bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitation analysis by flow cytometry shows thatWt1is required for development of the proepicardium and epicardium
Authors: Biben Christine , Borobokas Bette , Menon Mary Kamala , Hartley Lynne , Harvey Richard Paul , Taoudi Samir , Prall Owen William John
Published: October 2020

The epicardium is a cell layer found on the external surface of the heart. During development it has an epithelial identity and contains progenitor cells for coronary smooth muscle and cardiac fibroblasts. The epicardium has been suggested to have therapeutic potential in cardiac repair. Study of epicardial development has been difficult because it is dynamic and morphologically complex. We developed a flow cytometry-based method to quantify cardiac development including the epicardial lineage. This provided accurate and sensitive analysis of (1) the emergence of epicardial progenitors within the proepicardium (2) their transfer to the heart to form the epicardium, and (3) their epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to create the subepicardium. Platelet-derived growth factor alpha (Pdgfra) and Wilms tumor protein (Wt1) have both been reported to be pro-mesenchymal during epicardial EMT. Quantitative analysis with flow cytometry confirmed a pro-mesenchymal role for Pdgfra but not for Wt1. Analysis ofWt1null embryos showed that they had (1) poor formation of proepicardial villi, (2) reduced transfer of proepicardial cells to the heart, (3) a discontinuous epicardium with poor epithelial identity, and (4) a proportionally excessive number of mesenchymal-like cells. This data shows that Wt1 is essential for epicardial formation and maintenance rather than being pro-mesenchymal.
Genetic requirements for cell division in a genomically minimal cell
Authors: Pelletier James F. , Sun Lijie , Wise Kim S. , Assad-Garcia Nacyra , Karas Bogumil J. , Deerinck Thomas J. , Ellisman Mark H. , Mershin Andreas , Gershenfeld Neil , Chuang Ray-Yuan , Glass John I. , Strychalski Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2020

Genomically minimal cells, such as JCVI-syn3.0, offer a platform to clarify genes underlying core physiological processes. While this minimal cell includes genes essential for population growth, the physiology of its single cells remained uncharacterized. To investigate striking morphological variation in JCVI-syn3.0 cells, we present an approach to characterize cell propagation and determine genes affecting cell morphology. Microfluidic chemostats allowed observation of intrinsic cell dynamics resulting in irregular morphologies. The addition of 19 genes not retained in JCVI-syn3.0 generated JCVI-syn3A, which presents significantly less morphological variation than JCVI-syn3.0. We further identified seven of these 19 genes, including two known cell division genesftsZandsepFand five genes of unknown function, required together to restore cell morphology and division similar to JCVI-syn1.0. This surprising result emphasizes the polygenic nature of cell morphology, as well as the importance of a Z-ring and membrane properties in the physiology of genomically minimal cells.
Epistasis, aneuploidy, and gain-of-function mutations underlie the evolution of resistance to induced microtubule depolymerization
Authors: Pavani Mattia , Bonaiuti Paolo , Chiroli Elena , Gross Fridolin , Natali Federica , Macaluso Francesca , Poti Adam , Pasqualato Sebastiano , Pompei Simone , Cosentino-Lagomarsino Marco , Rancati Giulia , Szuts David , Ciliberto Andrea
Published: October 2020

Microtubules, polymers of alpha- and beta-tubulin, are essential cellular components. When microtubule polymerization is hindered, cells are delayed in mitosis, but eventually they manage to proliferate with massive chromosome missegregation. Several studies have analyzed the first cell division upon microtubules impairing conditions. Here, we asked how cells cope on the long term. Taking advantage of mutations in beta-tubulin, we evolved in the lab for ∼150 generations 24 populations of yeast cells unable to properly polymerize microtubules. At the end of the evolution experiment, cells re-gained the ability to form microtubules, and were less sensitive to microtubule depolymerizing drugs. Whole genome sequencing allowed us to identify genes recurrently mutated (tubulins and kinesins) as well as the pervasive duplication of chromosome VIII. We confirmed that mutations found in these genes and disomy of chromosome VIII allow cells to compensate for the original mutation in beta-tubulin. The mutations we identified were mostly gain-of-function, likely re-allowing the proper use of the mutated form of beta-tubulin. When we analyzed the temporal order of mutations leading to resistance in independent populations, we observed multiple times the same series of events: disomy of chromosome VIII followed by one additional adaptive mutation in either tubulins or kinesins. Analyzing the epistatic interactions among different mutations, we observed that some mutations benefited from the disomy of chromosome VIII and others did not. Given that tubulins are highly conserved among eukaryotes, our results are potentially relevant for understanding the emergence of resistance to drugs targeting microtubules, widely used for cancer treatment.
MiSiC, a general deep learning-based method for the high-throughput cell segmentation of complex bacterial communities
Authors: Panigrahi Swapnesh , Murat Dorothée , Gall Antoine Le , Martineau Eugénie , Goldlust Kelly , Fiche Jean-Bernard , Rombouts Sara , Nöllmann Marcelo , Espinosa Leon , Mignot Tâm
Published: October 2020

