Status Signaling Research Articles

FAM210A: An emerging regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis.

Mitochondrial homeostasis serves as a cornerstone of cellular function, orchestrating a delicate balance between energy production, redox status, and cellular signaling transduction. This equilibrium involves a myriad of interconnected processes, including mitochondrial dynamics, quality control mechanisms, and biogenesis and degradation. Perturbations in mitochondrial homeostasis have been implicated in a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndromes, and aging-related disorders. In the past decades, the discovery of numerous mitochondrial proteins and signaling has led to a more complete understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying mitochondrial homeostasis. Recent studies have revealed that Family with sequence similarity 210 member A (FAM210A) is a novel nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein involved in multiple aspects of mitochondrial homeostasis, including mitochondrial quality control, dynamics, cristae remodeling, metabolism, and proteostasis. Here, we review the function and physiological role of FAM210A in cellular and organismal health. This review discusses how FAM210A acts as a regulator on mitochondrial inner membrane to coordinate mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism.

The egalitarian value of counterfeit goods: Purchasing counterfeit luxury goods to address income inequality

AbstractThe present research demonstrates a novel driver of the growing demand for counterfeit luxury goods: perceptions of income inequality. Across five studies, using different samples and counterfeit luxury goods, we find that as perceptions of income inequality increase, consumers value counterfeit luxury products for their “egalitarian value”—a value associated with counterfeits' perceived ability to restore equality in society. Consumers perceive both public and private counterfeit luxury goods to have egalitarian value, suggesting that their value manifests itself beyond consumers' attempts to signal status via consumption. Moreover, the egalitarian value increases consumers' motivation to purchase counterfeit luxury goods beyond their hedonic, utilitarian, economic, or status signaling value. Finally, the positive effect of the egalitarian value of counterfeit luxury goods on purchase preference is greater among consumers who think equality is more desirable and attainable (i.e., those low in social dominance orientation). Our results outline one psychological mechanism underlying consumers' interests in counterfeit luxury goods, explaining how egalitarian value may link two important societal issues: growing income inequality and increased demand for counterfeits.

Assessment of neuro-pulmonary crosstalk in asthmatic mice: effects of DiNP exposure on cellular respiration, mitochondrial oxidative status and apoptotic signaling

Human health is becoming concerned about exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) emanating from plastic, such as phthalates, which are industrially employed as plasticizers in the manufacturing of plastic products. Due to some toxicity concerns, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was replaced by diisononyl phthalate (DiNP). Recent data, however, highlights the potential of DiNP to interfere with the endocrine system and influence allergic responses. Asthma affects brain function through hypoxia, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and sleep disturbances and its effective management is crucial for maintaining respiratory and brain health. Therefore, in DiNP-induced asthmatic mice, this study investigated possible crosstalk between the lungs and the brain inducing perturbations in neural mitochondrial antioxidant status, inflammation biomarkers, energy metabolizing enzymes, and apoptotic indicators. To achieve this, twelve (n = 12, 20–30 g) male BALB/c mice were divided into two (2) experimental groups, each with five (6) mice. Mice in group II were subjected to 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) DiNP (Intraperitoneal and intranasal), while group I served as the control group for 24 days. The effects of DiNP on neural energy metabolizing enzymes (Hexokinase, Aldolase, NADase, Lactate dehydrogenase, Complex I, II, II & IV), biomarkers of inflammation (Nitric oxide, Myeloperoxidase), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde), antioxidants (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and reduced glutathione), oncogenic and apoptotic factors (p53, K-ras, Bcl, etc.), and brain histopathology were investigated. DiNP-induced asthmatic mice have significantly (p < 0.05) altered neural energy metabolizing capacities due to disruption of activities of enzymes of glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation. Other responses include significant inflammation, oxidative distress, decreased antioxidant status, altered oncogenic-apoptotic factors level and neural degeneration (as shown in hematoxylin and eosin-stained brain sections) relative to control. Current findings suggest that neural histoarchitecture, energy metabolizing potentials, inflammation, oncogenic and apoptotic factors, and mitochondrial antioxidant status may be impaired and altered in DiNP-induced asthmatic mice suggesting a pivotal crosstalk between the two intricate organs (lungs and brain).

