counterinsurgency research with theories of political violence and statebuilding and have widened case selection beyond the ‘usual suspects’, but are yet to fully form ‘comparative counterinsurgency studies’
Structure-guided optimization of 3-hydroxybenzoisoxazole derivatives as inhibitors of Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) to target prostate cancer
No full textYesAKR1C3 is an enzyme that is overexpressed in several types of radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Despite AKR1C3 is a validated target for drug development, no inhibitor has been approved for clinical use. In this manuscript, we describe our study of a new series of potent AKR1C3-targeting 3-hydroxybenzoisoxazole based inhibitors that display high selectivity over the AKR1C2 isoform and low micromolar activity in inhibiting 22Rv1 prostate cancer cell proliferation. In silico studies suggested proper substituents to increase compound potency and provided with a mechanistic explanation that could clarify their different activity, later confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Both the in-silico studies and the crystallographic data highlight the importance of 90° rotation around the single bond of the biphenyl group, in ensuring that the inhibitor can adopt the optimal binding mode within the active pocket. The p-biphenyls that bear the meta-methoxy, and the ortho- and meta-trifluoromethyl substituents (in compounds 6a, 6e and 6f respectively) proved to be the best contributors to cellular potency as they provided the best IC50 values in series (2.3, 2.0 and 2.4 μM respectively) and showed no toxicity towards human MRC-5 cells. Co-treatment with scalar dilutions of either compound 6 or 6e and the clinically used drug abiraterone led to a significant reduction in cell proliferation, and thus confirmed that treatment with both CYP171A1-and AKR1C3-targeting compounds possess the potential to intervene in key steps in the steroidogenic pathway. Taken together, the novel compounds display desirable biochemical potency and cellular target inhibition as well as good in-vitro ADME properties, which highlight their potential for further preclinical studies.This research was financially supported by the University of Turin (Ricerca Locale grants BOSD_RILO_22_01, LOLM_RILO_21_01, PIPA_RILO_21_01, PIPA_RILO_22_01, OLIS_RILO_21_02, OLIS_RILO_22_02, Grant for Internationalization PIPA_GFI_22_01_F), Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino (Grant BOSD_CRT_17_2 and OLIS_CRT_22_01)
Digital Transformation: A Multi-disciplinary Perspective and Future Research Agenda
No full textYesDigital transformation has had an unprecedented influence on all sectors of business over the last decade. We are now entering an era characterized by the extensive digital transformation of businesses, society, and consumers. Therefore, digital transformation has become a pivotal focus for organizations across various sectors in recent years. Despite differing scholarly perspectives on the concept and elements of digital transformation, a consensus exists that it significantly impacts consumer decisions and necessitates organizational adaptation. Recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic have further accelerated the need for digital transformation and its effects on consumers. This necessitates an editorial perspective on this most important topic to establish future research agenda encompassing the various dimensions of digital transformation. The purpose of this editorial perspective is to review research on digital transformation from a multidisciplinary viewpoint and provide insights into several key domains—Internet-of-Things, social media, mobile apps, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, the metaverse, and corporate digital responsibility—that are poised to fuel the pace of digital transformation. Each domain is analyzed through a lens of introduction, role, importance, multifaceted impact, and conclusions. Future research directions are suggested
Financial capacity and sustainable procurement: the mediating effects of sustainability leadership and socially responsible human resource capability
No full textNoThis study examines the effects of organizational financial capacity on sustainable procurement and the extent to which socially responsible human resource capability and sustainability leadership mediate this relationship. Data obtained from 322 organizations through quantitative surveys were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results suggest the following: financial capacity has a significant positive effect on sustainable procurement; financial capacity has a significantly positive effect on socially responsible human resource capability; sustainability leadership and socially responsible human resource capability mediate the positive effect of financial capacity on sustainable procurement. The research contributes to the literature a perspective on the mechanisms through which organizational financial capacity influences sustainable procurement via socially responsible human resource capability and sustainability leadership. The insights provided will inform management decisions and actions regarding how organizational finance can be leveraged strategically to optimize sustainable corporate practices and outcomes
Medicines Shortages Reporting Systems (MSRS): An exploratory review of access and sustainability
Get PDFYesBackground: The efficacy of medicines depends on their accessibility and availability. Dedicated medicine shortage reporting systems (MSRS) have been set up in different countries, either mandatory or voluntary, following the recommendations of the World Health Organisation to ensure these.