Studies of microbial communities by live imaging require new tools for the robust identification of bacterial cells in dense and often inter-species populations, sometimes over very large scales. Here, we developed MiSiC, a general deep-learning-based segmentation method that automatically segments a wide range of spatially structured bacterial communities with very little parameter adjustment, independent of the imaging modality. Using a bacterial predator-prey interaction model, we demonstrate that MiSiC enables the analysis of interspecies interactions, resolving processes at subcellular scales and discriminating between species in millimeter size datasets. The simple implementation of MiSiC and the relatively low need in computing power make its use broadly accessible to fields interested in bacterial interactions and cell biology.
Anterior cingulate cortex hypofunction causes anti-social aggression in mice
Authors: van Heukelum S. , Tulva K. , Geers F. , van Dulm S. , Ruisch I. H. , Mill J. , Viana J. F. , Beckmann C. F. , Buitelaar J. K. , Poelmans G. , Glennon J. C. , Vogt B. A. , Havenith M. N. , França A. S. C.
Published: October 2020

Controlling aggression is a crucial skill in social species like rodents and humans, and has been associated with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we demonstrate a causal link between ACC hypofunction and failed aggression control in BALB/cJ mice. We first show that ACC in BALB/cJ mice is structurally degraded: Neuron density is decreased, with pervasive neuron death and neuro-toxic astroglia. Gene-set enrichment analysis suggested that this process is driven by neuronal degeneration, which then causes toxic astrogliosis. cFos expression across ACC indicated functional consequences: During aggressive encounters, ACC was engaged in control mice, but not BALB/cJ mice. Chemogenetically activating ACC during aggressive encounters drastically suppressed anti-social aggression but left adaptive aggression intact. The network effects of our chemogenetic perturbation suggest that this behavioural rescue is mediated by suppression of amygdala and hypothalamus and activation of mediodorsal thalamus. Together, these findings highlight the causal role of ACC in curbing anti-social aggression.
VPS13D bridges the ER to Miro containing membranes
Authors: Guillén-Samander Andrés , Leonzino Marianna , Hanna Michael G. , Tang Ni , Shen Hongying , De Camilli Pietro
Published: October 2020

Mitochondria, which are excluded from the secretory pathway, depend on lipid transport proteins for their lipid supply from the ER, where most lipids are synthesized. In yeast, the outer mitochondrial membrane GTPase Gem1 is an accessory factor of ERMES, an ER-mitochondria tethering complex that contains lipid transport domains and that functions, partially redundantly with Vps13, in lipid transfer between the two organelles. In metazoa, where VPS13, but not ERMES, is present, the Gem1 orthologue Miro was linked to mitochondria dynamics but not to lipid transport. Here we show that Miro, including its peroxisome-enriched splice variant, recruits the lipid transport protein VPS13D, which in turn binds the ER in a VAP-dependent way and thus could provide a lipid conduit between the ER and mitochondria. These findings reveal a so far missing link between function(s) of Gem1/Miro in yeast and higher eukaryotes, where Miro is a Parkin substrate, with potential implications for Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis.

VPS13D mutations result in severe mitochondrial defects. Guillén-Samander et al, show that VPS13D binds VAP in the ER, and interacts with Miro on mitochondria and peroxisomes, so that it can provide a bridge for lipid transport between these organelles.
Social contact behaviors are associated with infection status for whipworm (Trichurissp.) in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)
Authors: Wren Brandi , Ray Ian S. , Remis Melissa , Gillespie Thomas R. , Camp Joseph
Published: October 2020

Social grooming in the animal kingdom is common and serves several functions, from removing ectoparasites to maintaining social bonds between conspecifics. We examined whether time spent grooming with others in a highly social mammal species was associated with infection status for gastrointestinal parasites. Of six parasites detected, one (Trichurissp.) was associated with social grooming behaviors, but more specifically with direct physical contact with others. Individuals infected withTrichurissp. spent significantly less time grooming conspecifics than those not infected, and time in direct contact with others was the major predictor of infection status. One model correctly predicted infection status forTrichurissp. with a reliability of 95.17% overall when the variables used were time spent in direct contact and time spent grooming others. This decrease in time spent grooming and interacting with others is likely a sickness behavior displayed by individuals with less energy or motivation for non-essential behaviors. This study highlights the need for an understanding of a study population’s parasitic infections when attempting to interpret animal behavior.
Inferring latent temporal progression and regulatory networks from cross-sectional transcriptomic data of cancer samples
Authors: Sun Xiaoqiang , Zhang Ji , Nie Qing
Published: October 2020

