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A Regulatory focus approach to partnering strategy choices in new product development alliances
Get PDFWhen forming new product development alliances, firms often face a strategic dilemma: should they partner with a familiar entity within their network, or collaborate with a ‘stranger’ who appears to possess better suited technological capabilities for the new project? Additionally, they must decide whether to maintain a high degree of bandwidth, i.e. information openness, within the alliance. These two interrelated decisions significantly shape firms’ innovation outcomes. Theoretically, the optimal approach is to engage in a high-bandwidth alliance with the technologically superior stranger, maximizing potential benefits. However, in practice, firms frequently make suboptimal choices, either by showing overreliance on familiar partners, or by opting for narrow-bandwidth collaborations with strangers. To explain when and why these deviations occur, we integrate regulatory focus theory and managerial perspectives on risk-taking with the relational view of alliances. We argue that partner and bandwidth decisions are shaped by how managers frame strategic choices. Industry leaders typically adopt prevention-focused strategies, reinforcing inertia and risk aversion, while challengers pursue promotion-focused strategies that embrace novelty and change. Our behavioral framework advances alliance formation theory by highlighting the role of managerial cognition and decision framing. These insights are particularly relevant as firms face growing uncertainty and rapid technological change
Spatial and functional profiles distinguish target sets of Parkinson's disease and antipsychotic drugs with different clinical effects.
Get PDFSeveral studies have examined the genetic factors shared between Parkinson's disease (PD) and schizophrenia (SZ), but the biological themes underlying their clinical relationships remain less explored. We employed systematic transcriptomic and network analyses to examine the genes targeted by two sets of antipsychotic drugs (APDs) - first-generation APDs inducing Parkinsonism and second-generation APDs typically effective against psychotic symptoms in PD - and two sets of PD drugs, one at risk of psychosis and the other with a lower risk of psychosis. Although global brain expression patterns did not effectively differentiate between the targets of the two sets of APDs, they did differentiate the targets of the two PD drug sets. However, both APD and PD target sets showed differences in mean expression levels in specific brain regions. Moreover, they showed significant enrichment for genes highly expressed in distinct adult and prenatal brain structures relative to the overall distribution of such genes among all brain-expressed genes. Specific neurotransmitter systems, either individually or in combinations, appeared to underlie the clinically informed drug categories, indicating their differential roles in inducing or not inducing PD and psychosis. Additionally, the target sets formed distinct network modules representing different biological mechanisms and exhibited differential proximity to putative PD and SZ risk genes in the human interactome. In summary, our study identified specific spatial and functional features that distinguish the target sets of PD and antipsychotic drugs with different clinical effects
Navigating the protein transition: why dairy and its matrix matter amid rising plant protein trends
Get PDFThe concept of the protein transition represents a shift from a diet rich in animal proteins to one richer in plant-based alternatives, largely in response to environmental sustainability concerns. However, a simple swap by replacing dairy protein with plant protein will lead to lower protein quality and a lower intake of key micronutrients that sit naturally within the dairy matrix. Owing to antagonistic effects within the plant food matrix, micronutrients in
plant sources exhibit lower bioavailability which is not reflected in food composition data or dietary guidelines. The dairy matrix effect includes moderation of blood lipid levels in which calcium plays a key role. Protein recommendations often take a muscle-centric approach. Hence, strategies to increase the anabolic potential of plant proteins have focused on increasing total protein intake to counter the suboptimal amino acid composition relative to dairy protein or leucine fortification. However, emerging evidence indicates a role for nutrient interactions and non-nutrient components (milk exosomes, bioactive peptides) of the dairy matrix in modulating postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates. To ensure food system transformation is environmentally sustainable and optimal from a nutrition perspective, consideration needs to be given to complementary benefits of different food matrices and the holistic evaluation of foods in the protein transition. This narrative review critically examines the role of dairy in the protein transition, emphasizing the importance of the food matrix in nutrient bioavailability and muscle health. By considering both nutritional and sustainability perspectives, we provide a holistic evaluation of dairy’s contribution within evolving dietary patterns
Demanding the right of representation for women in corporate structures and policy in the United Kingdom
