scholarly journals Opening Fields: A Methodological Contribution to the Identification of Heterogeneous Actors in Unbounded Relational Orders

M n gement ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 4-18
Author(s):  
Mohamed Benabdelkrim ◽  
Clément Levallois ◽  
Jean Savinien ◽  
Céline Robardet
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Organizational Fields ◽  
Organizational Attributes ◽  
Central Focus ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Organizational Relations ◽  
Industry Membership

Institutional scholarship studies how individuals coexist and interact with social structures. Organizations and inter-organizational relations within industries are a central focus of these studies. Hence, empirical research has so far largely relied on the observation of individual actors identified by their organizational attributes, and organizations identified by their industry characteristics. The flourishing of new types of social structures has sent an invitation to observe a broader range of actors beyond organizations stricto sensu, and to define the arena of interest beyond the boundaries of industry membership. However, in practice, these remain a favorite starting point of empirical investigations. In this article, we present a new method for the study of organizational fields that facilitates the identification of a large number and varied types of actors in a given field, provides a characterization of the relational structure of the field, and offers a content analysis on different sub-regions of the field. We test the method by replicating a previous study in the field of ‘social impact of nonprofits’, and show how it can contribute to operationalize mechanisms at play in the field. We conclude by noting that the principles of this method can extend beyond the dataset it is originally built on and facilitate a comparative approach to the study of fields. This contribution should enhance the value of the field as a theoretical construct by extending its operational reach.

scholarly journals Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomic Characterization of Cutaneous Melanoma Ectosomes Reveals the Presence of Cancer-Related Molecules

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Surman ◽  
Sylwia Kędracka-Krok ◽  
Dorota Hoja-Łukowicz ◽  
Urszula Jankowska ◽  
Anna Drożdż ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Novel Biomarkers

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is an aggressive type of skin cancer for which effective biomarkers are still needed. Recently, the protein content of extracellular vesicles (ectosomes and exosomes) became increasingly investigated in terms of its functional role in CM and as a source of novel biomarkers; however, the data concerning the proteome of CM-derived ectosomes is very limited. We used the shotgun nanoLC–MS/MS approach to the profile protein content of ectosomes from primary (WM115, WM793) and metastatic (WM266-4, WM1205Lu) CM cell lines. Additionally, the effect exerted by CM ectosomes on recipient cells was assessed in terms of cell proliferation (Alamar Blue assay) and migratory properties (wound healing assay). All cell lines secreted heterogeneous populations of ectosomes enriched in the common set of proteins. A total of 1507 unique proteins were identified, with many of them involved in cancer cell proliferation, migration, escape from apoptosis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. Isolated ectosomes increased proliferation and motility of recipient cells, likely due to the ectosomal transfer of different cancer-promoting molecules. Taken together, these results confirm the significant role of ectosomes in several biological processes leading to CM development and progression, and might be used as a starting point for further studies exploring their diagnostic and prognostic potential.

A Simple Starting Point for Designing for and/or Assessing the Social Impact of Products

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Ottosson ◽  
Emma Hirschi ◽  
Christopher A. Mattson ◽  
Eric Dahlin
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

In this paper we present a starting point for designing for and/or assessing the social impact of engineered products. The starting point is a set of tables comprising products, their general functional characteristics, and the accompanying social impacts. We have constructed these tables by first extracting a set of social impact categories from the literature, then 65 products were qualitatively reviewed to find their social impact. The resulting product impact tables can be used at either the beginning of the product development process to decide what social impact to design for and discover product functions that lead to it, or later to qualitatively assess the social impact of a product being designed and/or to assess the impact of an existing product.

scholarly journals Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of novel terpolymers from renewable sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-408
Author(s):  
Diana Aparaschivei ◽  
Anamaria Todea ◽  
August E. Frissen ◽  
Valentin Badea ◽  
Gerlinde Rusu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerization Reaction ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Condensation Polymerization ◽  
Average Molecular Mass ◽  
New Class ◽  
Platform Chemicals ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Reaction Cycles ◽  
Methylene Group

Abstract 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid and itaconic acid are both important biobased platform chemicals and their terpolymer with 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) can be the starting point for a new class of reactive polyesters, with important applications. The green synthetic route developed in this study involves a biocatalytic condensation polymerization reaction of dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFDC) and dimethyl itaconate (DMI) with HDO in toluene at 80°C, using commercial immobilized lipases from Candida antarctica B. In the best conditions, the formed polymer product was isolated with more than 80% yield, containing about 85% terpolymer with average molecular mass of about 1200 (Mn, calculated from MALDI-TOF MS data) and 15% DMFDC_HDO copolymer. Considering the higher reactivity of DMFDC, the composition of the synthesized polymer can be directed by adjusting the molar ratio of DMFDC and DMI, as well as by extending the reaction time. Structural analysis by NMR demonstrated the regioselective preference for the carbonyl group from DMI adjacent to the methylene group. The biocatalyst was successfully reused in multiple reaction cycles.

