Entry modes in reshoring strategies: An empirical analysis

Abstract The Entry Mode (EM) choice is a fundamental issue in reshoring initiatives. Despite several authors have studied the determinants of offshoring EM, no study has investigated so far the factors affecting the reshoring EM and its relation with the offshoring EM. The purpose of this paper is to examine which factors influence entry mode choice in reshoring initiatives. We develop a conceptual framework that explains the reshoring EM in terms of country-, industry-, firm- and project-specific factors, in addition to the offshoring EM choice. Next, we test this model by using a sample of 677 cross-industry and cross-country reshoring projects. Based on the results, we find that offshoring EM significantly constrains the subsequent reshoring EM. More in detail, firms adopting offshore insourcing entry modes tend to retain these modes in reshoring. Furthermore, reshoring EM is explained by industry- and project-specific factors, while offshoring EM is influenced by a broader set of industry-, country-, and firm-specific factors. This study fills a gap in the reshoring literature by analysing influential factors in EM choice and by offering a comparison between the determinants of offshoring and reshoring EM

Swarm intelligence in evacuation problems: A review

In this paper authors introduce swarm intelligence’s algorithms (ACO and PSO) to determine the optimum path during an evacuation process. Different PSO algorithms are compared when applied to an evacuation process and results reveal important aspects, as following detaile

Offshoring and backshoring: A multiple case study analysis

Abstract Motivations underscoring offshoring and backshoring are typically investigated as separate entities in the academic literature. This separation undermines a deeper comprehension of the two phenomena, and implicitly denies the conceptualization of backshoring as a possible step of the firm internationalization process. Our paper seeks to fill this gap by (1) understanding the relations (if any) among offshoring and backshoring motivations at firm level; (2) exploring whether backshoring is a "failure" of the offshoring initiative, or rather the evolution of the firm's competitive and location strategies. A content-based literature review provides the base for the identification of the key motives for offshoring and backshoring, which are then organised using a theory-grounded framework. Next, we conduct a multiple case study analysis based on four companies, searching for common patterns in offshoring and subsequent backshoring initiatives. Cases allow understanding how the motivations (Why) connect with the governance modes (How), and the location choice (Where). Building on the case findings, the paper presents some propositions for future empirical research

Nitric oxide involvement in the acrosome reaction triggered by leptin in pig sperm

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule produced by intracellular nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. This free radical appears to affect sperm capacitation, a maturation step preceding acrosome reaction. Recent studies have reported leptin ability to promote capacitation and acrosome reaction in pig male gametes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study has investigated nitric oxide production in leptin-treated pig spermatozoa by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, while the intracellular NOS isoforms were assessed by Western blot analysis. In addition, acrosome status of treated-spermatozoa was evaluated by FITC-PNA staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant increases of nitric oxide levels and acrosome reaction extent were detected in leptin-treated spermatozoa, but both the effects were reversed in presence of <it>L</it>-NAME. Furthermore, the immunoblots of sperm extracts have evidenced three bands of ~160 Kd(bNOS), ~130 Kd (iNOS) and ~135 Kd (eNOS).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The identification of the three intracellular NOS isoforms suggests that pig spermatozoa could produce NO, while the augmented nitric oxide levels in leptin-treated male gametes indicates the capacity of the hormone to induce nitric oxide production. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of <it>L</it>-NAME and of Ab-ObR on the promotion of acrosome reaction triggered by leptin suggests a possible involvement of NO in the hormone action.</p

Atomically precise rhodium nanoclusters: synthesis and characterization of the heterometallic [Rh18Sn3Cl2(CO)33]4- and Rh7Sn4Cl10(CO)14]5- carbonyl compounds

This paper presents a deepening on the investigation of the Rh-Sn system of heterometallic carbonyl clusters. More specifically, we herein report the synthesis and isolation of the new [Rh7Sn4Cl10(CO)14]5− (1) compound and the atomically precise [Rh18Sn3Cl2(CO)33]4− (2) nanocluster. Cluster 1 can be obtained by reacting the [Rh7(CO)16]3− homometallic cluster with hydrated Sn(II) chloride, in acetone; conversely, cluster 2 derives from the previously known [Rh12Sn(CO)23Cl2]4− precursor after controlled addition of diluted sulphuric acid. Notably, only 2 has retained the recurrent Sn-centred icosahedral structural feature, while 1 shows a molecular structure based on two Rh4 tetrahedra joint by one vertex and stabilized by SnCl2 and [SnCl3]− fragments. Both species have been characterized by infrared (IR) analysis in solution, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS)

Predictive Models for Risk Assessment of Worsening Events in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

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Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 expression is increased in pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetic donors

