The Creation of sustainable Value in SMEs. A case study.

Purpose: The paper studies the way in which a small-medium size enterprise (SME) in Campania (Italy) creates sustainability into its corporate strategy, the practices it puts in place and how its CS strategies reflect on accumulating and enhancing intangible assets. Methodology/Research limitations: A qualitative case study methodology is used. The use of a single case study, as always, limits the generalizing of these findings. Findings: Entrepreneurs‟ ethical beliefs and value systems play a fundamental role in shaping sustainable corporate strategy. Furthermore, the type of competitive strategy selected based on innovation, quality and responsibility emerges both in terms of well defined management procedures and supply network system as a whole in order to involve partners in the process of sustainable innovation. In this context, such value creation is extended to the sustainability of the intellectual capital. Research Implications: The link between the creation of sustainable value and intangible assets is analyzed in depth with reference to SMEs. Practical Implications: Entrepreneurs and managers can benefit from the study in order to build a network organization capable of achieving effective and sustainable development. Originality/value: The proposed process of creation of sustainable value based on sharing and the co-creation of knowledge emerges fully in the case study analyzed. The study pivots on the issues of innovation and eco-sustainability in a context of drivers for CS and business ethics

Curiosity as Brazilian tourist motivation in visiting Europe

Although the theme of push and pull motivations has received increasing attention in tourist behavior literature, little attention has been devoted to the investigation of the interaction between single push motivations and visitor loyalty and other relevant variables influencing tourist behavior. Given its undoubtable relevance in motivating human behavior, we propose curiosity as a single push motive by examining its causal relationships with destination attributes (evaluated in holistic way), attitude toward destination, and loyalty. In particular, we tested a new research model on a sample of 273 potential Brazilian travelers to Europe by using a structural equation modeling approach. Sample size is in line with the state-of-the-art in literature (Ciasullo et al., 2017). The data moderately well fitted the "curiosity model" and the findings highlighted that curiosity plays a crucial role in shaping attitude and pull motivation, and in influencing tourist loyalty. Consequently, destination managers or European Union institutions should magnify the role of curiosity, attitude towards destination, and pull motivations in terms of marketing policies

Ccdc6 knock-in mice develop thyroid hyperplasia associated to an enhanced CREB1 activity

CCDC6 was originally identified upon rearrangement with RET in human thyroid papillary carcinomas generating the RET/PTC1 oncogene. We have previously reported that CCDC6 interacts with CREB1 and represses its transcriptional activity. Since the function of at least one allele of CCDC6 is lost following RET/PTC1 rearrangements, we aimed at the generation of mice, carrying a CCDC6 mutant gene. Previous studies suggested that the coiled-coil domain of CCDC6, mainly encoded by human exon 2, is required for the protein function. Therefore, we engineered a murine Ccdc6 construct, carrying a deletion of the exon 2, that was able to exert only a mild repression on CREB1 transcriptional activity, with respect to the wild type Ccdc6. Subsequently, we generated Ccdc6-ex2 knock-in mice. These mice developed thyroid hyperplasia associated with an enhanced CREB1 activity and an increased expression of the CREB-1 regulated genes. These results strongly support a CCDC6 promoting role, ascribed to its functional impairment, in the development of thyroid papillary carcinomas harboring the RET/PTC1 oncogene

A randomized phase 3 study on the optimization of the combination of bevacizumab with FOLFOX/OXXEL in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer-OBELICS (Optimization of BEvacizumab scheduLIng within Chemotherapy Scheme).

BACKGROUND: Despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer deaths in both sexes. Therefore, research in this field remains of great interest. The approval of bevacizumab, a humanized anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody, in combination with a fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic CRC has changed the oncology practice in this disease. However, the efficacy of bevacizumab-based treatment, has thus far been rather modest. Efforts are ongoing to understand the better way to combine bevacizumab and chemotherapy, and to identify valid predictive biomarkers of benefit to avoid unnecessary and costly therapy to nonresponder patients. The BRANCH study in high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer patients showed that varying bevacizumab schedule may impact on the feasibility and efficacy of chemo-radiotherapy. METHODS/DESIGN: OBELICS is a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial comparing in mCRC patients two treatment arms (1:1): standard concomitant administration of bevacizumab with chemotherapy (mFOLFOX/OXXEL regimen) vs experimental sequential bevacizumab given 4 days before chemotherapy, as first or second treatment line. Primary end point is the objective response rate (ORR) measured according to RECIST criteria. A sample size of 230 patients was calculated allowing reliable assessment in all plausible first-second line case-mix conditions, with a 80% statistical power and 2-sided alpha error of 0.05. Secondary endpoints are progression free-survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity and quality of life. The evaluation of the potential predictive role of several circulating biomarkers (circulating endothelial cells and progenitors, VEGF and VEGF-R SNPs, cytokines, microRNAs, free circulating DNA) as well as the value of the early [(18)F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) response, are the objectives of the traslational project. DISCUSSION: Overall this study could optimize bevacizumab scheduling in combination with chemotherapy in mCRC patients. Moreover, correlative studies could improve the knowledge of the mechanisms by which bevacizumab enhance chemotherapy effect and could identify early predictors of response. EudraCT Number: 2011-004997-27 TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gove number, NCT01718873

Sustainable value creation in SMEs: A case study

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study how a small to medium-size enterprise (SME) in Campania (Italy) integrated sustainability into its corporate strategy, and how its sustainable corporate strategies reflect on intangible assets. Design/methodology/approach - The paper, an exploratory study based on grounded theory, analyzes are interviews with the entrepreneurial team and top and middle management. Findings are integrated with documentary analysis, internal process data and archival material. Findings - Ethics and value systems play a significant role in devising sustainable corporate strategy. Competitive strategies, innovation, quality and responsibility are reflected in management procedures and the supply network system involving partners in sustainable innovation processes. Research limitations/implications - A single case study obviously limits the generalizing of the findings. Practical implications - Entrepreneurs and managers can benefit from the study to build a relational network for sustainable development. Originality/value - The process of sustainable value creation, sharing and the co-creation of knowledge emerges fully in the case study analyzed. The study pivots on issues of innovation and eco-sustainability as drivers for corporate sustainability and business ethics. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Co-Created Value Through Smart Governance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is conceptualise a city as a Smart Local Service System (SLSS) whose competitiveness depends on sharing strategies and processes of cohesion for value co-creation and equifinality for stakeholder. Design/Methodology/approach – Our methodology integrates Service Science Management and Engineering+Design (SSME+D) and Viable Systems Approach. Empirical research adopts a qualitative case study based on in depth interviews and document and action research on using services co-design methods and tools. Findings – Theoretical and empirical research suggests that collaboration and participation in decision making (co-design), particularly by local residents, is critical for successful plan development and project implementation. In addition, a key element in improving local capacity to develop, implement and manage initiatives is a support network of organizations that have specific knowledge and expertise. Research limitations/implications – The major limitations depend on a statistical impossibility to extend the findings, having pursued explorative objectives; anyway, given the theoretical scenario of reference, the proposed methodology can be a valid and reliable path for further studies. Practical implications – The practical consequences of the research affect above all local actors, who must commit to protecting/enhancing the growth and sustainable development of local Area. Originality/value – The research stimulates new perspectives of analysis on the local governance issue based on the processes of value co-creation in a context of open innovation