Objectives: To explore how the Medicine Shortages Reporting System (MSRS) can tackle medicine shortages through improved access and sustainability.
Methods: Personnel directly involved in the reporting mechanisms for medicine shortages in eight (8) countries participated in semi-structured interviews. An interview protocol based on the Dynamic Capabilities View and Organisational Information Processing Theory (OIPT) was developed. It contained questions related to participant's views on the process involved in MSRS and how it was used to tackle shortages. Data were thematically analysed.
Results: Three core elements were identified to influence MSRS's ability to tackle shortages and ensure sustainability; (1) the ability to identify what information requirements the reporting system needs, (2) identify information processing capabilities, and (3) the ability to match requirements and information processing capabilities through a dynamic capability decision-making process. The dynamic decision-making process involves reiteratively sensing shortages by understanding and validating information received.
Conclusion: Building MSRS to tackle shortages for accessibility and sustainability is a systemic process that entails understanding the various elements and processes of MSRS. It includes defining medicine shortages, reconfiguring resources, defining accessibility and ensuring the system's sustainability. Our study provides insights into MSRS developed for mitigating medicine shortages and provides a framework for a sustainable MSRS. The findings extend the literature on medicine shortage management by identifying the various elements required to set up an MSRS. It also provides practical implications for countries that seek to establish MSRS to mitigate medicine shortages. Further studies could extend the number of participating countries to provide a clearer picture of the MSRS and how it can reduce medicine shortages.This research is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration (NIHR Yorkshire and Humber PSRC). Grant number - NIHR204293
On stakeholder theory and corporate investment under financial frictions
Get PDFYesThe view that corporations have a wider focus than just maximizing shareholder value has received considerable attention from practitioners, managers, and academics alike. We investigate the Q theory of corporate investment with financial frictions when management maximizes stakeholder value instead of shareholder value. Different objective functions are investigated. We characterize the optimal investment and financial policy of the firm. The results show that stakeholder firms invest more than shareholder firms, i.e., over-investing, and an increase of stakeholder shares increases investment, except when equity issuing firms face severe informational asymmetries or severe cost of external equity. We also discuss different approaches to model investment of stakeholder firms and their implications for empirical analysis
Evaluation of two raw Indian and Turkish propolis samples as pre-formulation study for cosmetic preparations [Abstract]
No full textYe
Mapping the holistic journey of former vegans: The polyphony within veganism
No full textNoThis book explores Veganism through the holistic journeys and lived experiences of former vegans, with a particular focus on the impact this has on their Selfhood and identity. It delves into the complexities underpinning definitions of Veganism and vegan identities.
Based on original qualitative research charting the experiences of ten former vegans, the text offers a theoretical lens for understanding evolving self-perception, identity, and experience, exploring what leads to initiating a transition in and out of Veganism and how former vegans reconcile with losing their vegan identity. Applying a Bakhtinian model of Selfhood, this book explores the tensions between ‘Voices’ representing values within social discourse, such as Veganism, and how individuals co-construct their identity and self-perception through said Voices. Chapters explore the Polyphony within Veganism and offer an insight into the embodied experience of former vegans. Each analysis chapter has been divided into three distinct Threshold-moments of beginning, middle, and end.
Mapping the Holistic Journey of Former Vegans: The Polyphony within Veganism is intended for scholars and postgraduate students interested in Veganism, Selfhood and identity, and behaviour change and anyone looking to understand the context of Veganism in practice