Aims: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), a pivotal SARS-CoV-2 receptor, has been shown to be expressed in multiple cells, including human pancreatic beta-cells. A putative bidirectional relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes has been suggested, confirming the hypothesis that viral infection in beta-cells may lead to new-onset diabetes or worse glycometabolic control in diabetic patients. However, whether ACE2 expression levels are altered in beta-cells of diabetic patients has not yet been investigated. Here, we aimed to elucidate the in situ expression pattern of ACE2 in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with respect to non-diabetic donors which may account for a higher susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta-cells.Material and Methods: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 immunofluorescence analysis using two antibodies alongside insulin staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded pancreatic sections obtained from n = 20 T2D and n = 20 non-diabetic (ND) multiorgan donors. Intensity and colocalisation analyses were performed on a total of 1082 pancreatic islets. Macrophage detection was performed using anti-CD68 immunohistochemistry on serial sections from the same donors.Results: Using two different antibodies, ACE2 expression was confirmed in beta-cells and in pancreas microvasculature. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 expression was increased in pancreatic islets of T2D donors in comparison to ND controls alongside with a higher colocalisation rate between ACE2 and insulin using both anti-ACE2 antibodies. CD68(+) cells tended to be increased in T2D pancreata, in line with higher ACE2 expression observed in serial sections.Conclusions: Higher ACE2 expression in T2D islets might increase their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection during COVID-19 in T2D patients, thus worsening glycometabolic outcomes and disease severity

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus infection among women with different degrees of cervical cytological abnormalities in Sicily (Italy)

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are etiological agents of cervical cancer. In the absence of Pap smear alterations, high-risk HPV DNA can be detected in cervical samples. The prevalence of papillomavirus infection and their genotype distribution varies greatly across populations. The aims of this study were: i) to assess the prevalences of HPV genotypes in people living in Eastern Sicily (Italy) and the frequency of HPV multiple infections; ii) to evaluate the association between HPV genotypes and cervical lesions in order to improve the epidemiological knowledge useful for monitoring or treating infected women. Nested PCR and reverse dot/blot hybridization were used for the detection and typing of HPV DNA in 315 women who had had an abnormal PAP-smear. HPV DNA test was positive in 70.5% cases; the prevalence was 50% in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 80.8% in low grade-, and 76.2% in high grade-squamous intraepithelial lesion (H-SIL). The genotype distribution showed a predominance of HPV-16 (56.7%) followed by HPV-18 (12.2%), HPV-31 (9.5%) and HPV-6 (9.5%). Multiple infections were detected in 35.1% of the infected patients. High frequency of positive results for HPV was confirmed and, even in case of ASCUS, patients should be taken into account for genotyping. Our data indicate that multiple infections are consistent in women with low-grade lesions while they are less frequent in women with H-SIL. This could reinforce the theory of the multi-stage cancer model, by which one HPV type becomes predominant along with the progression of cervical lesion severity

Toxoplasma gondii and Epstein Barr retinochoroiditis in an immunocompromised patient

We report the case of a patient aged 52 years old, who has been hospitalised at Ophthalmic Hospital in Turin (Italy) with entrance diagnosis of right eye anterior and posterior uveitis and retinopathy of suspect micotic origin. Patient underwent vitreal biopsy. Laboratory evaluation with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method performed on vitreous sample showed the presence of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Toxoplasma gondii (TG). PCR should be performed either in eyes samples or in blood samples, furthermore, it is essential to include EBV and TG in the differential diagnosis of ocular lesions

Leptin and leptin receptor in pig spermatozoa: evidence of their involvement in sperm capacitation and survival

Several studies have recently investigated the role of leptin, the adipocyte-secreted hormone, in the growth and reproduction of rodents, humans, and domestic animals. The present study was designed to explore the expression of leptin and its receptor in pig spermatozoa. Successful Western blot evidenced a 16 kDa band for leptin and six isoforms, ranging from 120 to 40 kDa, for the leptin receptor. Both leptin and leptin receptor were interestingly located at sperm acrosomal level, suggesting their involvement in the oocyte fertilization events. In fact, both capacitation indexes and acrosin activity were enhanced by leptin, and these effects were reduced by the anti-leptin receptor antibody. Afterwards, we investigated the main transduction pathways regulated by the hormone. Our results showed that, in pig sperm, leptin can trigger the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, a classical component of cytokine signal transduction pathways, whose expression has not been previously reported in male gamete; in addition it was found constitutively activated. Besides, leptin was able to induce the activation of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase 3 and MAP kinase pathways as well as of BCL2, a known antiapoptotic protein. These data address to a role of leptin and its receptor on pig sperm survival. The presence of leptin and its receptor in pig sperm suggests that they, through an autocrine short loop, may induce signal transduction and molecular changes associated with sperm capacitation and survival