Unraveling molecular regulatory networks underlying disease progression is critically important for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying drug targets. The existing methods for inferring gene regulatory networks (GRNs) rely mainly on time-course gene expression data. However, most available omics data from cross-sectional studies of cancer patients often lack sufficient temporal information, leading to a key challenge for GRN inference. Through quantifying the latent progression using random walks-based manifold distance, we propose a latent-temporal progression-based Bayesian method, PROB, for inferring GRNs from the cross-sectional transcriptomic data of tumor samples. The robustness of PROB to the measurement variabilities in the data is mathematically proved and numerically verified. Performance evaluation on real data indicates that PROB outperforms other methods in both pseudotime inference and GRN inference. Applications to bladder cancer and breast cancer demonstrate that our method is effective to identify key regulators of cancer progression or drug targets. The identified ACSS1 is experimentally validated to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of bladder cancer cells, and the predicted FOXM1-targets interactions are verified and are predictive of relapse in breast cancer. Our study suggests new effective ways to clinical transcriptomic data modeling for characterizing cancer progression and facilitates the translation of regulatory network-based approaches into precision medicine.

Author summary

Reconstructing gene regulatory network (GRN) is an essential question in systems biology. The lack of temporal information in sample-based transcriptomic data leads to a major challenge for inferring GRN and its translation to precision medicine. To address the above challenge, we propose to decode the latent temporal information underlying cancer progression via ordering patient samples based on transcriptomic similarity, and design a latent-temporal progression-based Bayesian method to infer GRNs from sample-based transcriptomic data of cancer patients. The advantages of our method include its capability to infer causal GRNs (with directed and signed edges) and its robustness to the measurement variability in the data. Performance evaluation using both simulated data and real data demonstrate that our method outperforms other existing methods in both pseudotime inference and GRN inference. Our method is then applied to reconstruct EMT regulatory networks in bladder cancer and to identify key regulators underlying progression of breast cancer. Importantly, the predicted key regulators/interactions are experimentally validated. Our study suggests that inferring dynamic progression trajectory from static expression data of tumor samples helps to uncover regulatory mechanisms underlying cancer progression and to discovery key regulators which may be used as candidate drug targets.
Crumbs and the Apical Spectrin Cytoskeleton Regulate R8 Cell Fate in theDrosophilaeye
Authors: Pojer Jonathan M. , Kondo Shu , Harvey Kieran F.
Published: October 2020

The Hippo pathway is an important regulator of organ growth and cell fate. In the R8 photoreceptor cells of theDrosophila melanogastereye, the Hippo pathway controls the fate choice between one of two subtypes that express either the blue light-sensitive Rhodopsin 5 (Hippo inactive) or the green light-sensitive Rhodopsin 6 (Hippo active). The degree to which the mechanism of Hippo signal transduction and the proteins that mediate it are conserved in organ growth and R8 cell fate choice is currently unclear. Here, we identify Crumbs and the apical spectrin cytoskeleton as regulators of R8 cell fate. By contrast, other proteins that influence Hippo-dependent organ growth, such as the basolateral spectrin cytoskeleton and Ajuba, are dispensable for the R8 cell fate choice. Surprisingly, Crumbs promotes the Rhodopsin 5 cell fate, which is driven by Yorkie, rather than the Rhodopsin 6 cell fate, which is driven by Warts and the Hippo pathway, which contrasts with its impact on Hippo activity in organ growth. Furthermore, neither the apical spectrin cytoskeleton nor Crumbs regulate the Hippo pathway through mechanisms that have been reported to operate in growing organs. Together, these results show that only a subset of Hippo pathway proteins regulate the R8 binary cell fate decision and that aspects of Hippo pathway signalling appear to differ between growing organs and post-mitotic R8 cells.
Relationships between climate and phylogenetic community structure of fossil pollen assemblages are not constant during the last deglaciation
Authors: Pradhan Kavya , Nieto-Lugilde Diego , Fitzpatrick Matthew C.
Published: October 2020

Disentangling the influence of environmental drivers on community assembly is important to understand how multiple processes influence biodiversity patterns and can inform understanding of ecological responses to climate change. Phylogenetic Community Structure (PCS) is increasingly used in community assembly studies to incorporate evolutionary perspectives and as a proxy for trait (dis)similarity within communities. Studies often assume a stationary relationship between PCS and climate, though few if any studies have tested this assumption over long time periods with concurrent community data. We estimated Nearest Taxon Index (NTI) and Net Relatedness index (NRI), two PCS metrics, of fossil pollen assemblages of angiosperms in eastern North America data over the last 21 ka BP at 1ka intervals. We analyzed spatiotemporal relationships between PCS and seven climate variables, evaluated the potential impact of deglaciation on PCS, and tested for the stability of climate-PCS relationships. The broad scale patterns of PCS, with overdispersion increasing towards the southern and eastern parts of the study area, remained largely stable across time. Most importantly, we found that significant relationships between climate variables and PCS (slope) were unstable as climate changed during the last deglaciation and new ice-free regions were colonized. We also found weak, but significant, relationships between both PCS metrics (i.e., NTI and NRI) and climate and time-since-deglaciation, which were stable even though the baselines (intercepts) changed through time. Overall, our results suggest that (1) PCS of fossil Angiosperm assemblages during the last 21ka BP have had predictable spatial patterns, but (2) the instability in the relationships between PCS and climate brings into question their usefulness in predictive modeling of community assembly.
Bathyarchaeota Occurrence in Shallow Marine Methane-rich Sediments (Saco do Mamanguá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Authors: Romano R. G. , Bendia A. G. , Franco D. C. , Signori C. N. , Yu T. , Wang F. , Jovane L. , Pellizari V. H.
Published: October 2020