Understanding the application of evolutionary psychology in consumer behavior: A review and future research agenda

AbstractThis paper is the first to offer a comprehensive literature review of the role of evolutionary psychology (EP) in marketing and consumer behavior. This study takes a holistic approach, combining techniques of a systematic review with bibliometric analysis, to provide a performance analysis and identify theories and methodologies used in the literature. Most importantly, by studying the current state of EP, we elucidate six major themes: the role of gender in families, the role of affect in consumer behavior, food preferences and shopping behavior, motivations for and consequences of status signaling, the impact of ovulation on consumer motives and behaviors, and contributions to the greater good. The findings enable researchers to understand the current state of the literature. Further, to advance the application of EP in consumer behavior, we identify gaps related to each theme and offer research questions that can serve as catalysts for future research. Thus, we offer two primary contributions: a comprehensive overview of the literature as it relates to methods, theories, and themes and detailed guidance that can be used to invigorate research on EP.

Bird photos as trophies: Status signalling, reinforcement, and competition

Avitourism and avitourists are more frequently characterized by intense photography. Although discussions on wildlife photography are not new, few have explained the meanings behind photo-sharing. Drawing on the concept of photograph as trophy, we interviewed 26 Chinese avitourists across a wide specialisation spectrum. From casual to advanced avitourists, we found that the stories behind the photos, the particularity of species, and the sophistication of photography techniques are the defining qualities of trophy-like photos. Sharing such photos, like conservation photographs, indicates co-existence and amicable encounters with nature. These photos may be used to communicate high social status. The finer the photos were made, the stronger the implications that they are costly, pro-environmental, and produced with the assistance of power. Importantly, pro-environmentalism implicitly communicates a sense of altruism and cultural capital, which enables status signalling. Such photos can contribute to the reinforcement and competition of status, which thereby catalyses cheating and other deviant photography actions. Such deviance is reversely justified with the positive pro-environmental birder image. Excavating such multi-faceted meanings of bird photos may help explain bird photo-taking and sharing, and provide implications for involving birders in protected land management. Managerial implicationsStatus signalling can help manage birders communities. As deviance like baiting for photography is driven by the desire for status signalling, on-site regulations on bird photography tours are needed for the short run. In the long term, it is important to incorporate ethical guidelines in birding tour operations and promote compliance with the ethical code of conduct as a socially superior practice. Additionally, leveraging social status can be achieved by creating platforms for avitourists to showcase their photos and gain recognition. This may encourage the participation of knowledge experts who demand status signalling into anti-deviance promotion, environmental education, and protected land management.

Independent regulation of strigolactones and blumenols during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.

The apocarotenoid strigolactones (SLs) facilitate pre-symbiotic communication between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and plants. Related blumenol-C-glucosides (blumenols), have also been associated with symbiosis, but the cues that are involved in the regulation of blumenol accumulation during AM symbiosis remain unclear. In rice, our analyses demonstrated a strict correlation between foliar blumenol abundance and intraradical fungal colonisation. More specifically, rice mutants affected at distinct stages of the interaction revealed that fungal cortex invasion was required for foliar blumenol accumulation. Plant phosphate status and D14L hormone signalling had no effect, contrasting their known role in induction of SLs. This a proportion of the SL biosynthetic enzymes, D27 and D17, are equally required for blumenol production. These results importantly clarify that, while there is a partially shared biosynthetic pathway between SL and blumenols, the dedicated induction of the related apocarotenoids occurs in response to cues acting at distinct stages during the root colonisation process. However, we reveal that neither SLs nor blumenols are essential for fungal invasion of rice roots.

#2711 Cardiomyocytes exposed to medium conditioned by kidney cells treated with the uremic toxin p-cresyl sulfate undergo changes in cell viability