No full textUnderrepresentation of women at decision and policy-making level within corporations is virulent in its impact on all corners of society: in a business context, women are impacted directly as workers and consumers, and indirectly as a consequence of corporate and state-led actions. Gender gaps, seen in the pay gap, pensions gap and insurance gap, proliferate at the hands of corporate actors. Increased reporting requirements and comply or explain models signal positive development in achieving parity in pay, but slow progress continues to impact the world economy. The impact of such gaps is often sinister, representing a space in which economic independence becomes impossible for many. Often it is charitable organisations or social security measures that step in to fill the gaps, but gaps must be addressed at source. Women, as natural risk managers, find themselves at risk, and the insurance gap demonstrates a failure of the market to protect as required. Health and safety of women is also exposed by corporate actions, in direct worker-related and consumer policies. Representation of women on the board and at corporate policymaking level, and adequate corporate culture and training, is critical in upholding corporate social responsibility and the protection of women
Coherence of the AMOC over the Subpolar North Atlantic on interannual to multiannual time scales
Get PDFDirect measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are necessary to understand its evolution in a context of climate change. International programs monitored its recent evolution at different latitudes. However, the AMOC coherence over the North Atlantic remains unclear. Here, we explore the potential of the OSNAP array to inform us on mid-latitude AMOC strength on interannual-to-multiannual timescales in two high-resolution coupled models. We find that the AMOC strength measured at OSNAP is not related to the variability of the AMOC strength at mid-latitudes. Instead, our study reveals that the density at which the maximum overturning occurs at OSNAP is a key precursor of the mid-latitude AMOC strength. The causal relationship between AMOC density at the OSNAP array and AMOC strength at 45°N is linked to an atmospherically driven shoaling of isopycnal surfaces that propagates along the western boundary in a year
Integrating genetics, metabolites, and clinical characteristics in predicting cardiometabolic health outcomes using machine learning algorithms - a systematic review
Get PDFBackground: Machine learning (ML) integration of clinical, metabolite, and genetic data reveals variable results in predicting cardiometabolic health (CMH) outcomes. Therefore, we aim to (1) evaluate whether a multi-modal approach incorporating all three data types using ML algorithms can improve CMH outcome prediction compared to single-modal or paired-modal models, and (2) compare the methodologies used in existing prediction models.
Methods: We systematically searched five databases from 1998 to 2024 for ML predictive modelling studies using the multi-modal approach for CMH outcomes. Risk-of-bias assessment tools were used to assess methodological quality. Study characteristics, ML algorithms, data preprocessing, evaluation methods and metrics, feature selections, and feature importance parameters were synthesized narratively to show methodological heterogeneity.
Results: Of the four included studies (3 ML algorithms), three were at low risk of bias, and one was at high risk. The multi-modal approach consistently improved T2D and BP prediction compared to single-modal or paired-modal models. Genetics showed the lowest predictive performance in three studies. Logistic regression (n = 2 studies) and random forest (n = 1) were used in T2D studies, while XGBoost was used in one BP study. One study with missing data and variations in feature selection across all studies hindered a comprehensive comparison of feature importance.
Conclusions: Our review emphasizes the potential improvement in T2D and BP prediction using ML algorithms with the multi-modal approach. However, further studies using diverse ML algorithms with optimized methodologies on single-modal, paired-modal, and multi-modal models are needed to gain insights into biomarker selection for predicting CMH outcomes
“We created this account to be free”: Twittering as a communicative genre, as enacted by users identifying as Filipino men living with HIV
Get PDFA traditionally hard-to-reach population, Filipino men living with HIV (FMLWH)
are visible on Twitter (now X), offering a unique window into their communicative
practices. This online ethnography analysed Twittering as a communicative genre, as
enacted by FMLWH. Primarily drawing on Lomborg’s (2014) functional-pragmatic
approach to genre, the analysis focused on user composition, content, style, and pragmatic
function. Three studies were conducted via a multiphase sequential mixed-methods design.
The research employed a palette of methods, including social network analysis, cluster
analysis, technobiography, social media elicitation, corpus linguistics, and content analysis.
Analysis of 1,447 public accounts revealed an expansive network comprising
302,934 follows and 20,996 @mentions. Both connection and conversation networks
showed low density, moderate to high reciprocity, and short degrees of separation between
actors. While Twitter bios highlighted HIV identities, tweets covered a diverse range of
topics and functions, indicating that Twittering extended beyond the discussion of HIV.
Brevity, informality, and playfulness were the stylistic hallmarks of Twitter content
produced by FMLWH.
Ultimately, Twittering fostered self-expression, community, and sexual reclamation
among FMLWH, showing that their communicative practices were fundamentally rooted
in the pursuit of freedom. Quoting one participant: “We created this account to be free.