Methane gas (CH4) reservoirs have previously been reported in tropical marine sediments of Saco do Mamanguá ria (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). It is known that a methane microbiome can be established in methane seeps sites; however, they are still poorly characterised. In this study, we aimed to investigate the spatial and vertical distribution of the bacterial and archaeal composition and the community structure in the sediments of Saco do Mamanguá ria. For this purpose, we collected sediment samples through 100 cm long gravity corer at three different sites and performed community analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantification of the methyl coenzyme M reductase-encoding gene (mcrA) and geochemical analysis, including CH4stable isotope. Our results revealed a biogenic trend for CH4isotopic signature and a high proportion of archaeal sequences assigned as Bathyarchaeota, with a spatial distribution throughout the inner areas of the channel and the deepest strata. OTUs classified within Bathyarchaeota and Chloroflexi (Dehalococcoidia) showed positive correlation with methane concentrations, sediment depth and oxidation-reduction potential. Due to their prevalence in the microbial community, we also performed phylogenetic analysis to understand the closeness of our Bathyarchaeota OTUs with Bathyarchaeota subgroups, and the results demonstrated a close relationship particularly with Bathy-8 and Bathy-13, which possess genes for acetogenesis and methanogenesis. Although direct relations between microbial populations and the biogenic methane emissions in Saco do Mamanguá cannot be assured, our results emphasize the importance of further investigations about the potential role of Bathyarchaeota in the carbon cycling in methane-rich tropical shallow ecosystems.
SARS-CoV-2 has observably higher propensity to accept uracil as nucleotide substitution: Prevalence of amino acid substitutions and their predicted functional implications in circulating SARS-CoV-2 in India up to July, 2020
Authors: Roy Subrata , Nath Himadri , Mallick Abinash , Biswas Subhajit
Published: October 2020

SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as pandemic all over the world since late 2019. In this study, we investigated the diversity of the virus in the context of SARS-CoV-2 spread in India. Full-length SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences of the circulating viruses from all over India were collected from GISAID, an open data repository, until 25thJuly, 2020. We have focused on the non-synonymous changes across the genome that resulted in amino acid substitutions. Analysis of the genomic signatures of the non-synonymous mutations demonstrated a strong association between the time of sample collection and the accumulation of genetic diversity. Most of these isolates from India belonged to the A2a clade (63.4%) which has overcome the selective pressure and is spreading rapidly across several continents. Interestingly a new clade I/A3i has emerged as the second-highest prevalent type among the Indian isolates, comprising 25.5% of the Indian sequences. Emergence of new mutations in the S protein was observed. Major SARS-CoV-2 clades in India have defining mutations in the RdRp. Maximum accumulation of mutations was observed in ORF1a.

Other than the clade-defining mutations, few representative non-synonymous mutations were checked against the available crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the DynaMut server to assess their thermodynamic stability. We have observed that SARS-CoV-2 genomes contain more uracil than any other nucleotide. Furthermore, substitution of nucleotides to uracil was highest among the non-synonymous mutations observed. The A+U content in SARS-CoV-2 genome is much higher compared to other RNA viruses, suggesting that the virus RdRp has a propensity towards uracil incorporation in the genome. This implies that thymidine analogues may have a better chance to competitively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication than other nucleotide analogues.
Metabolic Plasticity drives Development during Mammalian Embryogenesis
Authors: Sharpley Mark S. , Chi Fangtao , Banerjee Utpal
Published: October 2020

Preimplantation mouse embryos interact minimally with their environment, and development is largely driven by metabolic processes. During the earliest cleavage stages, metabolism is rigid, with maternal deposits enforcing a redox state that facilitates zygotic genome activation. As maternal control falls, metabolic shuttles are activated, increasing glycolysis and equilibrating the TCA cycle. The resulting flexibility of nutrient utilization and metabolic plasticity facilitates unidirectional developmental progression such that later stage embryos proceed to form blastocysts without any exogenously added nutrients. We explore the mechanisms that govern this choreographed sequence that balances the deposition, degradation, synthesis and function of metabolic enzymes with redox control, bioenergetics and biosynthesis. Cancer cells follow a distinct metabolic strategy from that of the preimplantation embryo. However, important shared features emerge under reductive stress. We conclude that metabolic plasticity drives normal development while stress conditions mimic hallmark events in Cancer Metabolism.
Selective translation of epigenetic modifiers drives the developmental clock of neural stem cells
Authors: Wu Quan , Shichino Yuichi , Abe Takaya , Suetsugu Taeko , Omori Ayaka , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Iwasaki Shintaro , Matsuzaki Fumio
Published: October 2020

