Psychometric precision in phenotype definition is a useful step in molecular genetic investigation of psychiatric disorders

Affective disorders are highly heritable, but few genetic risk variants have been consistently replicated in molecular genetic association studies. The common method of defining psychiatric phenotypes in molecular genetic research is either a summation of symptom scores or binary threshold score representing the risk of diagnosis. Psychometric latent variable methods can improve the precision of psychiatric phenotypes, especially when the data structure is not straightforward. Using data from the British 1946 birth cohort, we compared summary scores with psychometric modeling based on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) scale for affective symptoms in an association analysis of 27 candidate genes (249 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)). The psychometric method utilized a bi-factor model that partitioned the phenotype variances into five orthogonal latent variable factors, in accordance with the multidimensional data structure of the GHQ-28 involving somatic, social, anxiety and depression domains. Results showed that, compared with the summation approach, the affective symptoms defined by the bi-factor psychometric model had a higher number of associated SNPs of larger effect sizes. These results suggest that psychometrically defined mental health phenotypes can reflect the dimensions of complex phenotypes better than summation scores, and therefore offer a useful approach in genetic association investigations

eIF5A Promotes Translation Elongation, Polysome Disassembly and Stress Granule Assembly

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic foci at which untranslated mRNAs accumulate in cells exposed to environmental stress. We have identified ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme required for polyamine synthesis, and eIF5A, a polyamine (hypusine)-modified translation factor, as proteins required for arsenite-induced SG assembly. Knockdown of deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) or treatment with a deoxyhypusine synthase inhibitor (GC7) prevents hypusine modification of eIF5A as well as arsenite-induced polysome disassembly and stress granule assembly. Time-course analysis reveals that this is due to a slowing of stress-induced ribosome run-off in cells lacking hypusine-eIF5A. Whereas eIF5A only marginally affects protein synthesis under normal conditions, it is required for the rapid onset of stress-induced translational repression. Our results reveal that hypusine-eIF5A-facilitated translation elongation promotes arsenite-induced polysome disassembly and stress granule assembly in cells subjected to adverse environmental conditions

HIV-1 with Multiple CCR5/CXCR4 Chimeric Receptor Use Is Predictive of Immunological Failure in Infected Children

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 R5 viruses are characterized by a large phenotypic variation, that is reflected by the mode of coreceptor use. The ability of R5 HIV-1 to infect target cells expressing chimeric receptors between CCR5 and CXCR4 (R5(broad) viruses), was shown to correlate with disease stage in HIV-1 infected adults. Here, we ask the question whether phenotypic variation of R5 viruses could play a role also in mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 and pediatric disease progression. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Viral isolates obtained from a total of 59 HIV-1 seropositive women (24 transmitting and 35 non transmitting) and 28 infected newborn children, were used to infect U87.CD4 cells expressing wild type or six different CCR5/CXCR4 chimeric receptors. HIV-1 isolates obtained from newborn infants had predominantly R5(narrow) phenotype (n = 20), but R5(broad) and R5X4 viruses were also found in seven and one case, respectively. The presence of R5(broad) and R5X4 phenotypes correlated significantly with a severe decline of the CD4+ T cells (CDC stage 3) or death within 2 years of age. Forty-three percent of the maternal R5 isolates displayed an R5(broad) phenotype, however, the presence of the R5(broad) virus was not predictive for MTCT of HIV-1. Of interest, while only 1 of 5 mothers with an R5X4 virus transmitted the dualtropic virus, 5 of 6 mothers carrying R5(broad) viruses transmitted viruses with a similar broad chimeric coreceptor usage. Thus, the maternal R5(broad) phenotype was largely preserved during transmission and could be predictive of the phenotype of the newborn's viral variant. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show that R5(broad) viruses are not hampered in transmission. When transmitted, immunological failure occurs earlier than in children infected with HIV-1 of R5(narrow) phenotype. We believe that this finding is of utmost relevance for therapeutic interventions in pediatric HIV-1 infectio

