Newest publications
Investigation of the effects of T-2 toxin in chicken-derived three-dimensional hepatic cell cultures
(2024) Vörösházi, Júlia; Mackei, Máté; Sebők, Csilla; Tráj, Patrik; Márton, Rege Anna; Horváth, Dávid Géza; Huber, Korinna; Neogrády, Zsuzsanna; Mátis, Gábor
Despite being one of the most common contaminants of poultry feed, the molecular effects of T-2 toxin on the liver of the exposed animals are still not fully elucidated. To gain more accurate understanding, the effects of T-2 toxin were investigated in the present study in chicken-derived three-dimensional (3D) primary hepatic cell cultures. 3D spheroids were treated with three concentrations (100, 500, 1000 nM) of T-2 toxin for 24 h. Cellular metabolic activity declined in all treated groups as reflected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, while extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity was increased after 500 nM T-2 toxin exposure. The levels of oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl were reduced by the toxin, suggesting effective antioxidant compensatory mechanisms of the liver. Concerning the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 concentration was decreased, while IL-8 concentration was increased by 100 nM T-2 toxin exposure, indicating the multifaceted immunomodulatory action of the toxin. Further, the metabolic profile of hepatic spheroids was also modulated, confirming the altered lipid and amino acid metabolism of toxin-exposed liver cells. Based on these results, T-2 toxin affected cell viability, hepatocellular metabolism and inflammatory response, likely carried out its toxic effects by affecting the oxidative homeostasis of the cells.
Genome of the early spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes provides insights into sexual deception and pollinator adaptation
(2024) Russo, Alessia; Alessandrini, Mattia; El Baidouri, Moaine; Frei, Daniel; Galise, Teresa Rosa; Gaidusch, Lara; Oertel, Hannah F.; Garcia Morales, Sara E.; Potente, Giacomo; Tian, Qin; Smetanin, Dmitry; Bertrand, Joris A. M.; Onstein, Renske E.; Panaud, Olivier; Frey, Jürg E.; Cozzolino, Salvatore; Wicker, Thomas; Xu, Shuqing; Grossniklaus, Ueli; Schlüter, Philipp M.
Pollinator-driven evolution of floral traits is thought to be a major driver of angiosperm speciation and diversification. Ophrys orchids mimic female insects to lure male pollinators into pseudocopulation. This strategy, called sexual deception, is species-specific, thereby providing strong premating reproductive isolation. Identifying the genomic architecture underlying pollinator adaptation and speciation may shed light on the mechanisms of angiosperm diversification. Here, we report the 5.2 Gb chromosome-scale genome sequence of Ophrys sphegodes . We find evidence for transposable element expansion that preceded the radiation of the O. sphegodes group, and for gene duplication having contributed to the evolution of chemical mimicry. We report a highly differentiated genomic candidate region for pollinator-mediated evolution on chromosome 2. The Ophrys genome will prove useful for investigations into the repeated evolution of sexual deception, pollinator adaptation and the genomic architectures that facilitate evolutionary radiations.
Survey on the health of potato seeds and potato crops in Northwest Syria reveals first findings of non-indigenous potato pathogens, Geotrichum candidum (causal organism of Rubbery Rot) and Macrophomina phaseolina (causal organism of Charcoal Rot)
(2025) Hajhamed, Abdulsalam A.; Yusufoğlu, Ibrahim I.; Al-achker, Nedal M.; Alhasan, Khalid I.; Alkhalef, Adel A.; Hajhamed, Abdulsalam A.; Phytomedicine Institute (360), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Yusufoğlu, Ibrahim I.; Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kahrmanmaraş Sutçu Imam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey; Al-achker, Nedal M.; Department of Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry, ALkhartom University, Khartom, Sudan; Alhasan, Khalid I.; Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Alkhalef, Adel A.; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria
Potato is an important food crop in Syria, particularly during the current crisis. Healthy seed stocks are vital in maintaining yields and quality, but the crop health risks associated with imported and home-multiplied seed are unknown. Between 2020–2022 pathogens in locally multiplied seed (LMS), and imported seed potatoes (ISP) and open fields grown from these sources were surveyed. Seed tubers from LMS and ISP were assessed using mass spectrometry (MOLDI-TOF MS). There was a greater prevalence of pathogens in LMS, although some important potato pathogens were also detected on ISP. On LMS seven fungal pathogens were detected, including Geotrichum candidum (causal organism of rubbery rot) on 35% of the samples and Macrophomina phaseolina (causal organism of charcoal rot disease) on 17% of the samples. These are first reports of these pathogens in Syria. On ISP four fungal pathogens were detected in 2022. The incidence of the detections was lower on IPS, although disease severity was similar to those found on LMS. Quarantine pathogens were not detected in either source. Field diseases assessments in northwest Syria showed a high prevalence of disease symptoms in crops grown from LMS. In crops grown from ISP disease levels were much lower, however results may be confounded by the fact that crops grown from ISP were surveyed in a spring growing season, and the crops raised from LMS were surveyed in autumn growing seasons. Nevertheless, the research highlights the lower health status of LMS.
