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Symbiosexuality, the individual experience of attraction to people in relationships, has not been examined as a lived experience. Lack of recognition and examination of symbiosexuality is surprising when one considers studies of romantic and sexual desires and behaviors associated with more than two people. Also evident in the existence of the sexual identity label known as the unicorn and easily found in essays, memoirs, and dating apps, this attraction proves salient. Further, we find evidence of symbiosexuality outside Western discourses on desire and sexuality. Dominant conceptions and assumptions about sexuality and desire including mononormativity, respectability politics within polyamorous communities, and current conceptions of desire within western discourse contribute to symbiosexual invisibility. This invisibility harms several sexual minority groups, especially women and gender minorities within these groups. The purpose of this review is to describe and provide evidence of the phenomenon of symbiosexuality. Through a queer-feminist lens, I argue that recognition of symbiosexuality will fill a knowledge gap in the field of sexuality studies on the nature and shape of human sexual attractions and may be validating and/or empowering to those experiencing these types of attractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent attention to the non-monogamous identity known as the "unicorn" has increased the visibility of a poorly understood sexual minority. Conflicting definitions in popular media, heightened social stigma, and reports of inequitable, and even abusive, relationship dynamics justify attention to unicorns. With very few academic studies to date on unicorn identity, an exploratory study was conducted to address a gap in sexuality research. Discourse analysis of an online polyamorous community offered a definition of unicorns and revealed that those interested in unicorn dynamics are treated as an "out-group" in polyamorous spaces. Further, evidence of community gatekeeping revealed that unicorns threaten polyamorous identity security and trigger identity negotiations that may be impeding queer feminist efforts to undo relational and sexual hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FinTech Unicorns are startups in the financial services technology sector valued at over $1 billion (Investopedia April 2023). Since the early 2000s, the emergence of these FinTech Unicorns has captured the attention of investors and industry experts worldwide. These companies have revolutionized the industry and transformed traditional financial services through their innovative technologies, disruptive business models, and impact on the digital transformation of the industry. These innovative companies are known for their cutting-edge technologies, disruptive business models, and impact on traditional financial services to effect digital transformation. This research paper aims to comprehensively analyze these FinTech Unicorns’ growth and market sustainability, drawing from various sources such as industry reports, research papers, financial disclosures, and journal publications. In addition, this study aims to explore the geographic concentration of FinTech Unicorns and the factors contributing to their growth in certain regions, such as Silicon Valley, New York, and London. It also aims to examine the regulatory and economic environment, the availability of talent and capital, the strength of the local startup ecosystem, and the concentration of financial services institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has established itself as the third-largest global startup ecosystem, with thriving start-ups. Despite commanding high valuations, startups across diverse sectors are grappling with challenges in achieving profitability. Increasing concerns about job security and the potential for additional layoffs in the absence of an improved funding environment are causing apprehension among talent, even within larger startups. The research intends to analyse the Indian startup ecosystem, analyse and compare the profitability of chosen Unicorns and Decacorns in both listed and unlisted categories, and understand the employee perception of working in startups. An analytical research design is followed. To understand employee perception, a survey facilitated through a structured questionnaire has been conducted among 100 employees of startups situated in Karnataka and Kerala, regions distinguished for their highly supportive ecosystems. Analysis depicted a discrepancy in profitability suggesting that Decacorns, with their startup status, robust valuations, and soaring operating revenue, have yet to establish themselves as consistently profitable entities. Findings from the employee survey highlight that learning opportunities and accelerated career growth stand out as motivating factors for choosing employment in startups. Conversely, the downsides include concerns about change, job insecurity, and workload. The comprehension of stock options at the knowledge level was evident, potentially serving as a stirring factor for startups to incorporate into their employee benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much from George and W.B. Yeats's channelling sessions left little or no trace in A Vision yet provided important material for the poet. The Daimon, an antagonist spiritual counterpart, though unclear in A Vision, was a vital concept to Yeats, and could be symbolised in bird or animal form; similarly, the dove and swan that appear in the annunciations to Mary and Leda embody the daimonic on a macrocosmic scale. Another daimonic beast at both individual and world level is the unicorn; one related to the new religious age is the sphinx, which embodies a complex conjunction of ideas, including the reawakening of ancient ways of thought. The Daimon brings crisis to human life, and the daimonic beasts are associated with crisis in world history, the irruption of the irrational divine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espacios is the property of Talleres de Impresos Oma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article is devoted to solving the problem of the development of startup ecosystems in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including Ukrainian entrepreneurship since Ukraine gained independence) by reorienting their economy to a market economy and conducting it based on sustainable development, ethics, and social responsibility. It has