Wellbeing indicators affecting female entrepreneurship in OECD countries

[EN] The objective of this research is to know which wellbeing indicators, such as work-life balance, educational level, income or job security, are related to the rate of female entrepreneurship in 29 OECD countries. In addition, these countries have been classified according to the motivation of the entrepreneur either by necessity or by opportunity. The empiric study is focused on 29 OECD countries covering the different geographic areas (Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, etc.) Due to the fact that the sample is relatively small, it is essential to use a selective approach when selecting the causal conditions. To this end, fsQCA is the most appropriate methodology for such a small data set. A total of 5 variables have been used: an independent variable (female TEA ratio), and four dependent variables (work life balance, educational level, sustainable household income and job security). Data measuring female TEA ratio have been obtained from Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM in Global report, 2015) data base, while data measuring wellbeing dimensions were taken from the Better Life Index (OECD in How¿s life? Measuring wellbeing, 2015. http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org). The results of this piece of research show that countries with high sustainable household income together with high level of education achieves high female entrepreneurship ratio with both, a good work-life balance (despite of a high unemployment probability), or a high labour-personal imbalance (in this latter, with a low probability of unemployment).This work has been funded by the R + D project for emerging research groups with reference (GVA) GV/2016/078.Ribes-Giner, G.; Moya Clemente, I.; Cervelló Royo, RE.; Perelló Marín, MR. (2019). Wellbeing indicators affecting female entrepreneurship in OECD countries. Quality & Quantity. 53(2):915-933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-018-0796-4S915933532Ahl, H., Nelson, T.: How policy positions women entrepreneurs: a comparative analysis of state discourse in Sweden and the United States. J. Bus. Ventur. 30(2), 273–291 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2014.08.002Andersson, P.: Happiness and health: wellbeing among the self-employed. J. Socio-Econ. 37(1), 213–236 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2007.03.003Bardasi, E., Sabarwal, S., Terrell, K.: How do female entrepreneurs perform? Evidence from three developing regions. Small Bus. Econ. 37(4), 417–441 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-011-9374-zBergheim, S., Schneider, S., Giesel, B., Walter, N.: Measures of Wellbeing. There is More to it Than GDP. Deutsche Bank Research, Frankfurt (2006)Berglund, H.: Between cognition and discourse: phenomenology and the study of entrepreneurship. Int. J. Entrep. Behav. Res. 21(3), 472–488 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2013-0210Bianchi, M., Parisi, V., Salvatore, R.: Female entrepreneurs: motivations and constraints. An Italian regional study. Int. J. Gend. Entrep. 8(3), 198–220 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-08-2015-0029Bittencourt Marconatto, D.A., Barin-Cruz, L., Pozzebon, M., Poitras, J.E.: Developing sustainable business models within BOP contexts: mobilizing native capability to cope with government programs. J. Clean. Prod. 129, 735–748 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.038Boarini, R., Comola, M., Smith, C., Manchin, R., de Keulenaer, F.: What makes for a better life? The determinants of subjective well-being in OECD countries—evidence from the Gallup World Poll. OECD statistics working papers, 2012(3), 0_1 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1787/5k9b9ltjm937-enBoarini, R., D’Ercole, M.M.: Going beyond GDP: an OECD perspective. Fisc. Stud. 34(3), 289–314 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2013.12007.xBradshaw, J., Hoelscher, P., Richardson, D. (eds.): Comparing child well-being in OECD countries: Concepts and methods. Innocenti working paper, IWP-2006-03. UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, Italy (2007)Brindley, C.: Barriers to women achieving their entrepreneurial potential. Int. J. Entrep. Behav. Res. Emerald Group Publishing Limited (2005). Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/13552550510590554Burke, A.E., Fitzroy, F.R., Nolan, M.A.: What makes a die-hard entrepreneur? Beyond the “employee or entrepreneur” dichotomy. Small Bus. Econ. 31(2), 93–115 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-007-9086-6Buttner, H.E., Moore, D.P.: Women’s organizational exodus to entrepreneurship: self-reported motivations and correlates with success. J. Small Bus. Manag. 35(1), 34–46 (1997). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.comCarter, S.: The rewards of entrepreneurship: exploring the incomes, wealth, and economic wellbeing of entrepreneurial households. Entrep. Theory Pract. 35(1), 39–55 (2011)Castaño, M.-S., Méndez, M.-T., Galindo, M.Á.: The effect of social, cultural, and economic factors on entrepreneurship. J. Bus. Res. 68(7), 1496–1500 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.01.040Castellano, R., Musella, G., Punzo, G.: Structure of the labour market and wage inequality: evidence from European countries. Qual. Quant. 