The cerebral cortex is formed by diverse neurons generated sequentially from neural stem cells (NSCs). A clock mechanism has been suggested to underlie the temporal progression of NSCs, which is mainly defined by the transcriptome and the epigenetic state. However, what drives such a developmental clock remains elusive. We show that translational control of histone H3 trimethylation at Lys27 (H3K27me3) modifiers is part of this clock. We found that depletion of Fbl, an rRNA methyltransferase, reduces translation of both the Ezh2 methyltransferase and Kdm6b demethylase of H3K27me3 and delays progression of the NSC state. These defects are phenocopied by simultaneous inhibition of H3K27me3 methyltransferase and demethylase, indicating the role of Fbl in the genome-wide H3K27me3 pattern. Fbl selectively enhances the translation of H3K27me3 modifiers via a cap-independent mechanism. We thus propose that Fbl drives the intrinsic clock through the translational enhancement of H3K27me3 modifiers that predominantly define the NSC state.
Large tandem duplications affect gene expression, 3D organization, and plant–pathogen response
Authors: Picart-Picolo Ariadna , Grob Stefan , Picault Nathalie , Franek Michal , Llauro Christel , Halter Thierry , Maier Tom R. , Jobet Edouard , Descombin Julie , Zhang Panpan , Paramasivan Vijayapalani , Baum Thomas J. , Navarro Lionel , Dvořáčková Martina , Mirouze Marie , Pontvianne Frédéric
Published: October 2020

Rapid plant genome evolution is crucial to adapt to environmental changes. Chromosomal rearrangements and gene copy number variation (CNV) are two important tools for genome evolution and sources for the creation of new genes. However, their emergence takes many generations. In this study, we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, a significant loss of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes with a past history of a mutation for the chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF1) complex causes rapid changes in the genome structure. Using long-read sequencing and microscopic approaches, we have identified up to 15 independent large tandem duplications in direct orientation (TDDOs) ranging from 60 kb to 1.44 Mb. Our data suggest that these TDDOs appeared within a few generations, leading to the duplication of hundreds of genes. By subsequently focusing on a line only containing 20% of rRNA gene copies (20rDNA line), we investigated the impact of TDDOs on 3D genome organization, gene expression, and cytosine methylation. We found that duplicated genes often accumulate more transcripts. Among them, several are involved in plant–pathogen response, which could explain why the 20rDNA line is hyper-resistant to both bacterial and nematode infections. Finally, we show that the TDDOs create gene fusions and/or truncations and discuss their potential implications for the evolution of plant genomes.
A qualitative study on money, well-being and serial crowdfunding
Authors: Sherman Arie , Axelrad Hila
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the unique nature of crowdfunding and its association with supporters' well-being, measured by Seligman's (2011) well-being theory and its five elements of PERMA: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.

Design/methodology/approach

22 structured interviews were conducted with supporters of crowdfunding projects. The interviews were analyzed using deduction, generating themes and assigning them to the relevant PERMA elements.

Findings

Almost all interviews included five or four PERMA elements, supporting the hypothesis about crowdfunding as a form of economic behavior that is triggered by the desire for fulfillment in life. The authors found that the tendency to become a serial crowdfunder is triggered by PERMA and a sense of trust.

Originality/value

This is the first study that presents a well-being theory of non-investment crowdfunding contributions. Based on the interviews, we suggest a theory linking the motivation for backing current and future projects with PERMA elements, sense of trust and the nature of adaption to activities with intrinsic attributes.
Disaster justice for people with disabilities
Authors: Ton Khanh That , Adamson Carole
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine disaster justice for people with disabilities (PWD).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the capability approach, the article explores distributive injustice that PWD face in dealing with disasters. It discusses procedural justice with a focus on the agency of PWD and their participation in decision-making processes concerning disaster risk reduction.

Findings

It argues that disaster injustice faced by PWD can be construed as the inequalities of capabilities that they experience in coping with disasters. Furthermore, although social structures play an important role in creating and perpetuating disaster injustice, PWD, as agents of change, have power to transform social structures that, in turn, bring about justice for themselves.