been found that in the countries a large number of mechanisms and procedures are not fully adapted to the implementation of entrepreneurial activity based on systematicity, complexity, and interaction; only point elements are present, and the effectiveness of their interaction in the process of entrepreneurial activity is quite low. At the same time, the rapid development of startup ecosystems is observed. The definition of this concept in the article is considered from the point of view of scientists as “a combination of localized cultural views, social networks, investment capital, universities, and active economic policies that create an environment that supports innovative business” and Startup Genome. This allows for the interpreting of a startup ecosystem as “a set of resources (policies, accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, educational institutions, and funding groups) that are mostly located within a radius of 100 kilometers around a central point in a given region, with a few exceptions based on local realities”. It has been established that at the moment the theoretical concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems is insufficiently developed, which does not allow unambiguously interpreting its composition, as well as determining the impact on the development of startup. It has been revealed that the central driver of start-up ecosystems is most often considered by universities as centers of education and driving forces of innovative growth. It is innovations that are determined as a source of entrepreneurship development. The above was the basis for consideration and a possible solution to the problem of building a model that would describe the development of the startup ecosystem of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe based on the analysis of a set of indicators that characterize the startup ecosystem according to the Dealroom.co methodology, where the most popular and those that Ecosystem value is the most complete description of the development of the startup ecosystem. The European experience in the development of startup ecosystems has been analyzed. The structural components of the startup ecosystem have been reflected, and their role in the functioning of the system and their interrelationships has been defined. The functioning of startup ecosystems in European countries has been described. Possible directions of application of the European experience in the development of startup ecosystems in Ukraine have been studied. At the same time, the government of Ukraine considers the IT industry and military tech (high-tech weapons) as priorities in further development, which is especially relevant during military operations. The study was tested on the Greek startup ecosystem and found that the most significant issues affecting the successful development of startups are issues at the state level, which are related to tax incentives and acceleration of start-up procedures, the availability of financing opportunities, communication between interested parties, entrepreneurial education, previous startup experience, incubator support, and mentoring. A regression-correlation analysis of a set of five indicators (Number of unicorns, Future unicorns, VC funding, Number of exits, Employees, New funds, Number of startups, Number of funding rounds), which have the greatest significance for the Ecosystem value of the country, has been carried out. A model has been built that determines the dependence of Ecosystem value on the action of a set of significant factors: Number of unicorns, Future unicorns, VC funding, Number of exits, and Employees, which allows predicting the development of the startup ecosystem of the countries of the world.

Copyright of Journal of the Cukurova University Institute of Social Sciences is the property of Cukurova University Institute of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lasia spinosa or Unicorn plant is an important tropical spinous rhizomatous herb. This plant is one of the native species of Assam used as vegetable and in Ayurvedic medicines. There are two distinct morphological types of Lasia spinosa: Morphotype-I i.e.having dissected laminal and hastate form and Morphotype- II i.e. dissected laminal form. The current study revealed that the physical and anatomical parameters assent with the genetic diversity revealed through molecular data analysis. The vein type, however, was discovered to be jumbled craspedodromous and semi-craspedodromous of Lasia spinosa morphotypes (I, II), respectively. Least variance was discovered in the morphological forms observing the leaf vein architecture. There are small changes in the petioles' and roots' internal architecture between the two morphotypes. To do a phylogenetic analysis between the two morphotypes of Lasia spinosa, the ISSR-PCR product revealed approximately 56% of polymorphisms (i.e32 out of 57 bands which are distinct to each other). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the SCOPUS database and VOSviewer, this paper aims to analyze the bibliographic information on three keywords (entrepreneurial intention (EI), human flourishing (HF), and unicorns) to identify relevant areas for current and future research on entrepreneurship by applying a bibliometric and content review approach to 2434 documents for the BMA (business, management, and accounting) and EEF (economics, econometrics, and finance) subject areas to construct and visualize bibliometric networks on the basis of co-citation and co-authorship relations in these items. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) the number of documents published in the European Union on EI (600) almost doubles those published on this topic in the United States (354); the United States leads the number of papers (113) published on HF, and the number of documents published on Unicorns by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries (22) almost equals the number of documents published on this issue in the United States (25); (2) research on EI during the core years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2022) is of growing interest linked to entrepreneurship education and psychological traits; (3) ethics-related entrepreneurial behavior has historically supported current HF-related research; (4) entrepreneurial ecosystems, leadership, and innovation are critical success factors for born globals to be unicorns; (5) there is a geographic disparity (Spain, India, and the US) in the most cited authors for EI, HF, and unicorns, respectively.