51(5), 2191–2218 (2017)Cervelló-Royo, R., Moya-Clemente, I., Ribes-Giner, G.: Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Latin America: Who should finance the entrepreneurial ventures of the less privileged? In: Peris-Ortiz, M., Sahut, J.-M. (eds.) New Challenges in Entrepreneurship and Finance, pp. 235–245. Springer, Cham (2015)Cervelló-Royo, R., Guijarro, F., Martinez-Gomez, V.: Social performance considered within the global performance of Microfinance Institutions: a new approach. Oper. Res. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12351-017-0360-3Chaaban, J., Irani, A., Khoury, A.: The composite global wellbeing index (CGWBI): a new multi-dimensional measure of human development. Soc. Indic. Res. 129(1), 465–487 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-1112-5Chapple, S.: Child wellbeing and sole-parent family structure in the OECD: an analysis. OECD. Social, employment, and migration working papers (82), 0_1 (2009)Christofides, L.N., Polycarpou, A., Vrachimis, K.: Gender wage gaps, “sticky floors” and “glass ceilings” in Europe. Labour Econ. 21, 86–102 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2013.01.003Cumming, D., Hou, W., Lee, E.: Sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship, corporate finance and governance, and institutional reform in China. J. Bus. Ethics 134(4), 505–508 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2381-7Cummins, R.A., Eckersley, R., Pallant, J., Van Vugt, J., Misajon, R.: Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Soc. Indic. Res. 64(2), 159–190 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024704320683De la Cruz Sánchez-Escobedo, M., Díaz-Casero, J.C., Díaz-Aunión, Á.M., Hernández-Mogollón, R.: Gender analysis of entrepreneurial intentions as a function of economic development across three groups of countries. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 10(4), 747–765 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-014-0314-7Diener, E.: Subjective wellbeing. In: Diener, E. (ed.) The Sicence of Wellbeing, pp. 11–58. Springer, Dordrecht (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2350-6_2Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., Sanders, L.: The challenge of defining wellbeing. Int. J. Wellbeing 2(3), 222–235 (2012). https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v2i3.4Fiss, P.C.: Building better casual theories: a fuzzy set approach to typologies in organization research. Acad. Manag. J. 54(2), 393–420 (2011)Fleche, S., Smith, C., Sorsa, P.: Exploring determinants of subjective wellbeing in OECD countries (2011)Fleche, S., Smith, C., Sorsa, P.: Exploring determinants of subjective wellbeing in OECD countries evidence from the world value survey. Working papers, OECD Statistics (2012). https://doi.org/10.1787/5kg0k6zlcm5k-enFoley, A., Griffith, B.: Education, training and the promotion of high quality entrepreneurs in the Republic of Ireland. In: Scott, M.G., Rosa, P., Klandt, H. (eds.) Educating Entrepreneurs for Wealth Creation. Ashgate, Aldershot (1998)Garikipati, S.: Microcredit and women’s empowerment: through the lens of time-use data from rural India. Dev. Change 43(3), 719–750 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2012.01780.xGEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor): Global report (2015)Harter, J.K., Schmidt, F.L., Keyes, C.L.M.: Wellbeing in the workplace and its relationship to business outcomes. A review of the Gallup studies. In: Keyes, C.L.M., Haidt, J. (eds.) Flourishing: The Positive Person and the Good Life, pp. 205–224. American Psychologi cal Association, Washington (2003)Henry, C., Foss, L., Ahl, H.: Gender and entrepreneurship research: a review of methodological approaches. Int. Small Bus. J. 34(3), 217–241 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242614549779Hessels, J., Van Gelderen, M., Thurik, R.: Entrepreneurial aspirations, motivations, and their drivers”. Small Bus. Econ. 31(3), 323–339 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9134-xIezzi, D.F., Deriu, F.: Women active citizenship and wellbeing: the Italian case. Qual. Quant. 48(2), 845–862 (2014)Jansson, T.: Housing choices and labor income risk. J. Urban Econ. 99, 107–119 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2016.12.006Johansen, V., Foss, L.: The effects of entrepreneurship education—does gender matter? Int. J. Entrep. Small Bus. 20(3), 255–271 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2013.056889Judge, W.Q., Hu, H.W., Gabrielsson, J., Talaulicar, T., Witt, M.A., Zattoni, A., Kibler, B.: Configurations of capacity for change in entrepreneurial threshold firms: imprinting and strategic choice perspectives. J. Manag. Stud. 52(4), 506–530 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12121Kautonen, T., Kibler, E., Minniti, M.: Late-career entrepreneurship, income and quality of life. J. Bus. Ventur. 32(3), 318–333 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2017.02.005Kephart, P., Schumacher, L.: Has the “glass ceiling” cracked? An exploration of women entrepreneurship. J. Leadersh. Organ. Stud. 12(1), 2–15 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1177/107179190501200102Kirkwood, J.: Motivational factors in a push–pull theory of entrepreneurship. Gend. Manag. Int. J. 24(5), 346–364 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1108/17542410910968805Kobeissi, N.: Gender factors and female entrepreneurship: International evidence and policy implications. J. Int. Entrep. 