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New technology can be a source of great optimism and a force for positive change in the research industry. As such, it is important to discuss the merits of emerging technology. In this research note, the emergent opportunity for qualitative research in the metaverse is discussed. This paper looks at how rich sensory virtual environments with multiple sensory modalities might help address some of the shortcomings of traditional online qualitative research. The importance of establishing social presence in virtual qualitative research is addressed. Then, how the metaverse might help remove some of the constraints of 'big qual' is debated. The potential for the metaverse to improve participant inclusivity is considered, before finally discussing the issue of research ethics in a decentralised virtual world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the UK leaves the Brexit transition period, both London and Brussels have to decide not only what financial services regulatory policy they will pursue in future but also how their two regimes will talk to each other. Is there a better way than "equivalence " to both respect sovereignty and keep markets open? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comprises a discussion of the objectives behind financial regulation; how countries around the world manage trade-offs between those objectives; and how these seemingly theoretical questions have powerful real-world effects. There is particular reference to systems of insurance regulation and how they either support or constrain insurers' ability to fulfil broader societal purpose of taking risk out of people's lives while providing the long-term investment needed to fuel economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most lethal human malignancies, and pursuit of new therapeutic targets for treatment has been a major research focus. Cyclin‐dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), which plays a crucial role in transcription, has emerged as a target for cancer treatment. CDKI‐73, one of the most potent and pharmacologically superior CDK9 inhibitors, has demonstrated excellent anti‐tumour efficacy against several types of cancers. In this study, we evaluated its therapeutic potential against CRC. CDKI‐73 elicited high cytotoxicity against all colon cancer cell lines tested. Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis in HCT 116 and HT29 cells revealed that CDKI‐73 induced cell death without accumulation of DNA at any phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, it caused depolarisation of mitochondrial membrane, leading to caspase‐independent apoptosis. Knockdown by shRNA demonstrated the CDK9‐targeted mechanism of CDKI‐73, which also affected the Mnk/eIF4E signalling axis. In addition, RT‐qPCR analysis showed that CDKI‐73 down‐regulated multiple pro‐survival factors at the mRNA level. Its in vivo anti‐tumour efficacy was further evaluated in Balb/c nude mice bearing HCT 116 xenograft tumours. CDKI‐73 significantly inhibited tumour growth (***P < 0.001) without overt toxicity. Analysis of the tumour tissues collected from the xenografted animals confirmed that the in vivo anti‐tumour efficacy was associated with CDK9 targeting of CDKI‐73. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence that CDKI‐73 is a promising drug candidate for treating colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]