Abstract Background and Aims Cardiorenal Syndrome (CRS) is a condition involving the heart and the kidneys, where a disturbance in one of these organs can lead to alterations in the other. High levels of uremic toxins (UTs) such as p-Cresyl Sulfate (PCS) can induce renal injury. Furthermore, UTs play a crucial role in inflammatory status and cardiac function. Therefore, it is crucial that studies regarding the influence of uremic toxins in the context of cardiorenal syndrome be conducted. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted in the context of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) causing acute damage to the heart, and few mechanisms are still known. The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of PCS in cell viability and inflammatory genes in renal and cardiac cells, to simulate cardiorenal syndrome due to excessive PCS. Method The HEK293 (human epithelial renal cells) and H9c2 (murine cardiomyocyte cells) cell lines were used. HEK293 was treated with concentrations of 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, 1 mM, and 1.5 mM PCS for 6, 24, and 48 hours. H9c2 was treated with PCS (1.5 mM) and conditioned media from PCS-treated renal cells (1.5 mM) for 6 and 24 hours. MTT assays, growth curve analysis, and Hoechst-PI staining were performed. Gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-test was conducted, considering P &amp;lt; 0.05 as significant. Results PCS treatment led to a time and dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. The cell growth curve indicated a negative impact across time on renal cell proliferation at all different PCS concentrations. Hoechst-PI assay revealed increased cell death in the treatment with PCS (1.5 mM) for 24 hours. There was no change in the gene expression of IL-6, IL-1β, Bax, and Bcl-2 in renal cells. Cardiac cell viability decreased both after direct PCS treatment (85.3%) and exposure to PCS-conditioned media from renal cells for 24 hours (87.3%). Conclusion PCS reduces renal cell viability and inhibits cell proliferation without affecting the inflammatory status and apoptosis signaling within the evaluated time frames. Cardiac cell viability decreased after PCS treatment, either directly or indirectly, suggesting a cardiotoxic effect of PCS, independent of changes in renal cells.

See who I know! Addressing the liabilities of outsidership through status signaling

Status is an important intangible asset, yet when firms enter new countries, they lack standing in new social hierarchies as outsiders. Conventional wisdom suggests embeddedness in host-country networks can alleviate newcomers’ liability of outsidership. We complement this with insights from status signaling theory: Newcomers in host countries can address their liability of outsidership through the visual display of social affiliations. We utilize a novel visual qualitative research approach that analyzes annual report photographs of an emerging-market family business, depicting the firm’s leaders with high-status alters. Complementing the international business literature, which emphasizes strong ties to host-country business partners, we identify three signaling mechanisms that are more circuitous: bypass (host-country affiliations beyond the firm’s industry), allusion (global affiliations beyond the host country and industry, often celebrities), and aspiration (global industry affiliations). We also suggest that such diffuse status signaling mechanisms may be especially salient in emerging-market family firms investing in developed markets, which are accorded low status in many developed markets. These firms feature firm/owner identity overlaps, long leader tenures, and a tendency to build reputation through prosocial behavior, facilitating the activation of status signaling tactics through ephemeral affiliations with high-status actors situated in world society.

Structure-based engineering of Tor complexes reveals that two types of yeast TORC1 produce distinct phenotypes.

Certain proteins assemble into diverse complex states, each having a distinct and unique function in the cell. Target of rapamycin (Tor) complex 1 (TORC1) plays a central role in signalling pathways that allow cells to respond to the environment, including nutritional status signalling. TORC1 is widely recognised for its association with various diseases. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two types of TORC1, Tor1-containing TORC1 and Tor2-containing TORC1, which comprise different constituent proteins but are considered to have the same function. Here, we computationally modelled the relevant complex structures and then, based on the structures, rationally engineered a Tor2 mutant that could form Tor complex 2 (TORC2) but not TORC1, resulting in a redesign of the complex states. Functional analysis of the Tor2 mutant revealed that the two types of TORC1 induce different phenotypes, with changes observed in rapamycin, caffeine and pH dependencies of cell growth, as well as in replicative and chronological lifespan. These findings uncovered by a general approach with huge potential - model structure-based engineering - are expected to provide further insights into various fields such as molecular evolution and lifespan.

Status Signalling in the Indo-Pacific: Strategic Spinning, Military Posturing, and Vaccine Diplomacy

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a critical geopolitical platform. Can major powers and regional states avoid conflict? This article explores the concept of status signalling to better understand the region. Status signalling aims to demonstrate a state’s preferred ranking in international society. By applying this concept to new empirical domains, the article shows how status signalling offers fresh insights into regional trends. As an example of strategic spinning, the emergence of the Indo-Pacific reshapes strategic thinking and diplomatic practice in the 21st century. While countries may engage in military posturing to signal their preferred status, the rising competition in the region is not always a zero-sum game. Countries can signal status by providing international public goods in non-military domains. The United States and China need to find ways to handle the potential problem of status dilemmas. Meanwhile, all countries should prudently manage competing expectations from multiple audiences.