8, 1–35 (2010). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-010-0045-yKuckertz, A., Berger, E.S.C., Allmendinger, M.P.: What drives entrepreneurship? A configurational analysis of the determinants of entrepreneurship in innovation-driven economies. Die Betriebswirtschaft/Bus. Adm. Rev. 75(4), 273–288 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107415324.004La Placa, V., McNaught, A., Knight, A.: Discourse on wellbeing in research and practice. Int. J. Wellbeing 3, 116–125 (2013). https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v3i1.7Langowitz, N., Minniti, M.: The entrepreneurial propensity of women. Entrep. Theory Pract. 31(3), 341–364 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2007.00177.xLee, S.S.Y.: Examining policy configurations as conditions for long-term unemployment and non-standard employment in OECD countries using fuzzy-set analysis. Qual. Quant. 47(6), 3521–3536 (2013)Leffler, E., Svedberg, G.: Enterprise learning: a challenge to education? Eur. Educ. Res. J. 4(3), 219–227 (2005)Levie, J., Autio, E.: A theoretical grounding and test of the GEM model. Small Bus. Econ. 31(3), 235–263 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9136-8Maccagnan, A., Wren-Lewis, S., Brown, H., Taylor, T.: Wellbeing and society: towards quantification of the co-benefits of wellbeing. Soc. Indic. Res. 1–27 (2018)Mandl, C., Berger, E.S.C., Kuckertz, A.: Do you plead guilty? Exploring entrepreneurs’ sensemaking-behavior link after business failure. J. Bus. Ventur. Insights 5, 9–13 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2015.12.002Martin, B.C., McNally, J.J., Kay, M.J.: Examining the formation of human capital in entrepreneurship: a meta-analysis of entrepreneurship education outcomes. J. Bus. Ventur. 28(2), 211–224 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.03.002McClelland, E., Swail, J., Bell, J., Ibbotson, P.: Following the pathway of female entrepreneurs. Int. J. Entrep. Behav. Res. 11(2), 84–107 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1108/13552550510590527Millán, J.M., Hessels, J., Thurik, R., Aguado, R.: Determinants of job satisfaction: a European comparison of self-employed and paid employees. Small Bus. Econ. 40(3), 651–670 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-011-9380-1Minniti, M., Nardone, C.: Being in someone else’s shoes: the role of gender in nascent entrepreneurship. Small Bus. Econ. 28(2–3), 223–238 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-006-9017-yMishra, V., Nielsen, I., Smyth, R.: How does relative income and variations in short-run wellbeing affect wellbeing in the long run? Empirical evidence from China’s Korean minority. Soc. Indic. Res. 115(1), 67–91 (2014)Murias, P., Martinez, F., de Miguel, C.: An economic wellbeing index for the Spanish provinces: a data envelopment analysis approach. Soc. Indic. Res. 77(3), 395–417 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-2613-4Naudé, W., Amorós, J.E., Cisti, O.: Surfeiting, the appetite may sticken: entrepreneurship and happiness. Small Bus. Econ. 42(3), 523–540 (2014)Ng, T.W.H., Feldman, D.C.: Re-examining the relationship between age and voluntary turnover. J. Vocat. Behav. 74(3), 283–294 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.01.004O’Connor, A.: A conceptual framework for entrepreneurship education policy: meeting government and economic purposes. J. Bus. Ventur. 28(4), 546–563 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.07.003Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): OECD guidelines on measuring subjective well-being (2013)Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: How’s Life? Measuring Wellbeing (2015). http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org . Accessed 28 May 2017Orlova, L.V., Sakhabieva, G.A., Vasyaycheva, V.A., Pronina, N.N.: Impact of educational attainment on the development of female entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. Indian J. Sci. Technol. (2016). https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i11/89427Osberg, L., Sharpe, A.: An index of economic wellbeing for selected OECD countries. Rev. Income Wealth 5(3), 291–316 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4991.00056Osberg, L., Sharpe, A.: New Estimates of the Index of Economic Wellbeing for Selected OECD Countries, 1980–2007. Centre for the Study of Living Standards, Ottawa (2009)Parasuraman, S., Purohit, Y.S., Godshalk, V.M., Beutell, N.J.: Work and family variables, entrepreneurial career success, and psychological wellbeing. J. Vocat. Behav. 48(3), 275–300 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1996.0025Parasuraman, S., & Simmers, C.A.: Type of employment, work–family conflict and well-being: a comparative study. J. Organ. Behav.: Int. J Ind., Occup. Organ. Psychol. Behav. 