549 research outputs found

    Determinants of transnational social capital: opportunity–investment–ability perspective

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    This study suggests that it is critical for executives todeveloptransnational social capital(TSC), or professionalrelationships and ties that span national borders. We firstprovide a conceptual framework and careful operationaliza-tion of TSC that differentiates between bonding and bridg-ing forms of social capital. We then examine the effect ofthree key determinants—opportunity, investment and abil-ity—on the TSC of executives. Using detailed survey dataon 227 executives, our analysis suggests that internationalexperience, investment in communicating with cross-borderties and cosmopolitan ability have direct effects on overallTSC. We further demonstrate that international experienceand cosmopolitan ability affect both bridging and bonding,but that investment in cross-border communication onlyaffects bridging social capital. The study proposes thatsocial capital is becoming more and more transnational asconnections, interactions and transactions increasingly spannational borders, which has implications for internationalbusiness and human resource management. Given our find-ings, it would make sense for global organizations to paymore attention to these, if they would like their membersto develop this resource. We point out benefits to organiza-tions and individuals

    SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 Is an Interferon-Stimulated Gene in Human Airway Epithelial Cells and Is Detected in Specific Cell Subsets across Tissues.

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    There is pressing urgency to understand the pathogenesis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus clade 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein binds angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and in concert with host proteases, principally transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), promotes cellular entry. The cell subsets targeted by SARS-CoV-2 in host tissues and the factors that regulate ACE2 expression remain unknown. Here, we leverage human, non-human primate, and mouse single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets across health and disease to uncover putative targets of SARS-CoV-2 among tissue-resident cell subsets. We identify ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells within lung type II pneumocytes, ileal absorptive enterocytes, and nasal goblet secretory cells. Strikingly, we discovered that ACE2 is a human interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) in vitro using airway epithelial cells and extend our findings to in vivo viral infections. Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could exploit species-specific interferon-driven upregulation of ACE2, a tissue-protective mediator during lung injury, to enhance infection

    A historical overview of the classification, evolution, and dispersion of Leishmania parasites and sandflies

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    Background The aim of this study is to describe the major evolutionary historical events among Leishmania, sandflies, and the associated animal reservoirs in detail, in accordance with the geographical evolution of the Earth, which has not been previously discussed on a large scale. Methodology and Principal Findings Leishmania and sandfly classification has always been a controversial matter, and the increasing number of species currently described further complicates this issue. Despite several hypotheses on the origin, evolution, and distribution of Leishmania and sandflies in the Old and New World, no consistent agreement exists regarding dissemination of the actors that play roles in leishmaniasis. For this purpose, we present here three centuries of research on sandflies and Leishmania descriptions, as well as a complete description of Leishmania and sandfly fossils and the emergence date of each Leishmania and sandfly group during different geographical periods, from 550 million years ago until now. We discuss critically the different approaches that were used for Leishmana and sandfly classification and their synonymies, proposing an updated classification for each species of Leishmania and sandfly. We update information on the current distribution and dispersion of different species of Leishmania (53), sandflies (more than 800 at genus or subgenus level), and animal reservoirs in each of the following geographical ecozones: Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropic, Afrotropical, Oriental, Malagasy, and Australian. We propose an updated list of the potential and proven sandfly vectors for each Leishmania species in the Old and New World. Finally, we address a classical question about digenetic Leishmania evolution: which was the first host, a vertebrate or an invertebrate? Conclusions and Significance We propose an updated view of events that have played important roles in the geographical dispersion of sandflies, in relation to both the Leishmania species they transmit and the animal reservoirs of the parasites

    Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

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    The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & NemĂ©sio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; NemĂ©sio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