As part of the Mongolian-Chinese joint archaeological project ‘Exploring Ancient Nomadic Culture in the North’, archaeological surveys, excavations and research activities were conducted in the Hanui River valley in the Arkhangai aimag of Mongolia from July 2017 to August 2019. Three field seasons at the Gol Mod-2 necropolis yielded rich results, which were partly published in Mongolian and Chinese scientifi c journals. In December 2019, one of the major discoveries of this collaborative project (the excavation of the Gol Mod 2 burial ground) was honoured as one of the ‘Top Ten Discoveries of 2019’ by American Archaeology Magazine. Thanks to the eff orts of Chinese and Mongolian scientists, the joint project successfully achieved its research goals. New material has been obtained to study the history of the interaction between agricultural and nomadic civilizations.

It takes years to build a brand which can boast of a valuation of more than a Billion Dollar. But the business acumen of some of the entrepreneurs of today's time have taken their respective start-ups to such heights that they could achieve what others only dream of- a Billion Dollar valuation. The story of any Unicorn is always fascinating because a Unicorn is much more than just the valuation. It is the disruptive idea, vision, strategy and the sustainable goal of the team that makes the start-up a "Unicorn". This paper aims at gaining an insight into the marketing and funding strategies of four Indian Start-Ups viz. CRED, Meesho, BharatPe and Nykaa. The founders of these start-ups chose revenue over valuation and focused on building a brand that eventually turned into a "Unicorn". The findings of this paper revealed some path breaking marketing and funding strategies like influencer marketing, omnichannel marketing et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms from large genome-wide association studies only explain a fraction of genetic heritability. Likely causes of the missing heritability include broad phenotype definitions and gene-environment interactions (GxE). The mechanisms underlying GxE in asthma are poorly understood. Previous GxE studies on pet ownership showed discordant results. We sought to study the GxE between the 17q12-21 locus and pet ownership in infancy in relation to wheeze. Wheezing classes derived from 5 UK-based birth cohorts (latent class analysis) were used to study GxE between the 17q12-21 asthma-risk variant rs2305480 and dog and cat ownership in infancy, using multinomial logistic regression. A total of 9149 children had both pet ownership and genotype data available. Summary statistics from individual analyses were meta-analyzed. rs2305480 G allele was associated with increased risk of persistent wheeze (additive model odds ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.51). There was no evidence of an association between dog or cat ownership and wheeze. We found significant evidence of a GxE interaction between rs2305480 and dog ownership (P = 8.3 × 10−4) on persistent wheeze; among dog owners, the G allele was no longer associated with an increased risk of persistent wheeze (additive model odds ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.73-1.24). For those without pets, G allele was associated with increased risk of persistent wheeze (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.40-1.86). Among cat owners, no such dampening of the genetic effect was observed. Among dog owners, rs2305480 G was no longer associated with an increased risk of persistent wheeze (or asthma). Early-life environmental exposures may therefore attenuate likelihood of asthma in those carrying 17q12-21 risk alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the literary and visual symbolism in Armand Point's The Princess and the Unicorn. Point composed several versions of this mysterious legend in pastel, enamel, and bas-relief. Under the artistic influences of the medieval tapestry of the Lady and the Unicorn , the French painter Gustave Moreau, and the Italian Renaissance painter Alessandro Botticelli, Point unveils a spiritual creation that in its form, content, and medium seeks to evoke the 'soul' in a work of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nasleđe is the property of University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Philology & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using the SCOPUS database and VOSviewer, this paper aims to analyze the bibliographic information on three keywords (entrepreneurial intention (EI), human flourishing (HF), and unicorns) to identify relevant areas for current and future research on entrepreneurship by applying a bibliometric and content review approach to 2434 documents for the BMA (business, management, and accounting) and EEF (economics, econometrics, and finance) subject areas to construct and visualize bibliometric networks on the basis of co-citation and co-authorship relations in these items. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) the number of documents published in the European Union on EI (600) almost doubles those published on this topic in the United States (354); the United States leads the number of papers (113) published on HF, and the number of documents published on Unicorns by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries (22) almost equals the number of documents published on this issue in the United States (25); (2) research on EI during the core years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2022) is of growing interest linked to entrepreneurship education and psychological traits; (3) ethics-related entrepreneurial behavior has historically supported current HF-related research; (4) entrepreneurial ecosystems, leadership, and innovation are critical success factors for born globals to be unicorns; (5) there is a geographic disparity (Spain, India, and the US) in the most cited authors for EI, HF, and unicorns, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predatory pricing has long been termed like a dragon or a unicorn because the practice is often considered irrational and therefore impossible to find or at least unlikely to work. However, the case that befell PT Conch South Kalimantan Cement broke the stigma in Indonesia, which was legally proven to practice predatory pricing through the Business Competition Commission Council (KPPU) Case Decision Number: 03/KPPU-L/2020. Considering that predatory pricing is complicated to prove because it requires certain elements to be fulfilled, this research then aims to analyze the predatory pricing elements, which became strong reasons that underlay the KPPU Council's determination of PT Conch South Kalimantan Cement as a predatory business actor so that it is entitled to be punished with billions of rupiah. By applying the normative method with a statutory, conceptual, and case approach through primary and secondary legal materials, which were analyzed by qualitative and prescriptive analysis, this study ultimately found the results that the elements in the form of business actors, supply, goods, selling at a loss or fixing a very low price, eliminating or shutting down the business of its competitors, the relevant market, and causing monopolistic practices and/or unfair business competition have become the ratio decidendi of the KPPU Council in determining the practice of predatory pricing. These reasons can then be used as decisions on similar issues in the future.

Our research aimed to identify the causes for the increase in the number of unicorn start-ups by analyzing the geographical and sectoral factors in two main online databases. The United States, with a traditionally strong innovation ecosystem, is leading the way in creating successful start-ups, but China, India and some European countries are also showing considerable results. The number of unicorns, referring to privately held start-ups worth more than $1 billion, is significantly influenced by qualitative factors (ecosystem development) and the size of the economy (nominal GDP). Therefore, small economies (like Israel) can only be included in the top 10 unicorn countries if their ecosystem is especially developed. The global pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation in several sectors. Fintech, e-commerce, internet, software and AI services are areas where unicorns have been able to achieve significant value growth. Introducing the attributes of these start-ups can be an inspiration for students in economics courses and can serve as illustrative examples in the related curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of the Biblical exegesis research, and specifically the Old Testament books, especially interesting from the aspect of cultural-animalistic research is the “biblical bestiary”. Among the myriad of known and less known creatures of the Biblical animal world, a special attention draw the animals “lost” in translations, the traces of which we find in inaccurate readings and unfamiliarity with the species, that is, with the myth they come from. In this paper we will focus on the Old Testament wisdom book the Book of Job and a short textual extract from the “Job’s bestiary”. The segment refers to the “lost” animals which have for centuries caused significant difficulties in translation of these paragraphs, because they have not been known to the translators. Following the guidelines of thought about the lost animals in translation, our attention is directed towards two mythical animals, phoenix and unicorn, as well as to their (non)appearance in the Book of Job with a special reflection on the Croatian Glagolitic translation skills used in translating those paragraphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey is an inspiration of my joint paper with Behzad Najafi published in Science in China. I explain some of interesting results about the unicorn problem.