22(5), 551–568 (2001)Patrick, C., Stephens, H., Weinstein, A.: Where are all the self-employed women? Push and pull factors influencing female labor market decisions. Small Bus. Econ. 46(3), 365–390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-015-9697-2Poggesi, S., Mari, M., De Vita, L.: What’s new in female entrepreneurship research? Answers from the literature. Int. Entrep. Manag. J. 12(3), 735–764 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0364-5Ragin, C.: The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. University of California Press, Berkeley (1987)Ragin, C.C.: New directions in comparative research. In: Kohn, M.L. (ed.) Cross-National Research in Sociology, pp. 57–76. Sage, Newbury Park (1989)Ragin, C.C.: Fuzzy-Set Social Science. University of Chicago Press, Chicago (2000)Ragin, Charles C., Sonnett, J.: Between complexity and parsimony: limited diversity, counterfactual cases, and comparative analysis. In: Ragin, Charles C. (ed.) Redesigning Social Inquiry. University of Chicago Press, Chicago (2004)Ragin, C.C.: Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond, vol. 240. University of Chicago Pres, Chicago (2008)Rahman, S.A., Amran, A., Ahmad, N.H., Taghizadeh, S.K.: Enhancing the wellbeing of base of the pyramid entrepreneurs through business success: the role of private organizations. Soc. Indic. Res. 127(1), 195–216 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0951-4Renee Baptiste, N.: Tightening the link between employee wellbeing at work and performance. Manag. Decis. 46(2), 284–309 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740810854168Rey-Martí, A., Tur Porcar, A., Mas-Tur, A.: Linking female entrepreneurs’ motivation to business survival. J. Bus. Res. 68(4), 810–814 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2014.11.033Reynolds, P.D., Bygrave, W.D., Autio, E., Cox, L.W., Hay, M.: Global entrepreneurship monitor, 2002 executive report. London (2002)Ribes-Giner, G., Moya-Clemente, I., Cervelló-Royo, R., Perello-Marin, M.R.: Domestic economic and social conditions empowering female entrepreneurship. J. Bus. Res. 89, 182–189 (2018)Ruth Eikhof, D., Summers, J., Carter, S., Eikhof, D.R., Summers, J., Carter, S.: Women doing their own thing: media representations of female entrepreneurship. Int. J. Entrep. Behav. Res. 19(5), 547–564 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-09-2011-0107Sampedro Gallego, R., Camarero Rioja, L.: Female entrepreneurs in rural Spain—the failed subject of development. Rev. Int. Sociol. 65(48), 121–146 (2007)Saridakis, G., Marlow, S., Storey, D.J.: Do different factors explain male and female self-employment rates? J. Bus. Ventur. 29(3), 345–362 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2013.04.004Shepherd, D.A., Douglas, E.J., Shanley, M.: New venture survival: ignorance, external shocks, and risk reduction strategies. J. Bus. Ventur. 15(5), 393–410 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00008-1Shepherd, D., Haynie, J.M.: Birds of a feather don’t always flock together: identity management in entrepreneurship. J. Bus. Ventur. 24(4), 316–337 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2007.10.005Shinnar, R.S., Hsu, D.K., Powell, B.C.: Self-efficacy, entrepreneurial intentions, and gender: assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education longitudinally. Int. J. Manag. Educ. 12(3), 561–570 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2014.09.005Shir, N.: Entrepreneurial Wellbeing: The Payoff Structure of Business Creation. Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm (2015)Thiem, A., Dusa, A.: QCA: a package for qualitative comparative analysis. R package version 2.0. R J. 5, 87–97 (2013). Retrieved from https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/QCA/index.htmlTorri, M.M.C., Martinez, A.: Women’s empowerment and micro-entrepreneurship in India: constructing a new development paradigm? Prog. Dev. Stud. 14(1), 31–48 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1177/1464993413504347Tur-Porcar, A., Mas-Tur, A., Belso, J.A.: Barriers to women entrepreneurship. Different methods, different results? Qual. Quant. 51(5), 2019–2034 (2017)Uy, M.A., Foo, M.Der, Song, Z.: Joint effects of prior start-up experience and coping strategies on entrepreneurs’ psychological wellbeing. J. Bus. Ventur. 28(5), 583–597 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.04.003Uy, M.A., Sun, S., Foo, M.Der: Affect spin, entrepreneurs’ wellbeing, and venture goal progress: the moderating role of goal orientation. J. Bus. Ventur. 32(4), 443–460 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2016.12.001Van der Sluis, J., Van Praag, M., Vijverberg, W.: Education and entrepreneurship selection and performance: a review of empirical literature. J. Econ. Surv. 22(5), 795–841 (2008)Verheul, I., Stel, A.Van, Thurik, R.: Explaining female and male entrepreneurship at the country level. Entrep. Reg. Dev. 18(2), 151–183 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1080/08985620500532053Witbooi, M., Ukpere, W.: Indigenous female entrepreneurship: analytical study on access to finance for women entrepreneurs in South Africa. Afr. J. Bus. Manag. 5(14), 5646–5657 (2011)Woodside, A.G., Bernal, P.M., Coduras, A.: The general theory of culture, entrepreneurship, innovation, and quality-of-life: comparing nurturing versus thwarting enterprise start-ups in BRIC, Denmark, Germany, and the United States. Ind. Mark. Manag. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2015.11.00