II.—Notes on the Rocks of the “Beagle” Collection

1907 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Harker
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Scientific Career ◽  
Modern Reader ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Geological Work

The voyage of the “Beagle ” in 1831–6 was not only the starting-point of Charles Darwin's scientific career, but also, and more particularly, it laid the foundation for the whole of his geological work, as embodied in the well-known series of volumes. The collections which, he gathered during that prolonged voyage of exploration have therefore no small interest of a historical and sentimental kind. It is believed that they possess also a certain intrinsic value; inasmuch as an examination of these original specimens, with the advantages conferred by modern petrographical methods, may sometimes help towards a better understanding of the recorded observations. Owing to his choice of plain language in preference to the now antiquated terminology of his time, Darwin is seldom obscure to a modern reader; but his characterization of the ‘igneous rocks which he observed is necessarily crude and vague. Not a few passages may be considerably elucidated by merely indicating the nature of the rocks which are designated by such old-fashioned comprehensive names as ‘porphyry,’ ‘greenstone,’ and ‘basalt.’

Current research in the engineering design requirement

2002 ◽  
Vol 216 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Darlington ◽  
S J Culley
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Requirements Engineering ◽  
Software Requirements ◽  
Design Domain ◽  
Design Requirement ◽  
Design Task ◽  
Design Goal ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Subject

The design requirement is a description of the desired solution to a problem. In engineering design, as in all other, a clear expression of a well-formulated design goal is vital for successful and efficient completion of the design task. The nature of the design requirement and the processes by which it is achieved have been the subject of a wide variety of research. The purpose of the paper is twofold. Firstly, it sets out to collate and discuss representative research in this area in order to give an overview of the current scope of the work. Secondly, it seeks to draw a comparison with the task of developing the design requirement for software and information systems and to initiate a discussion that considers to what extent the substantial body of research in software requirements engineering might help to give an understanding of the design requirement for the engineering design domain. A tentative characterization of the differences between the tasks in the two domains is presented, and representative papers from requirements engineering are used to suggest areas of overlap as a starting point for further investigation.

Deinstitutionalization revisited

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herman Aksom
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutional Isomorphism ◽  
Alternative Theory ◽  
Organizational Fields ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Scope Of Application ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Alternative Practices ◽  
Organizational Literature

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer a new analysis and understanding of the notion of deinstitutionalization. Deinstitutionalization of taken-for-granted practices as a natural consequence of ever-increasing entropy seems to directly contradict the major institutional thesis, namely, that over time isomorphic forces increase and, as a result, possibilities for deinstitutionalization decrease culminating in the impossibility of abandoning in highly institutionalized fields. Design/methodology/approach This paper is conceptual in nature. Oliver’s 1992 paper on deinstitutionalization is taken as a key text on the subject and as a starting point for building an alternative theory of deinstitutionalization. More broadly, institutional theory and organizational literature on diffusion/adoption are reviewed and synthesized. Findings The authors argue that possibilities for deinstitutionalization have been overestimated in institutional literature and offer a revisited account of deinstitutionalization vs institutional isomorphism and institutionalized vs highly diffusing-but-not-institutionalized practices. A freedom for choice between alternative practices exists during the pre-institutional stage but not when the field is already institutionalized. In contrast, institutionalized, taken-for-granted practices are immutable to any sort of functional and political pressures and they use to persist even when no technical value remains, thus deinstitutionalization on the basis of a functional dissatisfaction seems to be a paradox. Research limitations/implications By revisiting the nature and patterns of deinstitutionalization, the paper offers a better conceptual classification and understanding of how organizations adopt, maintain and abandon organizational ideas and practices. An important task of this paper is to reduce the scope of application of deinstitutionalization theory to make it more focused and self-consistent. There is, however, still not enough volume of studies on institutional factors of practices’ abandonment in institutional literature. The authors, therefore, acknowledge that more studies are needed to further improve both the former deinstitutionalization theory and the framework. Originality/value The authors offer a solution to this theoretical inconsistency by distinguishing between truly institutionalized practices and currently popular practices (highly diffused but non-institutionalized). It is only the latter that are subject to the norms of progress that allow abandoning and replacing existing organizational activities. Deinstitutionalization theory is, thus can be applied to popular practices that are subject to reevaluation, abandonment and replacement with new optimal practices while institutions are immutable to these norms of progress. Institutions are immutable to deinstitutionalization and the deinstitutionalization of optimal practices is subject to the logic of isomorphic convergence in organizational fields. Finally, the authors revisit a traditional two-stage institutional diffusion model to explain the possibility and likelihood of abandonment during different stages of institutionalization.