Originality/value

The article raises the need for considering the equality of capabilities and human agency in achieving disaster justice for PWD.
Missing voices: the absence of women from Italy’s Covid-19 pandemic response
Authors: Priola Vincenza , Pecis Lara
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of Italian women in society and at work during the pandemic. Specifically, it analyses Italian women’s positioning in the work context and in the leadership coordinating the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by feminist thinking addressing recent debates on women’s livelihoods at the time of Covid-19, the study focusses on Italy’s gendered response to the pandemic and its exclusion of women from decision-making roles in the management of the pandemic and the subsequent post-pandemic socio-economic recovery. Drawing on recent studies and media contributions it provides a thought-provoking analysis embedded in the country’s history and culture.

Findings

Despite their high involvement in the daily management of the pandemic, as key workers and family carers, Italian women’s voices have remained unheard and concealed, even in face of movements towards their recognition (#DateciVoce). This study trace this lack of inclusion in the sedimented gender inequalities characteristic of the Italian socio-political-economic context, combined with the effects of Covid-19. This study suggest that the country needs a long overdue and radical shift towards the centring of women and their contributions in work and society.

Originality/value

The study offers insights into the gendered pandemic response of one of the first and worst affected countries. It specifically addresses women’s continued marginalisation in the political arena vis-à-vis their key role in supporting the country’s economy.
Determinants of family entrepreneurship in the beekeeping sector
Authors: Bislimi Kaltrinë
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Kosovo is a transition country, and family businesses are seen as the best way to ensure its existence. The purpose of this paper is to determine the importance of beekeeping entrepreneurship in the country and the factors that affect entrepreneurship in this sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was developed through a case presentation where interviews with beekeepers from different cities of Kosovo were conducted. Because this research was conducted during the pandemic situation COVID-19, a total of 32 beekeepers agreed to give interviews, of which 30 were males and 2 were females. The interviews were conducted from March to May 2020. All interviews were recorded to obtain all the relevant details during data processing. All respondents agreed that their names could be made public. The interviews were conducted in Albanian language, and their duration was from 32 min to 1 h and 40 min. The questionnaire for the interview in total contained 25 questions.

Findings

Beekeeping in Kosovo runs entirely as a family business. Only 12 out of 32 respondents inherited the business from their families, while others started this business mostly out of curiosity. 59% of the respondents consider beekeeping as their primary income, while 32 percent as the only source of income. Only 9% of the respondents have less than 30 hives, and the beekeeping income does not have a big impact on their total income. Beekeeping is considered a dangerous business that forces beekeepers to have a second job. The most common risks are climate change and bee diseases. However, although they have a second job, their highest income derives from beekeeping. Education has the biggest role in the development of this business, while experience and technology do not play a significant role.

Research limitations/implications

The number of respondents is small compared to the total number of beekeepers in Kosovo, so a larger number of beekeepers could give more accurate results. In addition, there is no general data on the impact of the beekeeping sector on the economy, especially on the role of this sector in reducing the unemployment rate.

Originality/value

The study adds value to the importance of artisan family businesses. Knowing the importance of family businesses, this study makes a great contribution to determining the factors that affect the development of beekeeping entrepreneurship as family business.
Entrepreneurial ecosystems: a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Kansheba Jonathan Mukiza Peter , Wald Andreas Erich
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The emerging concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems has captured the attention of scholars, practitioners and policymakers. Although studies on entrepreneurial ecosystems continue to grow, their contributions are still disintegrated. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of extant literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems and to develop a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deployed a systematic literature review of 51 articles obtained from three comprehensive databases of Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus. The analysis includes two phases. First, a descriptive account of research on entrepreneurial ecosystems and second, a content analysis based on a thematic categorization of entrepreneurial ecosystems research.

Findings

The findings show that the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems is both under-theorized and it has been recently dominated by conceptual studies. The focus of empirical research is on technology-based industries in Western economies using cases studies as methodological approach.

Research limitations/implications

This review contributes to the body of knowledge on entrepreneurial ecosystems research by providing a systematic review following a thematic grouping of extant research into antecedents, outputs and outcomes of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Originality/value

It reveals existing theoretical and empirical gaps in research as well as offering avenues of future research on entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Improving healthcare services access at the bottom of the pyramid: the role of profit and non-profit organisations in Brazil
Authors: Dumalanede Constance , Hamza Kavita , Payaud Marielle
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to highlight the processes that private organisations implement to improve access to health care services for low-income communities in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research based on a comparative case study was conducted in São Paulo. A for-profit organisation and a not-for-profit one were compared to scrutinise how they adapt themselves to the social context they are embedded in; while improving their service accessibility.

Findings

Both kinds of organisations have succeeded to reach their goal of improving the access and reducing the time frame of health care services to low-income populations. Their initial business model (BM) makes them face their own challenges that they face with different strategies. It affects their way of communicating, their organisational culture, the patients’ expectations and their level of inclusiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The research is context-dependent because of the specific conditions of the health public system in Brazil. When shaping health care BMs, the national context must be taken into account and the service marketing components should be used to enhance patients’ value co-creation in the health care service delivery process.

