Montpellier Business School

In this article, a critical analysis is conducted of the debate between Milton Friedman and Edward Freeman regarding the purpose of the firm. It examines the tension between the profit-maximization view for shareholders, championed by Friedman, and the stakeholder-responsibility approach proposed by Freeman. Through a theoretical review, it analyzes how the regulatory framework and social dynamics influence the redefinition of business purpose. It is argued that, while economic efficiency is essential for growth and competitiveness, it is equally imperative to integrate ethical and social considerations to redress inequalities and foster sustainability. On this basis, a hybrid model is proposed—one that combines the robustness of shareholder capitalism with corporate social responsibility—positioning the State as a strategic regulator and facilitator of this equilibrium.

Anyone who has sat in a cramped economy-class airplane seat knows that physical constraints in one’s immediate surroundings can meaningfully shape service experiences. These constraints differ from those found in shared spaces such as crowded retail stores, where limited room arises from high human density rather than fixed structural boundaries. Despite their prevalence, such individual spatial constraints in various service settings have received little attention in consumer research. To address this gap, this research introduces and explores the phenomenon of spatial captivity, defined as perceived physical limitations on an individual’s free movement in the immediate material surroundings. Using a multimethod approach—including field data, surveys, and experiments across diverse service contexts—the authors examine the nature and consequences of spatial captivity. While it generally exerts a negative effect on customer satisfaction, this effect is counteracted in the presence of psychological threats, where feelings of protection induced by spatial captivity can positively influence customer satisfaction. These results have implications for consumers, managers, and policy makers as they attempt to manage and navigate physical space limitations.

Recent reports of Leishmania donovani causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Nepal have revived a key question in disease ecology: when does a disease truly emerge, and when is it simply newly recognized? Apparent emergence likely reflects underdiagnosis rather than parasite evolution. These cases have likely gone unnoticed because surveillance programs and clinical awareness have historically centered on VL in this L. donovani –endemic region. As leishmaniasis expands into previously non-endemic areas, physicians encountering unfamiliar lesions are prompted to investigate and identify the etiological agent, revealing not a new parasite variant, but the geographic and diagnostic expansion of a known one previously unrecognized by the healthcare system. Epidemiological “emergence,” in this context, stems less from parasite evolution than from the intersection of changing disease ecology, improved diagnostics, and shifting clinical attention. We hypothesize that cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. donovani in Nepal represents a detection-driven phenomenon rather than a novel biological event.

This study aimed to engineer nanofibrous scaffolds that prioritize architecture, rather than relying solely on the drug, to achieve reproducible, long-acting local therapies. Cotton-wool-like fiber, three-dimensional (3D) poly(L-lactic acid)/polyethene glycol (PLLA/PEG) blend scaffolds were fabricated using solution blow spinning (SBS) as a customizable encapsulation platform for controlled antibiotic release. Morphological and wettability analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pendant-drop contact angle measurements, respectively. Fiber diameters were quantified using ImageJ. The chemical composition and thermal behavior were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In vitro, assays were conducted to assess the antimicrobial activity of vancomycin-loaded scaffolds against Staphylococcus aureus (disk diffusion method), as well as their cytocompatibility (Live/Dead assay in Vero cells) and hemocompatibility (ASTM F756-17 hemolysis test). All biological data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey's post-test, Mann-Whitney, and paired t-tests, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Structural optimization identified PLLA/PEG 85:15 as the most stable composition, producing homogeneous mats with high porosity and rapid wettability. Incorporation of vancomycin (10 wt.%) reduced the fiber diameter (0.23 ± 0.11 µm) compared with unloaded scaffolds (0.32 ± 0.17 µm), indicating drug-polymer interactions that modulated jet elongation. FTIR, DSC, and TGA analyses confirmed polymer miscibility and stabilization of VMC within the fibrous matrix, with no signs of degradation. Drug release exhibited a biphasic profile, with an initial burst during the first 72 h. PLLA/PEG-VMC scaffolds produced larger inhibition zones against S. aureus (18.55 mm ± 1.2 to 6.63 mm ± 0.2 at 120 h) compared with free VMC (12.91 mm ± 3.8 to 4.07 mm ± 0.6291), while blank scaffolds were inactive. Hemolysis remained within the range 2% < PLLA/PEG-VMC < 5%, indicating acceptable hemocompatibility according to ASTM standards. Although VCM-loaded PLLA/PEG scaffolds slightly reduced Vero cell viability, no statistically significant differences were observed compared with the control group. These findings demonstrate that the architecture of nanofibers presents itself as a potential platform for antimicrobial therapy with topical vancomycin in potential applications such as wound dressings or implant coatings.

Data openly available in a public repository that issues datasets with DOIs.

BackgroundSpontaneous breathing trials (SBT) are crucial for determining when mechanically ventilated patients are ready for extubation. While pressure support (PS) and T-piece trials are commonly used, humidified high-flow (HHF) is increasingly considered, but its physiological effects remain unclear. This bench study compares T-piece, PS, and HHF modalities, evaluating their impact on work of breathing (WOB), tidal volume (Vt), total positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPtot) and CO2 clearance.MethodsA 3D-printed manikin head connected to an artificial lung was used. Four SBT modalities were tested: T-piece with and without supplemental oxygen, PS at 7 cmH2O (PEEP 0 cmH2O), and HHF at 50 L/min. The tests were performed under three lung conditions (normal, obstructive, restrictive) and two respiratory drive and effort settings (normal and intense), resulting in 24 scenarios. Measurements included WOB, CO2 clearance, PEEPtot, and Vt.ResultsT-piece and HHF50 SBTs exhibited similar effects on WOB, irrespective of the effort pattern associated with the underlying respiratory mechanics. For intense effort patterns, the CO2 concentration was lower with HHF than with PS, regardless of respiratory mechanics. The HHF50 SBT increased PEEPtot more than T-piece SBTs, but less than PS SBT, for all scenarios. HHF50 SBT generated lower tidal volume than T-piece and PS SBTs.ConclusionsHumidified high-flow at 50 L/min, while preserving WOB and not increasing tidal volume, may offer specific advantages, such as improved CO2 clearance and PEEP effect, and could be considered as a trade-off for T-piece or PS SBTs.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40635-025-00788-y.