Manganese nutrient mitigates ammonia, arsenic toxicity and high temperature stress using gene regulation via NFkB mechanism in fish

The ongoing challenges of climate change and pollution are major factors disturbing ecosystems, including aquatic systems. They also have an impact on gene regulation and biochemical changes in aquatic animals, including fish. Understanding the mechanisms of gene regulation and biochemical changes due to climate change and pollution in aquatic animals is a challenging task. However, with this backdrop, the present investigation was conducted to explore the effects of arsenic (As) and ammonia (NH3) toxicity and high-temperature (T) stress on gene regulation and biochemical profiles, mitigated by dietary manganese (Mn) in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The fish were exposed to different combinations of As, NH3, and T, and fed with dietary Mn at 4, 8, and 12 mg kg−1 to evaluate the gene expression of immunity, antioxidative status, cytokine, and NfKB signaling pathway genes. HSP 70, cytochrome P450 (CYP 450), metallothionein (MT), DNA damage-inducible protein (DDIP), caspase (CAS), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), toll-like receptor (TLR), interleukin (IL), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were noticeably highly upregulated by As + NH3 + T stress, whereas Mn diet at 8 mg kg−1 downregulated these genes. Further, total immunoglobulin (Ig), myostatin (MYST), somatostatin (SMT), growth hormone (GH), growth hormone regulator 1 and β, insulin-like growth factors (IGF1X1 and IGF1X2) were significantly upregulated by Mn diets. The biochemical profiles were highly affected by stressors (As + NH3 + T). The bioaccumulation of arsenic in different tissues was also notably reduced by Mn diets. Furthermore, the infectivity of the fish was reduced, and survival against pathogenic bacteria was enhanced by Mn diet at 8 mg kg−1. The results of the present investigation revealed that dietary Mn at 8 mg kg−1 controls gene regulation against multiple stressors (As, NH3, As + NH3, NH3 + T, As + NH3 + T) in fish.

Loose and Tight: Creative Formation but Rigid Use of Nominal Compounds in Conspiracist Texts

ABSTRACTConspiracy theories (CTs) are spectacular narratives, widely spread, that pose societal threats. We test whether CTs might be linguistically creative products, which would facilitate their transmission and thereby account for their widespread popularity. We analyzed nominal compounds (e.g., mind control, carbon dioxide; N = 1,713,568) from a large corpus of conspiracist and mainstream texts matched by topic. In conspiracist texts, compounds showed greater originality, divergence, and sophistication, but they were used with lower frequency and were more often repeated in different contexts. This pattern suggests a creative aspect in the generation of compounds, coupled with rigidity in their use. We interpret these findings as an effect of loosely defined conceptual boundaries among conspiracist writers, in conjunction with social functions like status or group signaling. Our findings not only contribute to the discourse on creativity in CTs but also provide insights into the communicative advantage of CTs.

CDK6 as a Biomarker for Immunotherapy, Drug Sensitivity, and Prognosis in Bladder Cancer: Bioinformatics and Immunohistochemical Analysis.

Background: CDK6 is linked to tumor progression and metastasis, although its molecular mechanism and prognostic value are unclear in bladder cancer. Materials and methods: In our study, raw data were obtained from public databases and Single-center retrospective case series. We conducted a bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry to explore the biological landscape of CDK6 in tumors, with a particular focus on bladder cancer. We examined its expression characteristics and prognostic value and performed functional annotation analysis using gene function enrichment. We also assessed the association between bladder cancer molecular subtypes and mutation spectra and analyzed the landscape of the tumor immune microenvironment to predict treatment response sensitivity. Results: Our study found that CDK6 was a potential prognostic marker for bladder cancer. We discovered that bladder cancer patients with high CDK6 expression do not respond well to immunotherapy and have a poor prognosis. CDK6 regulates tumor immune status, metabolism, and cell cycle-related signaling pathways, thereby influencing tumor biological behavior. Furthermore, CDK6 mediated the suppression of the immune microenvironment to weaken anti-tumor immune responses. Finally, a comprehensive characterization of CDK6 was applied in the prognostic prediction of bladder cancer, suggesting that targeting CDK6 represents a potential therapeutic option. Conclusions: These results indicated that CDK6 is an independent biomarker for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of bladder cancer. A deeper understanding of its specific molecular mechanisms may provide new treatment strategies.