Identification of simple sequence repeat markers for sweetpotato weevil resistance

The development of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] germplasm with resistance to sweetpotato weevil (SPW) requires an understanding of the biochemical and genetic mechanisms of resistance to optimize crop resistance. The African sweetpotato landrace, ‘New Kawogo’, was reported to be moderately resistant to two species of SPW, Cylas puncticollis and Cylas brunneus. Resistance has been associated with the presence of hydroxycinnamic acids esters (HCAs), but the underlying genetic basis remains unknown. To determine the genetic basis of this resistance, a bi-parental sweetpotato population from a cross between the moderately resistant, white-fleshed ‘New Kawogo’ and the highly susceptible, orange-fleshed North American variety ‘Beauregard’ was evaluated for SPW resistance and genotyped with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to identify weevil resistance loci. SPW resistance was measured on the basis of field storage root SPW damage severity and total HCA ester concentrations. Moderate broad sense heritability (H2 = 0.49) was observed for weevil resistance in the population. Mean genotype SPW severity scores ranged from 1.0 to 9.0 and 25 progeny exhibited transgressive segregation for SPW resistance. Mean genotype total HCA ester concentrations were significantly different (P < 0.0001). A weak but significant correlation (r = 0.103, P = 0.015) was observed between total HCA ester concentration and SPW severity. A total of five and seven SSR markers were associated with field SPW severity and total HCA ester concentration, respectively. Markers IBS11, IbE5 and IbJ544b showed significant association with both field and HCA-based resistance, representing potential markers for the development of SPW resistant sweetpotato cultivars

Elevated 17β-Estradiol Protects Females from Influenza A Virus Pathogenesis by Suppressing Inflammatory Responses

Studies of the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic illustrate that sex and pregnancy contribute to severe outcome from infection, suggesting a role for sex steroids. To test the hypothesis that the sexes respond differently to influenza, the pathogenesis of influenza A virus infection was investigated in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Influenza infection reduced reproductive function in females and resulted in greater body mass loss, hypothermia, and mortality in females than males. Whereas lung virus titers were similar between the sexes, females had higher induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and CCL2, in their lungs than males. Removal of the gonads in both sexes eliminated the sex difference in influenza pathogenesis. Manipulation of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone concentrations in males did not significantly impact virus pathogenesis. Conversely, females administered high doses of estradiol had a ≥10-fold lower induction of TNF-α and CCL2 in the lungs and increased rates of survival as compared with females that had either low or no estradiol. The protective effects of estradiol on proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, morbidity, and mortality were primarily mediated by signaling through estrogen receptor α (ERα). In summary, females suffer a worse outcome from influenza A virus infection than males, which can be reversed by administration of high doses of estradiol to females and reflects differences in the induction of proinflammatory responses and not in virus load