Practical implications

The research gives insights to organisations that seek to adapt their BM to improve health-care access to low-income populations.

Social implications

Health-care access plays a key role in improving populations’ living conditions and reach one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nation.

Originality/value

Health care services access at the bottom of the pyramid remains under-studied. The paper brings value by comparing for-profit and non-profit organisations, which have the same social goal of improving health-care access to low-income populations while developing different practices to deal with their own challenges.
Pollinator monitoring more than pays for itself
Authors: Breeze Tom D. , Bailey Alison P. , Balcombe Kelvin G. , Brereton Tom , Comont Richard , Edwards Mike , Garratt Michael P. , Harvey Martin , Hawes Cathy , Isaac Nick , Jitlal Mark , Jones Catherine M. , Kunin William E. , Lee Paul , Morris Roger K. A. , Musgrove Andy , O'Connor Rory S. , Peyton Jodey , Potts Simon G. , Roberts Stuart P. M. , Roy David B. , Roy Helen E. , Tang Cuong Q. , Vanbergen Adam J. , Carvell Claire
Published: October 2020

Resilient pollination services depend on sufficient abundance of pollinating insects over time. Currently, however, most knowledge about the status and trends of pollinators is based on changes in pollinator species richness and distribution only.

Systematic, long‐term monitoring of pollinators is urgently needed to provide baseline information on their status, to identify the drivers of declines and to inform suitable response measures.

Power analysis was used to determine the number of sites required to detect a 30% change in pollinator populations over 10 years. We then evaluated the full economic costs of implementing four national monitoring schemes in the UK: (a) professional pollinator monitoring, (b) professional pollination service monitoring, (c) volunteer collected pan traps and (d) volunteer focal floral observations. These costs were compared to (a) the costs of implementing separate, expert‐designed research and monitoring networks and (b) the economic benefits of pollination services threatened by pollinator loss.

Estimated scheme costs ranged from £6,159/year for a 75‐site volunteer focal flower observation scheme to £2.7 M/year for an 800‐site professional pollination service monitoring network. The estimated research costs saved using the site network as research infrastructure range from £1.46–4.17 M/year. The economic value of UK crop yield lost following a 30% decline in pollinators was estimated at ~£188 M/year.

Synthesis and applications. We evaluated the full costs of running pollinator monitoring schemes against the economic benefits to research and society they provide. The annual costs of monitoring are <0.02% of the economic value of pollination services that would be lost after a 30% decline in pollination services. Furthermore, by providing high‐quality scientific data, monitoring schemes would save at least £1.5 on data collection per £1 spent. Our findings demonstrate that long‐term systematic monitoring can be a cost‐effective tool for both answering key research questions and setting action points for policymakers. Careful consideration must be given to scheme design, the logistics of national‐scale implementation and resulting data quality when selecting the most appropriate combination of surveyors, methods and site networks to deliver a successful scheme.
Human capital accumulation, income protection insurance and poverty reduction in the least developed countries
Authors: Liu Weiguang
Published: October 2020

Insurance is very important for the least developed countries. In an overlapping generation framework without saving, we analysed the effect of a special form of health insurance: Income protection insurance (IPI). We clarified how IPI coverage influences human capital accumulation through education investment under certain economic conditions. We have three main findings: (a) Under the assumption that an economy has the potential to escape from the poverty trap, we find that if individuals can choose IPI coverage freely, IPI will not help the economy escape from poverty; (b) if we can lower the coverage to an optimal level, IPI will help the economy escape from poverty; and (c) the coverage preferred by individuals will increase with unhealthy probability, decrease with education efficiency and be independent of the discount rate, and the growth‐optimal coverage proportion will increase with the discount rate and decrease with education efficiency. The paper provides some policy implications for reducing poverty in some of the least developed countries through insurance tools.
The Vita Bedae and the Craft of Hagiography
Authors: GAMESON RICHARD , GAMESON FIONA
Published: October 2020

Bede was (and is) justly renowned for his scholarship and admired for his piety; an early cult, such as it was, proved abortive and he was never canonised. Nevertheless, he was subsequently the subject of a Vita which, in sharp contrast to his own autobiographical note, is pointedly hagiographical. The oldest surviving copy of the text in question was added as an early supplement to the manuscript of the Historia ecclesiastica that was given to Durham Cathedral priory by Bishop William of Saint Calais (d. 1096). Although the text is anonymous, internal evidence suggests that it was probably composed at Jarrow after its restoration in the 1070s or alternatively in Durham after the conversion of the cathedral community to a Benedictine priory (1083), staffed with monks from Jarrow. Because the sources for the Vita Bedae are identifiable, the work provides a sharply focused lens through which to perceive the devices that could be used by an eleventh‐century hagiographer to re‐present a very famous subject as a saint, and the various strategies he uses to achieve this end are duly explored. More generally, the text provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on medieval perceptions and expectations of sanctity.
Budgetary Impacts of Adding Agricultural Risk Management Programmes to the CAP
Authors: Pieralli Simone , Pérez Domínguez Ignacio , Elleby Christian , Chatzopoulos Thomas
Published: October 2020