Young people on social media in a globalized world: self-optimization in highly competitive and achievement-oriented forms of life.

Research investigating young people's social media use has been criticized for its limited theoretical foundations and scope. This paper elaborates young people's social media activity from a socio-ecological evolutionary perspective (SEE), where young people's online exchanges cannot be divorced from the highly competitive and achievement-oriented modern market cultures in which they live. In highly competitive and achievement-oriented forms of life, young people's social media environments are often constituted as dynamic and evolving extrinsically oriented ecological niches that afford for status and identity enhancement while also affording for peer approval, belongingness, and self-worth nested within, and subordinate to, these higher-order affordances. The extrinsic value organization of social media platforms that serve young people's status and identity-enhancement are embodied by a community of mutually interdependent criteria that are evolutionary-based, developmentally salient, and market-driven: physical attractiveness, high (educational and extracurricular) achievements, and material success. Young people's online signaling of these interdependent extrinsic criteria affords for status-allocation and self-enhancement, where each criteria becomes an arena for social competition and identity formation, enabling young people to build personal and optimal models of social success congruent with their own interests and abilities. Young people's status and identity enhancing signaling of these extrinsic criteria is moving toward increasingly idealized or perfect embodiments, informed by accelerating, short-term positive feedback processes that benefit from the technological affordances and densely rewarding peer environments instantiated on social media.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate alters neurobehavioral responses and oxidative status, architecture, and GFAP and BDNF signaling in juvenile rat's brain: Protective role of Coenzyme10

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a phthalate plasticizer, is widely spread in the environment, presenting hazards to human health and food safety. Hence, this study examined the probable preventive role of coenzyme10 (CQ10) (10 mg/kg.b.wt) against DEHP (500 mg/kg.wt) - induced neurotoxic and neurobehavioral impacts in juvenile (34 ± 1.01g and 3 weeks old) male Sprague Dawley rats in 35-days oral dosing trial. The results indicated that CQ10 significantly protected against DEHP-induced memory impairment, anxiety, depression, spatial learning disorders, and repetitive/stereotypic-like behavior. Besides, the DEHP-induced depletion in dopamine and gamma amino butyric acid levels was significantly restored by CQ10. Moreover, CQ10 significantly protected against the exhaustion of CAT, GPx, SOD, GSH, and GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as the increase in malondialdehyde, Caspas-3, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha brain content accompanying with DEHP exposure. Furthermore, CQ10 significantly protected the brain from the DEHP-induced neurodegenerative alterations. Also, the increased immunoexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, not glial fibrillary acidic protein, in the cerebral, hippocampal, and cerebellar brain tissues due to DEHP exposure was alleviated with CQ10. This study's findings provide conclusive evidence that CQ10 has the potential to be used as an efficient natural protective agent against the neurobehavioral and neurotoxic consequences of DEHP.

Diet, Status, and incipient social Inequality: Stable isotope data from three complex Fisher-Hunter-Gatherer sites in southern California

How different were the lives of elites and commoners in early complex societies? This paper examines this question using data from three fisher-hunter-gatherer sites in southern California. Using shell bead counts from burials as proxies for social status and previously published human stable isotope values as indicators of dietary practices, we examine the relationship between diet and status across a period of major sociopolitical change. Our results found no significant relationships between the quantity of beads and stable isotope values, indicating that differential access to foods was not a significant way in which status was manifested in these communities. Instead, we suggest that activities including ownership of sea-going canoes, access to imported goods, and the provisioning of community feasts were likely venues for elite status signaling.

Use of Biostimulants to Alleviate Anoxic Stress in Waterlogged Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)—A Review

In Europe, the intensity and frequency of flooding events are expected to increase due to climate change, adding additional challenges to agricultural production and creating the need for new plant products and adaptation tools. Cabbage is one economically important vegetable that is likely to be affected by increased flooding in Europe. This review investigates the potential of biostimulant applications based on algae extracts, amino acids, microorganisms, and nano-CaCO3 to assist cabbage plants subjected to waterlogged conditions. The overall findings from the studies reviewed indicate that these biostimulants could aid plants suffering from anoxic stress due to waterlogging through their ability to improve nutrient availability and plant nutrient status, modulate phytohormones and phytohormone signalling, increase compatible solutes, and enhance the antioxidant system. The effect of biostimulants is influenced by multiple factors; therefore, field studies are required to determine the most valuable biostimulant combination and application dose, type, and timing for cabbage, as well as any economic benefits that could arise. More precise information would benefit food producers by providing them with additional adaptation tools to use in a changing climate as well as natural products that are compatible with the agriculture sector’s transition to more sustainable and ecological management.