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ranging from asymptomatic conditions to severe/fatal lung injury and multi-organ failure. Growing evidence shows that the nasopharyngeal microbiota composition may predict the severity of respiratory infections and may play a role in the protection from viral entry and the regulation of the immune response to the infection. In the present study, we have characterized the nasopharyngeal bacterial microbiota (BNM) composition and have performed factor analysis in a group of 54 asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic subjects who tested positive for nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 RNA and/or showed anti-RBD-IgG positive serology at the enrolment. We investigated whether BNM was associated with SARSCoV-2 RNA positivity and serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody development/maintenance 20-28 weeks after the enrolment. Shannon's entropy a-diversity index [odds ratio (OR) = 5.75, p = 0.0107] and the BNM Factor1 (OR = 2.64, p = 0.0370) were positively associated with serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody maintenance. The present results suggest that BNM composition may influence the immunological memory against SARS-CoV-2 infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the link between BNM and specific IgG antibody maintenance. Further studies are needed to unveil the mechanisms through which the BNM influences the adaptive immune response against viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tiempos Modernos is the property of Tiempos Modernos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Philologia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ranging from asymptomatic conditions to severe/fatal lung injury and multi-organ failure. Growing evidence shows that the nasopharyngeal microbiota composition may predict the severity of respiratory infections and may play a role in the protection from viral entry and the regulation of the immune response to the infection. In the present study, we have characterized the nasopharyngeal bacterial microbiota (BNM) composition and have performed factor analysis in a group of 54 asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic subjects who tested positive for nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 RNA and/or showed anti-RBD-IgG positive serology at the enrolment. We investigated whether BNM was associated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity and serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody development/maintenance 20–28 weeks after the enrolment. Shannon’s entropy α-diversity index [odds ratio (OR) = 5.75, p = 0.0107] and the BNM Factor1 (OR = 2.64, p = 0.0370) were positively associated with serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody maintenance. The present results suggest that BNM composition may influence the immunological memory against SARS-CoV-2 infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the link between BNM and specific IgG antibody maintenance. Further studies are needed to unveil the mechanisms through which the BNM influences the adaptive immune response against viral infections.

The nascent global age at the close of the Middle Ages introduced exotic objects from distant lands into Western Europe. Exotica from the natural world – naturalia – were frequently fashioned into ecclesiastical and seigniorial artifacts and housed in treasuries. The materials were sometimes re-identified in their new contexts, such as narwhal tusks understood as unicorn horns, which bestowed upon them additional meanings associated with those allegorical mythical creatures. This work investigates the movement, alteration, and use of such re-identified naturalia in late medieval society leading up to the Age of Discovery. It focuses on naturalia that retained their distinct morphological features after working, following the hypothesis that the identity of the animal, as indexed by a recognizable form or set of physical characteristics, was important. It additionally considers symbolic connotations and occult properties deriving from allegorization of matter to study the role played by the ornamentation of naturalia. This paper explores the discourse between extant tangible objects and contemporary texts such as bestiaries, lapidaries, and alchemical compendia to examine how the iconography of the artifact’s form and the iconology of the ornamentation contributed to the overall signification of the naturalia.

The parable of the Futile Life, which is an excerpt of the medieval, multilingual novel Barlaam and Josaphat, conceals a unique interpretative approach, in terms of symbolism, of an ancient and intercultural mythological symbol, that of the unicorn. From a first examination of the cultural environment – textual and iconographical – of the unicorn’s appearance, it would seem that the symbolic substance of this animal motif was imbued with the notions of the high virtues of the Christian ideological system (e.g. virginity, purity, salvation). However, the parabolic narrative of the Futile Life reveals another aspect. This is the aspect of the inward cruel power that drives a man to the wrong choice, preventing him from finding the proper spiritual way out to save himself after his physical death in the vanity world in which he lives transiently. Probably, the beauty of a unicorn now symbolizes something not so pure. Indeed, the story of the Futile Life is transformed into one of the most common iconographic themes in monumental Christian painting, and, at the same time, it raises reasonable concerns while seeking adequate explanations. So, through a list of relevant examples of monumental and miniature art, we will look for the beginnings of the two aspects of this ancient symbol, with an emphasis on the parable under examination, offering a new perspective on the semiotic analysis of Antiquity during the Middle Ages.