Volatile prices and income uncertainties are major issues for farmers, leading to a demand for policies that mitigate such risks. However, the budgetary consequences of risk management schemes are uncertain due to their dependence on market prices. Using an agricultural multi‐commodity market model, we evaluate the potential budgetary consequences of introducing two specific risk management schemes used in the United States into the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), namely the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programmes. Our analysis considers three sets of reference prices and stochastic uncertainty related to yields and macroeconomic conditions, resulting in a joint distribution of agricultural outputs and support payments. The results show that the payments from these two risk management schemes are sensitive to the reference prices triggering support and to the programme participation shares. In the most extreme stochastic simulations, support payments from the PLC programme reach €23 billion while support payments from the ARC programme reach €2.1 billion for the three crops considered (barley, wheat and maize).
Primary intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism: A case confirmed at medicolegal autopsy
Authors: Rijal Reisha , Mridha Asit Ranjan , Arava Sudheer Kumar , Behera Chittaranjan
Published: October 2020

Misdiagnosed PAS confirmed at medicolegal autopsy Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare disease and usually indistinguishable from acute or chronic thromboembolic disease of the pulmonary arteries. We present a case of pulmonary artery sarcoma in a 54‐year‐old male, who was clinically misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient died of disease; however, the actual diagnosis of PAS was made after a medicolegal autopsy. PAS can be a diagnostic challenge for both clinicians and pathologists. In an autopsy case with a clinical suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism, if there is an abnormal gross appearance in the pulmonary artery, the forensic pathologist should have a high index of suspicion of PAS, which should be ruled out by a histopathologic examination.
A CCCH zinc finger gene regulates doublesex alternative splicing and male development in Bombyx mori
Authors: Yang Fangying , Zhang Zhongjie , Hu Bo , Yu Ye , Tan Anjiang
Published: October 2020

Recent identification of a Piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA)‐initiated sex determination cascade in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, provides novel insights into high diversity of insect sex determination pathways. In this system, the W‐chromosome‐derived Fem piRNA is the primary sex determination signal. A CCCH‐type zinc finger gene Masculinizer (Masc), which is targeted by Fem piRNA‐PIWI complex in female animals, is indispensable for male‐specific splicing of B. mori doublesex (Bmdsx). Although many genes involved in this cascade have been identified, the regulatory mechanisms of silkworm sex determination remain to be elucidated. Here we show that another CCCH‐type zinc finger gene, Bmznf‐2, is a masculinization factor in B. mori. Bmznf‐2 shows testis‐abundant expression and loss of Bmznf‐2 function via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats / single‐guide RNA‐mediated mutagenesis results in feminized differentiation and appearance of the female‐specific splicing variants of Bmdsx transcripts in males. In contrast, there is no phenotypic consequence in mutant females. In mutant males, relative messenger RNA expression levels of female‐dominant genes such as vitellogenin and sex‐specific storage protein 1 are significantly elevated while several male‐dominant genes are significantly down‐regulated. Furthermore, male mutants show delayed developmental timing, smaller body sizes of larvae and malformation of moth wings. Our data thus reveal that Bmznf‐2 plays an indispensable role in silkworm male sexual differentiation.
Hsa‐miR‐27a‐3p and epidermal growth factor receptor expression analysis in glioblastoma FFPE samples
Authors: Salmani Tayyebali , Ghaderian Sayyed Mohammad Hossein , Hajiesmaeili Mohammadreza , Rezaeimirghaed Omidvar , Hoseini Mahshid Sadat , Rakhshan Azadeh , Nasiri Mohammad Javad , Ghaedi Hamid , Akbarzadeh Reza
Published: October 2020

Aim

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most invasive type of glial tumors. MicroRNAs as the small, noncoding RNAs have been revealed that play an important role in tumorigenic processes. So, they may be used as potential biomarkers for detection and prognosis of cancers at the early stages. In addition, they can be applied as therapeutic targets. In the present study, the expression levels of hsa‐miR‐27a‐3p and EGFR were investigated in GBM.

Methods

Real‐time RT‐PCR was applied to evaluate hsa‐miR‐27a‐3p and EGFR expressions in the formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue samples obtained from 50 GBM and 50 normal people.

Results

The expression level of hsa‐miR‐27a‐3p and EGFR was significantly different between cases and controls. Positive association was found between gene expressions and immunohistochemistry markers, such as Ki67 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, except for IDH1 status.

Conclusion

We showed the association of hsa‐miR‐27a‐3p and EGFR with GBM and it can be concluded that they have a promising potential to use as primary cancer biomarkers.