Deep sequencing of the Mexican avocado transcriptome, an ancient angiosperm with a high content of fatty acids

Background: Avocado (Persea americana) is an economically important tropical fruit considered to be a good source of fatty acids. Despite its importance, the molecular and cellular characterization of biochemical and developmental processes in avocado is limited due to the lack of transcriptome and genomic information. Results: The transcriptomes of seeds, roots, stems, leaves, aerial buds and flowers were determined using different sequencing platforms. Additionally, the transcriptomes of three different stages of fruit ripening (pre-climacteric, climacteric and post-climacteric) were also analyzed. The analysis of the RNAseqatlas presented here reveals strong differences in gene expression patterns between different organs, especially between root and flower, but also reveals similarities among the gene expression patterns in other organs, such as stem, leaves and aerial buds (vegetative organs) or seed and fruit (storage organs). Important regulators, functional categories, and differentially expressed genes involved in avocado fruit ripening were identified. Additionally, to demonstrate the utility of the avocado gene expression atlas, we investigated the expression patterns of genes implicated in fatty acid metabolism and fruit ripening. Conclusions: A description of transcriptomic changes occurring during fruit ripening was obtained in Mexican avocado, contributing to a dynamic view of the expression patterns of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and the fruit ripening process

Ants Sow the Seeds of Global Diversification in Flowering Plants

Background: The extraordinary diversification of angiosperm plants in the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods has produced an estimated 250,000–300,000 living angiosperm species and has fundamentally altered terrestrial ecosystems. Interactions with animals as pollinators or seed dispersers have long been suspected as drivers of angiosperm diversification, yet empirical examples remain sparse or inconclusive. Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) may drive diversification as it can reduce extinction by providing selective advantages to plants and can increase speciation by enhancing geographical isolation by extremely limited dispersal distances. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using the most comprehensive sister-group comparison to date, we tested the hypothesis that myrmecochory leads to higher diversification rates in angiosperm plants. As predicted, diversification rates were substantially higher in ant-dispersed plants than in their non-myrmecochorous relatives. Data from 101 angiosperm lineages in 241 genera from all continents except Antarctica revealed that ant-dispersed lineages contained on average more than twice as many species as did their non-myrmecochorous sister groups. Contrasts in species diversity between sister groups demonstrated that diversification rates did not depend on seed dispersal mode in the sister group and were higher in myrmecochorous lineages in most biogeographic regions. Conclusions/Significance: Myrmecochory, which has evolved independently at least 100 times in angiosperms and is estimated to be present in at least 77 families and 11 000 species, is a key evolutionary innovation and a globally important driver of plant diversity. Myrmecochory provides the best example to date for a consistent effect of any mutualism on largescale diversification

Time trends in socioeconomic differences in incidence rates of cancers of gastro-intestinal tract in Finland

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of socioeconomic differences in health varies between societies, and over time within a given society. We studied the association between social class and incidence of cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract over time in a large cohort in Finland. METHODS: We studied social class variation among 45–69 year-old Finns during 1971–95 in incidence of cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract by means of a computerized record linkage of the Finnish Cancer Registry and the 1970 Population Census, which included social class data. RESULTS: There were 2.3 million individuals in the cohort under follow-up, with 1622 cases of cancer of the esophagus, 8069 stomach (non-cardia), 1116 cardia, 408 small intestine, 6361 colon, 5274 rectum, 1616 liver, 1756 gallbladder, and 5084 pancreas during 1971–1995. Cancers of the esophagus, stomach, cardia, gallbladder and pancreas were most common among persons belonging to a low social class. Cancers of the small intestine in males only, colon in both genders, and rectum in females were most common in the higher social classes. Incidence of stomach cancer decreased and incidence of colon cancer increased over time in both genders in all social classes, and the large differences between social classes remained unchanged over time. Incidence rates of cardia cancer did not change substantially over time. CONCLUSION: There is a large variation in incidence of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract by social class in Finland. Although much of the observed social class differences probably could be explained by known etiological factors such as diet, physical exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking and exogenous hormone use, part of the variation is apparently attributable to largely unknown factors