Startups play a substantial role in the economic growth of a nation, by introducing new technologies, ground-breaking innovation, creating jobs, etc. A couple of decades back, it was extremely difficult to start a business, but today new businesses pop up every day, all around the world. Recognizing the importance of a startup, governments across the globe are doing their best to provide an atmosphere where startups can bloom. Despite its importance and all the support, the startup failure rate is at 90%; about 10% of startups fail in the first year and 70% fail in two to five years. The startup boom saw the emergence of alternative sources of funding like Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc. These investors (Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc.) played a crucial role in startup success by providing easy access to funds which is a critical and scarce resource for any founder. Traditionally business success is linked with sustainable profitability but in the startup world most used method to define success is valuation. Based on CB Insights research, as of January 2022, there are more than 900 unicorns (startup with a valuation of over $1 billion) around the world and of these unicorns less than 10% are profitable. It's difficult to explain/comprehend how startups' which are neither profitable nor foresee profitability in near future are valued higher than traditional business with stable profitability. Current valuation methods have impacted the startup ecosystem. Today, founders start their business with exit in mind, the focus of founders is on growth/scale rather than profitability. There is a school of thought that believes that such valuations will soon result in the bursting of the startup bubble just like the dotcom bubble seen in late 1990s. The focus of this paper is to investigate the techniques used by investors for startup valuation and how these techniques are impacting the startup ecosystem and its founders. The paper looks at all stages of the investment cycle, from seed to IPO or takeover and understands the process of valuation at each stage and how it impacts all stakeholders in the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the metaphor of “unicorn,” we identify the scientific papers and technical patents characterized by the informetric feature of very high citations in the first ten years after publishing, which may provide a new pattern to understand very high impact works in science and technology.

This paper aims to challenge the conventional wisdom in finance by studying the success factors of the development of unicorn companies as the most successful and fastest-growing start-ups/ established firms. Romania is now on the map of the International Unicorn Club, with two young Unicorns in technology, since 2018. The purpose of the paper is to analyze mergers and acquisitions and companies valued more than $1B. The research questions to be answered are: What is the value of control in mergers and acquisitions? Why the initial estimates of a company’s value can be very wrong? The market approach in this research allows the readers understand the context of the phenomena analyzed and the information on comparable transactions. The work to be discussed in the paper is the importance of choosing one valuable objective of the company, in the context of the theory of the value maximization as the single important objective of a company. The model of enterprise value for listed companies should encompass a market variable, such as the value of financing a sector gets and the ownership (control) variable

We classify the almost regular weakly stretch non-Randers-type (α, β)-metrics with vanishing S-curvature. In the class of regular metrics, they reduce to Berwald ones. Here, we demonstrate that when an almost regular weakly stretch non-Randers-type (α, β)-metric with vanishing S-curvature is not Berwaldian, then it is a weakly generalized unicorn. This yields an extension of Zou-Cheng and Chen-Liu's theorems. Finally, we show that any projective non-Randers β-change of a unicorn is a unicorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims The ovule is a synapomorphy of all seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms); however, there are some striking differences in ovules among the major seed plant lineages, such as the number of integuments or the orientation of the ovule. The genetics involved in ovule development have been well studied in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana , which has two integuments and anatropous orientation. This study is approached from what is known in arabidopsis, focusing on the expression patterns of homologues of four genes known to be key for the proper development of the integuments in arabidopsis: AINTEGUMENTA (ANT), BELL1 , (BEL1), KANADIs (KANs) and UNICORN (UCN). Methods We used histology to describe the morphoanatomical development from ovules to seeds in Gnetum gnemon. We carried out spatiotemporal expression analyses in G. gnemon , a gymnosperm, which has a unique ovule morphology with an integument covering the nucellus, two additional envelopes where the outermost becomes fleshy as the seed matures, and an orthotropous orientation. Key Results Our anatomical and developmental descriptions provide a framework