Byakangelicol suppresses TiPs-stimulated osteoclastogenesis and bone destruction via COX-2/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Aseptic loosening (AL) is considered a significant cause of prosthesis revision after arthroplasty and a crucial factor in the longevity of an artificial joint prosthesis. The development of AL is primarily attributed to a series of biological reactions, such as peri-prosthetic osteolysis (PPO) induced by wear particles around the prosthesis. Chronic inflammation of the peri-prosthetic border tissue and hyperactivation of osteoclasts are key factors in this process, which are induced by metallic wear particles like Ti particles (TiPs). In our in vitro study, we observed that TiPs significantly enhanced the expression of inflammation-related genes, including COX-2, IL-1β and IL-6. Through screening a traditional Chinese medicine database, we identified byakangelicol, a traditional Chinese medicine molecule that targets COX-2. Our results demonstrated that byakangelicol effectively inhibited TiPs-stimulated osteoclast activation. Mechanistically, we found that byakangelicol suppressed the expression of COX-2 and related pro-inflammatory factors by modulating macrophage polarization status and NF-κB signaling pathway. The in vivo results also demonstrated that byakangelicol effectively inhibited the expression of inflammation-related factors, thereby significantly alleviating TiPs-induced cranial osteolysis. These findings suggested that byakangelicol could potentially be a promising therapeutic approach for preventing PPO.

The personal is professional: exploring romantic relationship within the socioecology of an athlete brand

ABSTRACT Research Question Human brands are embedded in a web of social relationships, and examining athlete brand dynamics holistically requires accounting for the different layers of social embeddedness. However, prior research has focused on stakeholder interactions and brand spillover effects, omitting consumers’ views of athlete brands concerning interpersonal relationships in private life. We address this gap by applying a social ecology paradigm and examining how consumers perceive an athlete’s brand with attention to their personal life and romantic relationships. Research Methods We conducted an embedded case study focusing on National Football League quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Matthews, his then-fiancée (now wife), and thematically analysed 5,115 user comments in response to three Facebook posts featuring the couple by ESPN. Results and Findings Complex and polarised discourses were uncovered, reaffirming or questioning the relationship’s authenticity. Evaluations of the athlete were integrated with issues of gender, status, and race, whereas his romantic partner was positioned as an asset for status signalling, informing the athlete's brand image. Implications The work reveals how evaluations of interpersonal relationships, such as romantic relationships, serve as observable cues informing the meaning of an athlete’s brand. We uncover how the interpretations of the romantic partner and relationship are interlinked with societal structures, celebrity, and sport community norms. Thus, we demonstrate how the social and industry influences on a human brand that are situated within different socioecological systems must be explored in concert rather than in isolation.

Diplomatic Gender Patterns and Symbolic Status Signaling: Introducing the GenDip Dataset on Gender and Diplomatic Representation

Abstract This research note introduces a new dyadic dataset on gender and diplomatic representation and shows its potential to address questions about international status, gender patterns in international politics, and more. The GenDip dataset includes the names and gender classification of all bilateral ambassadors heading embassies 1968–2019 (74,549), structured as dyad/decade for 1968–1998 and dyad/lustrum for 1998–2019. Cross-fertilizing the quantitative study of status with qualitative studies on women's symbolic meaning for the status of states, we illustrate the utility of this data by showing that the gender of ambassadors is implicated in status hierarchies among states. For instance, states with a reputation as strongly patriarchal are more likely than others to post their female ambassadors to states with an international gender equality profile, for status and to signal policy alignment. We also show that shares of female ambassadors vary considerably among sending states, in unexpected ways, identifying the need for more research explaining why. This dataset enables new, crucial questions to be asked of international relations, mapping gender changes in diplomacy over time and place and explaining their causes and effects.