Positioning Against Other Theories

2010 ◽  
pp. 135-161
Author(s):  
Lars Taxén
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Organizational Research ◽  
Complex Systems Theory ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Complex systems theory (e.g. Bar-Yam, 1997) is a rich and vital research area that has a huge potential for organizational research (Lewin, 1999). In particular, the study of complex adaptive systems (CASs) provides many insightful results concerning the adaptability and strategic management of organizations in turbulent environments (ibid). In the following, I will take this characterization of CASs as a starting point for exploring possible connections between CAS and ADT. This is done against the background of the previously reported complexity inherent in both telecom systems and projects developing these systems.

scholarly journals Ultraviolet patterns of flowers revealed in polymer replica – caused by surface architecture

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J Schulte ◽  
Matthias Mail ◽  
Lisa A Hahn ◽  
Wilhelm Barthlott
Keyword(s):  
Surface Structure ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Visual Signaling ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Structure Lead ◽  
Replication Technique ◽  
First Time ◽  
Uv Reflection

Angiosperms and their pollinators are adapted in a close co-evolution. For both the plants and pollinators, the functioning of the visual signaling system is highly relevant for survival. As the frequency range of visual perception in many insects extends into the ultraviolet (UV) region, UV-patterns of plants play an important role in the flower–pollinator interaction. It is well known that many flowers contain UV-absorbing pigments in their petal cells, which are localized in vacuoles. However, the contribution of the petal surface microarchitecture to UV-reflection remains uncertain. The correlation between the surface structure and its reflective properties is also relevant for biomimetic applications, for example, in the field of photovoltaics. Based on previous work, we selected three model species with distinct UV-patterns to explore the possible contribution of the surface architecture to the UV-signaling. Using a replication technique, we transferred the petal surface structure onto a transparent polymer. Upon illumination with UV-light, we observed structural-based patterns in the replicas that were surprisingly comparable to those of the original petals. For the first time, this experiment has shown that the parameters of the surface structure lead to an enhancement in the amount of absorbed UV-radiation. Spectrophotometric measurements revealed up to 50% less reflection in the UV-absorbing regions than in the UV-reflecting areas. A comparative characterization of the micromorphology of the UV-reflecting and UV-absorbing areas showed that, in principle, a hierarchical surface structure results in more absorption. Therefore, the results of our experiments demonstrate the structural-based amplification of UV-reflection and provide a starting point for the design of bioinspired antireflective and respectively strongly absorbing surfaces.

Pragmatic truth and approximation to truth

1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Mikenberg ◽  
Newton C. A. da Costa ◽  
Rolando Chuaqui
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Theory Of Knowledge ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Mathematical Treatment ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Pragmatic Truth ◽  
Classical Correspondence ◽  
Great Progress ◽  
And Mathematics

There are several conceptions of truth, such as the classical correspondence conception, the coherence conception and the pragmatic conception. The classical correspondence conception, or Aristotelian conception, received a mathematical treatment in the hands of Tarski (cf. Tarski [1935] and [1944]), which was the starting point of a great progress in logic and in mathematics. In effect, Tarski's semantic ideas, especially his semantic characterization of truth, have exerted a major influence on various disciplines, besides logic and mathematics; for instance, linguistics, the philosophy of science, and the theory of knowledge.The importance of the Tarskian investigations derives, among other things, from the fact that they constitute a mathematical, formal mark to serve as a reference for the philosophical (informal) conceptions of truth. Today the philosopher knows that the classical conception can be developed and that it is free from paradoxes and other difficulties, if certain precautions are taken.We believe that is not an exaggeration if we assert that Tarski's theory should be considered as one of the greatest accomplishments of logic and mathematics of our time, an accomplishment which is also of extraordinary relevance to philosophy, as we have already remarked.In this paper we show that the pragmatic conception of truth, at least in one of its possible interpretations, has also a mathematical formulation, similar in spirit to that given by Tarski to the classical correspondence conception.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document