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- Jacobsson, Micael, 1975-
(författare)
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Structure-Based Virtual Screening : New Methods and Applications in Infectious Diseases
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A drug discovery project typically starts with a pharmacological hypothesis: that the modulation of a specific molecular biological mechanism would be beneficial in the treatment of the targeted disease. In a small-molecule project, the next step is to identify hits, i.e. molecules that can effect this modulation. These hits are subsequently expanded into hit series, which are optimised with respect to pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, through medicinal chemistry. Finally, a drug candidate is clinically developed into a new drug. This thesis concerns the use of structure-based virtual screening in the hit identification phase of drug discovery.Structure-based virtual screening involves using the known 3D structure of a target protein to predict binders, through the process of docking and scoring. Docking is the prediction of potential binding poses, and scoring is the prediction of the free energy of binding from those poses. Two new methodologies, based on post-processing of scoring results, were developed and evaluated using model systems. Both methods significantly increased the enrichment of true positives. Furthermore, correlation was observed between scores and simple molecular properties, and identified as a source of false positives in structure-based virtual screening.Two target proteins, Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribose-5-phosphate isomerase, a potential drug target in tuberculosis, and Plasmodium falciparum spermidine synthase, a potential drug target in malaria, were subjected to docking and virtual screening. Docking of substrates and products of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase led to hypotheses on the role of individual residues in the active site. Additionally, virtual screening was used to predict 48 potential inhibitors, but none was confirmed as an inhibitor or binder to the target enzyme. For spermidine synthase, structure-based virtual screening was used to predict 32 potential active-site binders. Seven of these were confirmed to bind in the active site.
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| 2. |
- Kihlén, Tobias, 1976-
(författare)
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Logistics-based Competition : A Business Model Approach
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Logistics is increasingly becoming recognised as a source of competitive advantage, both in practice and in academia. The possible strategic impact of logistics makes it important to gain deeper insight into the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm. There is however a considerable research gap between the quite abstract strategy theory and logistics research. A possible tool to use in bridging this gap is identified in business model research. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to describe and analyse logisticsbased competition using a business model approach, a topic not handled in earlier research. This purpose entails investigating the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm by identifying a number of business model components which together constitute a logistics-based business model.Theoretically, the dissertation departs from strategic management and more specifically from the two opposing strategy theoretical perspectives the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) and the industrial organisation school of thought (I/O). From this foundation, the theoretical framework is further built upon with logistics- and business model research leading to a model of analysis that eventually evolves into one of the main outcomes of the dissertation: a logistics-based business model.The methodology used is that of multiple case studies of largely qualitative character. The cases represent trading firms which all display long-term profitable growth, a consistency in their growth, and they all have a, by the management, outspoken focus on logistics. The cases have been analysed using a patternmatching approach.A key deliverable from this research is the logistics-based business model, a model consisting of five components: strategy, position, offering, activities and organisation, and resources. The logistics-based business model makes possible a description and analysis of the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm leading to the identification of specific characteristics of the business models of firms competing on logistics. A few of the results from this research are:● A logistics-based business model requires a synthesis of RBV and I/O.● Control over the logistics resources is a distinctive capability in a logistics-based business model.● Logistics strategy cannot be understood in terms of degree of integration only as much of the current logistics strategy research suggests.● Hybrid logistics-strategies can involve lean processes and agile assortment with standardisation as an enabler.● The domain of control of a logistics-based business model stretches beyond the domain of a traditional logistics strategy.● A single logistics-platform may support multiple offerings.For managers, the logistics-based business model is possible to use as a tool in business development.
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| 3. |
- Kihlén, Tobias, 1976-
(författare)
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On Logistics in the Strategy of the Firm
- 2005
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm. Leading to this purpose are empirical observations of firms that manage to grow under sustained profitability, by the means of logistics.The clothing retailers H&M and Inditex manage to pursue strategies of growth under sustained profitability. Both H&M and Inditex acknowledge that logistics is used in achieving these strategic goals. The competitive environments are similar for the two retailers. However, the strategy content, i.e. the what of strategy, differs greatly between H&M and its Spanish competitor. H&M focuses on economies of scale in their operations to allow for low logistics costs and a cost-efficient geographical expansion. Inditex focuses on flexibility and speed, being able to quickly respond to changes in demand, which calls for a more agile logistics platform.From this background, two cases are studied as regards the role of logistics in the strategy. The case companies Ahlsell and Bergman & Beving, two wholesalers of industrial goods, display growth under sustained profitability and have an outspoken focus on logistics in their strategies. The cases are described in terms of the content and the context of logistics in the strategy of the firm. The content is the what of strategy whereas the context is the where of strategy. The context is further divided into inner and outer context, where inner context is the firm and outer context is its environment.The theoretical basis of this research is found in logistics and in strategy: Logistics research on the relation between logistics and strategy from a logistics perspective, and strategy theory ranging from the resource-based view of the firm, or the inside-out perspective, to positioning theory, or the outside-in perspective. A pattern-matching methodology is used to establish an appropriate description of the logistics content and context in the strategy of the firm. In the content-dimension, the opposing views of the resource-based view and positioning theory are tested on the cases. In the context-dimension, the cases and their environment are described with a stance taken in the contingency approach to the organisation of logistics.The research shows that the role of logistics in the strategy of the firms in the scope of this study is most appropriately described using a resource-based view of the firm. Further, the two firms under study serve as examples of two different ways to use logistics in the strategy:- Bergman & Beving manages to integrate a decentralised group of product companies in one logistics platform.- Ahlsell achieves synergies in acquisitions by moving logistics and administration of the acquired firms into their centralised logistics platform.The cases also serve as examples of that the logistics solutions need not be optimal in terms of the lowest cost and the highest service level to be used successfully in the strategy of the firm to reach growth under sustained profitability. The firms in the scope of this research act in similar outer contexts but interpret these contexts in different ways depending on their manner to use logistics in the strategy. The research shows that similar outer contexts can be approached successfully with strategies with different logistics content.The logistics organisations in the firms in the scope of this thesis display robustness towards changes in the outer context of the firm, i.e. the logistics organisations can encounter considerable changes in the environment without altering their position in the firm. It is concluded that in order to make the role of logistics in the strategy more comprehensible, a bridge between the abstract strategy theory and the role of logistics needs to be established. A possibility to attain this can be found in the application of a business model framework to the relation between logistics and strategy, which is suggested as an area for further research.
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| 5. |
- Sandberg, Erik, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Characteristics of a Logistics-Based Business Model
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Marketing Channels. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1046-669X .- 1540-7039. ; 18, s. 1-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In companies where excellence in logistics is decisive for the outperformance of competitors and logistics has an outspoken role for the strategy of the firm, there is present what we refer to here as a “logistics-based business model.” Based on a multiple case study of three Nordic retail companies, the purpose of this article is to explore the characteristics of such a logistics-based business model. As such, this research helps to provide structure to logistics-based business models and identifies a way forward for companies for whom logistics and distribution are a major concern for the overall strategy of the firm.
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