Subsidy free-riding is positively correlated to the development of energy efficiency in the housing stock
(2026) Neef, Nicolas E.; Egner, Lars E.; Klöckner, Christian A.; Neef, Nicolas E.; Dept. of Sustainable Development and Change, Institute of Education, Work and Society, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Egner, Lars E.; Institute of Transport Economics, Oslo, Norway; Klöckner, Christian A.; Citizens, Environment and Safety, Institute of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Incentivizing energy-efficient retrofits in residential sectors often involves subsidies, which are aimed at lowering a building’s environmental impact. However, the effectiveness of these subsidies has been debated, particularly concerning an unintended consequence known as free-riding. Free-riders are investors who would have made energy-efficient retrofits even without the subsidy. Typically, a high prevalence of free-riding is perceived negatively from an economic perspective in terms of the impact and efficiency of a policy. However, apart from economic efficiency, it is unclear what the relation between free-riding and the progression of the buildings’ energy standards is. We employed an agent-based model to mimic a neighborhood and discovered an intriguing pattern: Areas with more free-riders actually showed advanced energy standards in their building infrastructure now and 7 years into the future. These insights enhance our comprehension of free-riding and can help policymakers take this relation into account when designing subsidy schemes.
Perceptions of women entrepreneurs and their impact on opportunities and challenges
(2025) Koch, Laura H.; Kuckertz, Andreas
Women’s entrepreneurship constitutes a critical driver of economic and social progress. Millions of women are entrepreneurs or leaders of ventures and actively contribute to innovation, employment, and economic growth. Moreover, women’s entrepreneurship significantly promotes gender equality by enabling women’s financial independence and enhancing their societal participation.
Despite this central role, women remain vastly underrepresented as entrepreneurs globally. Women entrepreneurs often face restricted access to social, financial, and human resources, which limits their entrepreneurial potential. A key factor driving these resource disparities is societal perceptions of women entrepreneurs. These perceptions shape how key actors recognize, evaluate, and support women entrepreneurs and directly influence their opportunities and challenges within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Deeply ingrained gender stereotypes frequently frame these perceptions, reflecting traditional role expectations and gender-based attributions. Society has long linked entrepreneurship to traits associated with men, causing many to perceive women entrepreneurs as less competent.
At the same time, research demonstrates that these perceptions vary considerably depending on context. While the venture capital sector often evaluates women entrepreneurs negatively, actors in crowdfunding contexts tend to perceive them as particularly trustworthy. These differences highlight how situational factors influence perceptions of women entrepreneurs. Against this backdrop, the present dissertation investigates how various stakeholders’ perceptions affect women entrepreneurs’ opportunities and challenges. It contributes novel insights into the role of perception in entrepreneurial contexts and advances the academic discourse on gender-specific dynamics in entrepreneurship.
Study 1 examines the scientific perception of women’s entrepreneurship, focusing specifically on growth-oriented ventures. The study analyzed 741 publications from the past two decades using a bibliometric analysis. The findings reveal a significant increase in research activity and a marked thematic diversification since 2014. This trend reflects not only growing scholarly interest but also the rising societal relevance of the field. Simultaneously, the study identifies critical research gaps and provides valuable directions for further advancing the discipline.
Study 2 centers on perceptions of women entrepreneurs among venture capital investors. Women entrepreneurs frequently encounter challenges when seeking venture capital, partly due to gender-specific biases. To quantify the extent of these biases, the study surveyed 361 international venture capital investors using an indirect questioning technique that ensures complete anonymity and reduces social desirability bias. The results reveal that a substantial proportion of respondents hold gender-biased attitudes. These biases occur most strongly among men investors and individuals active in early-stage or corporate venture capital.
Study 3 broadens the perspective by analyzing societal perceptions of women entrepreneurs. This study investigates which gendered narratives of women entrepreneurs inspire readers most effectively. It employed a factorial survey design with a representative sample of 337 participants from the United Kingdom. The results indicate that narratives of women entrepreneurs inspire readers when they emphasize women-associated traits and social goals. Conversely, inspiration decreases when the narratives highlight physical attractiveness. These findings suggest that women-associated characteristics increasingly gain active recognition and appreciation in the traditionally men-dominated entrepreneurial environment, potentially signaling a cultural shift toward a more inclusive image of entrepreneurship where differences are valued and integrated.
Building on the findings of these three studies, this dissertation provides new insights into how perceptions of women entrepreneurs by various stakeholders shape their opportunities and challenges. It concludes with a discussion of how these perceptions shape the challenges women face on their journey to entrepreneurship and the opportunities that exist to create new possibilities for change.