for expression analyses in the ovule of G. gnemon. Our expression results show that although ANT , KAN and UCN homologues are expressed in the inner integument, their spatiotemporal patterns differ from those found in angiosperms. Furthermore, all homologues studied here are expressed in the nucellus, revealing major differences in seed plants. Finally, no expression of the studied homologues was detected in the outer envelopes. Conclusions Altogether, these analyses provide significant comparative data that allows us to better understand the functional evolution of these gene lineages, providing a compelling framework for evolutionary and developmental studies of seeds. Our findings suggest that these genes were most likely recruited from the sporangium development network and became restricted to the integuments of angiosperm ovules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of large, medium, and small fruit sizes on fruit quality, shelf life, and microbial activity in cherry tomatoes. Large (31.28 mm), medium (28.52 mm), and small (24.16 mm) tomatoes were harvested at light red maturity in Gangwon Province in the Republic of Korea. The quality of the tomatoes was measured at harvest time. Following harvest, the tomatoes were stored at 5 ℃; they were kept in boxes, acting as controls, or packed with a 20,000 cc oxygen transmission rate (OTR), acting as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to measure postharvest quality. The large tomatoes showed lower rates of respiration and ethylene production compared to the other sizes. The rate of fresh weight loss was the highest in the small tomatoes. A prolonged shelf life was observed in the large tomatoes. The rate of fungal incidence was lower in the large tomatoes compared with the medium and small ones. On the final day of storage, the large tomatoes retained the highest level of firmness and the concentrations of titratable acidity and vitamin C. However, the small tomatoes contained the highest level of soluble solids among the different sizes. Bacterial and fungal counts were the lowest in the large tomatoes. Based on the above results, large tomatoes may be better than smaller tomatoes for exporting over long distances.

This article investigates the 'allegorical hunt of the unicorn' in late medieval visual and narrative art. The existence of the unicorn in biblical lore is an important factor in how the unicorn has been integrated into Christian symbolism. By expanding the narrative connection between hunting, virginity, and taming provided by Physiologus, the allegorical interpretations turn the taming of the wild unicorn into signifying the incarnation of Christ. This influential interpretation enables an overlaying of allegorical meanings in various media. In this process, knowledge is organized into clusters of meaning in which the creature functions as a dynamic reservoir of knowledge. This perspective allows for a deeper understanding of the functions of animals (or more specifically, human-animal relations) in medieval Christian interpretation.

Using the metaphor of "unicorn," we identify the scientific papers and technical patents characterized by the informetric feature of very high citations in the first ten years after publishing, which may provide a new pattern to understand very high impact works in science and technology. When we set CT as the total citations of papers or patents in the first ten years after publication, with CT≥ 5,000 for scientific "unicorn" and CT≥ 500 for technical "unicorn," we have an absolute standard for identifying scientific and technical "unicorn" publications. We identify 165 scientific "unicorns" in 14,301,875 WoS papers and 224 technical "unicorns" in 13,728,950 DII patents during 2001–2012. About 50% of "unicorns" belong to biomedicine, in which selected cases are individually discussed. The rare "unicorns" increase following linear model, the fitting data show 95% confidence with the RMSE of scientific "unicorn" is 0.2127 while the RMSE of technical "unicorn" is 0.0923. A "unicorn" is a pure quantitative consideration without concerning its quality, and "potential unicorns" as CT≤5,000 for papers and CT≤500 for patents are left in future studies. Scientific and technical "unicorns" provide a new pattern to understand high-impact works in science and technology. The "unicorn" pattern supplies a concise approach to identify very high-impact scientific papers and technical patents. The "unicorn" pattern supplies a concise approach to identify very high impact scientific papers and technical patents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computing holds the potential to deliver great economic prosperity to the European Union (EU). However, the creation of successful business in the field is challenging owing to the required extensive investments into postdoctoral-level workforce and sophisticated infrastructure without an existing market that can financially support these operations. This commentary paper reviews the recent efforts taken in the EU to foster the quantum-computing ecosystem together with its current status. Importantly, we propose concrete actions for the EU to take to enable future growth of this field towards the desired goals. In particular, we suggest ways to enable the creation of EU-based