    Cardiovasc Diabetol

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    Lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a major endemic disease with an alarming increased prevalence worldwide. It is a common and severe condition with excess risk of major cardiovascular events and death. It also leads to a high rate of lower-limb adverse events and non-traumatic amputation. The American Diabetes Association recommends a widespread medical history and clinical examination to screen for LEAD. The ankle brachial index (ABI) is the first non-invasive tool recommended to diagnose LEAD although its variable performance in patients with diabetes. The performance of ABI is particularly affected by the presence of peripheral neuropathy, medial arterial calcification, and incompressible arteries. There is no strong evidence today to support an alternative test for LEAD diagnosis in these conditions. The management of LEAD requires a strict control of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. The benefit of intensive versus standard glucose control on the risk of LEAD has not been clearly established. Antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet agents are obviously worthfull to reduce major cardiovascular adverse events, but few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the benefits of these treatments in terms of LEAD and its related adverse events. Smoking cessation, physical activity, supervised walking rehabilitation and healthy diet are also crucial in LEAD management. Several advances have been achieved in endovascular and surgical revascularization procedures, with obvious improvement in LEAD management. The revascularization strategy should take into account several factors including anatomical localizations of lesions, medical history of each patients and operator experience. Further studies, especially RCTs, are needed to evaluate the interest of different therapeutic strategies on the occurrence and progression of LEAD and its related adverse events in patients with diabetes

    Le théùtre, sensation du monde

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    « Mettre en scĂšne » ne correspond en rien au travail que je fais aujourd’hui. J’ai quasiment supprimĂ© la scĂšne, transformĂ© l’architecture thĂ©Ăątrale, rayĂ© la notion de costumation, la notion de dĂ©coration et la notion de mise en scĂšne elle-mĂȘme. C’est donc un terme qui, dans mon cas, n’a plus de sens

    Entretien

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    Laure Adler. C’est un grand honneur que de recevoir Claude RĂ©gy ici au sein de cette universitĂ©, Claude RĂ©gy qui fait un passage Ă©clair en ce Festival d’Avignon 2013, puisque le film qui lui est consacrĂ©, signĂ© d’Alexandre Barry, a Ă©tĂ© prĂ©sentĂ© dans le cadre d’une vaste rĂ©trospective de tous les metteurs en scĂšne du Festival d’Avignon, qui viennent prĂ©senter, soit une piĂšce, soit un film. Mon cher Claude, ma premiĂšre question portera sur le nom mĂȘme, le statut et la dĂ©finition de ce mot Ă©tran..

    Entretien

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    Damien Malinas. Bonjour, je suis chargĂ© par le PrĂ©sident de l’UniversitĂ© d’Avignon de vous souhaiter la bienvenue. Je suis Damien Malinas, Vice-PrĂ©sident du dĂ©veloppement de la Culture et des marques de l’établissement. Cette annĂ©e nous inaugurons le cycle des Leçons de l’UniversitĂ© avec Julien Gosselin. C’est une rencontre qui se continue, puisque nous avions dĂ©jĂ  accueilli Julien Gosselin Ă  Avignon avec l’Institut supĂ©rieur des techniques du spectacle, le Conservatoire et l’UniversitĂ©. Je c..

    Entretien

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    Laure Adler. Bonjour et merci d’ĂȘtre fidĂšles Ă  ce rendez-vous des Ateliers de la pensĂ©e. AprĂšs Emmanuel Todd, nous allons changer d’univers avec Thomas Jolly, quoique... nous allons voir. En tout cas, ces Leçons de l’UniversitĂ© s’inscrivent dans une dĂ©marche Ă  la fois pĂ©dagogique et de mise en perspective de la profondeur du travail thĂ©Ăątral, car c’est vrai que nous, spectateurs, quand nous allons voir un spectacle, nous avons tendance Ă  en sortir en disant : « Oui, bon, pas mal », « Peut mie..

    Entretien Éric Vigner

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    Introduction par Emmanuel Ethis Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir aujourd’hui Éric Vigner, avec Laure Adler et Jean-Claude Monod, pour Ă©voquer le projet de l’AcadĂ©mie, qu’il a mis en Ɠuvre au ThĂ©Ăątre de Lorient, Centre Dramatique National. Ce projet est basĂ© sur l’expĂ©rimentation et vise Ă  transmettre le savoir propre Ă  l’univers du thĂ©Ăątre qui s’associe Ă  la chorĂ©graphie, la musique, l’histoire, la philosophie, mais sans nĂ©gliger la recherche et la production. Sept jeunes comĂ©diens d’horizons..
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