Human coaches and AI coaching agents: an exploratory quasi-experimental study of workplace client attitudes
Get PDFPurpose The aim of this exploratory study was to examine workplace managers’ attitudes to artificial intelligence (AI) coaching agents compared with human coaches, along with the factors influencing AI technology adoption in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach A small-scale quasi-experimental pilot study featured white collar workers (n = 63) and used a custom-designed questionnaire to compare client responses to engaging with a human coach or an AI coaching agent, Alpina, across six factors: developing new insights, working alliance, goal attainment, commitment, trust, confidentiality and shame. Findings Following a single coaching session, coaching clients reported higher scores when working with a human coach than clients working with an AI coaching agent on all factors. Research limitations/implications Caution is needed given the limited sample size, the use of a single session to evaluate and the use of a custom-designed measure. Practical implications Whilst AI coaches continue to improve technically and vary widely in functionality and sophistication, in this study, clients appear to rate human coaches more highly than the featured AI coach on a range of factors, such as insights and goal attainment. Further research is needed to validate these exploratory results and test how speech-to-speech or other factors may influence user ratings. Originality/value This is the first study exploring employee attitudes by comparing human and AI coaches across a range of factors
How to teach an old dog new tricks: appeals and the English Arbitration Law Reform
Get PDFThe English Arbitration Act 1996 (AA 1996) is founded on the principle that arbitration gives effect to the parties’ choice to refer their disputes to arbitration and that courts should only intervene to support and not displace it. This article discusses the Arbitration Reform Project of
the Law Commission, specifically appeals under section 69 of the AA 1996, with a special focus on shipping, where arbitration is the preferred dispute resolution method, so as to explore how the right to appeal in law is used differently in different categories of disputes, reflecting the different expectations of the parties involved. Where appeals on questions of law are permitted, there is in
practice a tendency to abuse this mechanism, as questions of fact are often cloaked as questions of law. Additionally, we observe an inconsistent exercise of discretion of the courts in granting leave under section 69(3)(c)(ii) of the AA 1996 which requires both that the question be of general
public importance and that the tribunal’s decision be at least open to serious doubt. Courts seem to be not too readily granting leave, but rather reluctant to do unless the requirements set by law exist. This article also discusses the only new change regarding appeals in arbitration, namely, the new section 67 of the AA 2025. Previously (i.e., before the 2025 reforms), section 67 of the AA 1996 allowed a party to challenge an arbitral award, and courts could review all evidence and arguments even if not previously submitted to the tribunal (as per Dallah v. Pakistan, (2010) 10 UKSC 46 – court’s de novo jurisdiction). In contrast, the 2025 amendments restrict courts from rehearing evidence or entertaining new objections unless they were previously undiscoverable, and limit reviews to tribunal materials unless justice requires otherwise. Our
analysis shows that the appeals regime under section 69 of the AA 1996 is sound in principle as it strikes an appropriate balance between finality and legal oversight and therefore has been retained, as confirmed in the Law Commission’s final report. However, this article argues that
the English High Court must take care to avoid any misapplication of the statutory requirements when granting leave to appeal on questions of law under section 69
The roles of interviewing contexts and individual differences in memory and suggestibility
No full textEffective investigative interviewing is crucial for obtaining reliable and accurate
witness testimonies. However, research has often focussed on interviewing contexts while
overlooking how individual differences shape memory performance and susceptibility to
suggestions. Given the interpersonal nature of interviews, this oversight limits our
understanding of how individuals respond differently to various interviewing conditions.
To address this gap, this thesis comprised four studies exploring the combined influence of
situational and dispositional factors on recall and suggestibility across adults, school-aged
children, and preschoolers in Malaysia.
Study 1 investigated the contributions of interviewer demeanour, misinformation,
and individual differences, to adults’ interview performance in online settings. Findings
demonstrated that personality traits and parenting styles were stronger predictors of recall
and suggestibility than the interviewing context itself. A supportive interviewer enhanced
recall accuracy, while misinformation increased confabulation. Study 2 extended the
investigation to school-aged children, showing that intelligence, temperament, and
parenting styles significantly influenced eyewitness reports. A non-supportive interviewer
demeanour improved recall, while misinformation distorted accuracy. Study 3 focussed on
preschoolers to assess the impact of misinformation sources (interviewer vs. peer) and
individual differences. Peer misinformation, compared to interviewer provided
misinformation, had a greater effect on inaccurate recall. Negative emotionality was
negatively linked to accurate recall, and authoritarian parenting was linked with increased
susceptibility to misinformation. Study 4 included an additional group of school-aged
children who were exposed to peer misinformation to explore potential developmental
trends in susceptibility to misinformation. The descriptive analyses revealed age-related
patterns, and peer misinformation appeared to be less influential than interviewer
misinformation for school-aged children. Overall, this thesis highlights that recall and
suggestibility are influenced not only by interviewing contexts but also by interviewees’
internal characteristics, developmental environments, and cultural backgrounds. The
findings contribute to existing literature by demonstrating the significant role of parenting
styles in shaping interviewees’ behaviour and performance during interviews. These
findings provide valuable insights for developing more effective, culturally sensitive, and
developmentally appropriate investigative interviewing practices