quantum-computing unicorns which may act as key crystallization points of quantum technology and its commercialization. These unicorns may provide stability to the otherwise scattered ecosystem, thus pushing forward global policies enabling the global spread of EU innovations and technologies. The unicorns may act as a conduit, through which the EU-based quantum ecosystem can stand out from similar ecosystems based in Asia and the United States. Such strong companies are required because of the level of investment currently required in the marketplace. This paper suggests methodologies and best practices that can enhance the probability of the creation of the unicorns. Furthermore, we explore future scenarios, in which the unicorns can operate from the EU and to support the EU quantum ecosystem. This exploration is conducted focusing on the steps to be taken and on the impact the companies may have in our opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2016 the unicorn has become one of the trendiest subjects in several sectors: from fashion to accessories, to food, as is proved by the launch of drinks such as “unicorn’s milk”. Yet, what does the unicorn represent in contemporary imagery? In order to answer such a question, this research traces the history of the symbolism of the unicorn, so as to understand how its representation and meaning have changed. Ever since ancient times the Greeks had attributed thaumaturgical powers to the unicorn; in particular, its horn was considered a universal antidote to any poison, whereas the unicorn itself became a symbol of purity. The presence of the figure of the unicorn in Psalm 91 brings the animal close to Christianity. In the Middle Ages the unicorn was often depicted in the illuminated Bibles and was also used in the decorations of the main buildings of the time, usually next to a virgin as an allegory of chastity. For this reason, it became a symbol of chaste love and marital fidelity. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the powder of the unicorn horn was still considered an antidote to poison and even an aphrodisiac. Only in the Victorian Age did the unicorn begin to people children’s stories, losing the sexual meaning and being associated with the rainbow for the first time. The connection between the unicorn and the rainbow has led to the present use of the animal as an emblem of LGBT+ community. Nowadays the unicorn embodies the concepts of rarity and magic. It is even worth noting how the term “unicorn” has also become part of the economic language. The instagrammability of the unicorn has made the animal even more popular, making it, in the social media era, the symbol of uniqueness and differentiation from the mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article is dedicated to the cultural narratives of Brexit, through in-depth and implemented research on the axis of ideas recognized in the European agenda for culture as a form of European soft power, the defining dimensions of European cultural diplomacy and the process of rethinking the unity in diversity under the pressures of exit. To the previously mentioned structure we will add a series of indices that will perform as patterns of a qualitative analysis of a selection of interviews/ conferences with political personalities representing the power poles on the European continent which are relevant to the equation of the studied issue: Boris Johnson (current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) and Theresa May (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom); Emmanuel Macron (President of France) and Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany). The formulated hypotheses will be verified through an interview with professor Ian Browne, an intellectual who represents a part of the British university stream (Cambridge and St. Andrews University), a researcher whose studies and interviews focus mainly on Brexit, Neo-Liberalism, religious discourse or cultural heritage, therefore a well-informed personality in guiding and highlighting what becomes -- here -- a central element of the research: the relationship between Brexit and the soft power synergy of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of ventures with a market value of one billion USD or more has considerably increased during the last decade. Driven by new technologies and business models, these ventures became an integral part of our daily life. Particularly, the number of unicorns based in China and other regions outside the US raised during recent years whereas the phenomenon was initially limited to the US region. Existing research has mainly focused on descriptive approaches to examine the rise of these ventures but lacks knowledge on the drivers of this phenomenon. We address these research gaps and investigate the underlying factors that foster the emergence of such high-valued ventures. Our results present several economic environmental as well as investor-related factors that impact the likelihood for a venture to achieve a market valuation of more than one billion USD. Subsequently, we derive theoretical and practical implications that may foster the future emergence of new high-valued ventures, covering regulatory, investor- and venture-specific aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]