bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid Kinetic Fingerprinting of Single Nucleic Acid Molecules by a FRET-based Dynamic Nanosensor
Authors: Khanna Kunal , Mandal Shankar , Blanchard Aaron T. , Tewari Muneesh , Johnson-Buck Alexander , Walter Nils G. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTBiofluids contain cell-free nucleic acids such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and circulating tumor-derived DNAs (ctDNAs) that have emerged as promising disease biomarkers. Conventional detection of these biomarkers by digital PCR and next generation sequencing, although highly sensitive, requires time-consuming extraction and amplification steps that increase the risk of sample loss and cross-contamination, respectively. To achieve the direct, rapid detection of miRNAs and ctDNAs with near-perfect specificity and single-molecule level sensitivity, we herein describe an accelerated amplification-free single-molecule kinetic fingerprinting. This approach, termed intramolecular single-molecule recognition through equilibrium Poisson sampling (iSiMREPS), exploits a dynamic DNA nanosensor comprising a surface anchor and a pair of fluorescent detection probes: one probe captures individual target molecules onto the surface, while the other transiently interrogates them to generate kinetic fingerprints by intramolecular single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET). Formamide is used to further accelerate the kinetics of probe-target interactions and fingerprinting, while background signals are reduced by removing non-target-bound probes from the surface using toehold-mediated strand displacement. We show that iSiMREPS can detect in as little as 10 seconds two distinct, promising cancer biomarkers—miR-141 and a commonEGFRexon 19 deletion—reaching a limit of detection (LOD) of ~3 fM and a mutant allele fraction among excess wild-type as low as 1 in 1 million, or 0.0001%. We anticipate that iSiMREPS will find utility in research and clinical diagnostics based on its features of rapid detection, high specificity, sensitivity, and generalizability.
Constrained G4 structures unveil topology specificity of known and new G4 binding proteins
Authors: Pipier A. , Devaux A. , Lavergne T. , Adrait A. , Couté Y. , Britton S. , Calsou P. , Riou J.F. , Defrancq E. , Gomez D. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractG-quadruplexes (G4) are non-canonical secondary structures consisting in stacked tetrads of hydrogen-bonded guanines bases. An essential feature of G4 is their intrinsic polymorphic nature, which is characterized by the equilibrium between several conformations (also called topologies) and the presence of different types of loops with variable lengths. In cells, G4 functions rely on protein or enzymatic factors that recognize and promote or resolve these structures. In order to characterize new G4-dependent mechanisms, extensive researches aimed at identifying new G4 binding proteins. Using G-rich single-stranded oligonucleotides that adopt non-controlled G4 conformations, a large number of G4-binding proteins have been identifiedin vitro, but their specificity towards G4 topology remained unknown.Constrained G4 structures are biomolecular objects based on the use of a rigid cyclic peptide scaffold as a template for directing the intramolecular assembly of the anchored oligonucleotides into a single and stabilized G4 topology. Here, using various constrained RNA or DNA G4 as baits in human cell extracts, we establish the topology preference of several well-known G4-interacting factors. Moreover, we identify new G4-interacting proteins such as the NELF complex involved in the RNA-Pol II pausing mechanism, and we show that it impacts the clastogenic effect of the G4-ligand pyridostatin.
Using AI predicted personality to enhance advertising effectiveness
Authors: Shumanov Michael , Cooper Holly , Ewing Mike 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is twofold: first to demonstrate the application of an algorithm using contextual data to ascertain consumer personality traits; and second to explore the factors impacting the relationship between personality traits and advertisement persuasiveness.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach that comprises two distinct yet complementary studies. The first uses quantitative methods and is based on a sample of 35,264 retail banking customers. Study 2 explores the findings that emerge from Study 1 using qualitative methods.FindingsThis paper finds that matching consumer personality with congruent advertising messages can lead to more effective consumer persuasion for most personality types. For consumers who exhibit neurotic personality traits, ameliorating perceived risks during purchasing and providing cues for social acceptance and goal attainment are important factors for advertising effectiveness. These factors also had a positive impact on the purchasing behaviour of extroverted consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThis research focusses on understanding purchasing behaviour based on the most dominant personality trait. However, people are likely to exhibit a combination of most or even all of the Big Five personality traits.Practical implicationsBuilding on advances in natural language processing, enabling the identification of personality from language, this study demonstrates the possibility of influencing consumer behaviour by matching machine inferred personality to congruent persuasive advertising. It is one of the few studies to use contextual instead of social media data to capture individual personality. Such data serves to capture an authentic rather than contrived persona. Further, the study identifies the factors that may moderate this relationship and thereby provides an explanation of why some personality traits exhibit differences in purchasing behaviour from those that are anticipated by existing theory.Originality/valueAlthough the idea that people are more likely to be responsive to advertising messages that are congruent with their personality type has already been successfully applied by advertising practitioners and documented by advertising scholars, this study extends existing research by identifying the factors that may moderate this relationship and thereby provides an explanation why some personality traits may exhibit differences in purchasing behaviour from those that are anticipated by existing theory.
Forming digital identities in social networks: the role of privacy concerns and self-esteem
Authors: Papaioannou Thanos , Tsohou Aggeliki , Karyda Maria 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to identify the data elements that social network sites (SNS) users consider important for shaping their digital identity and explore how users’ privacy concerns, self-esteem and the chosen SNS shape this process.

Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted an online survey with the participation of 759 individuals, to examine the influence of privacy concerns, self-esteem and the chosen SNS platform, on the shaping of the digital identity, through a classification of identity elements that users disclose when using a SNS, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and relevant constructs from the literature.

Findings
Findings reveal that users consider the name, gender, picture, interests and job as most important elements for shaping their digital identity. They also demonstrate that privacy concerns do not seem to affect the amount of information users choose to publish when shaping their digital identity. Specific characteristics of SNS platforms are found to affect the way that users shape their digital identity and their privacy behavior. Finally, self-esteem was found to affect privacy concerns and digital identity formation.

Research limitations/implications
To avoid a lengthy questionnaire and the risk of low participation, the respondents answered the questions for one SNS of their choice instead of answering the full questionnaire for each SNS that they use. The survey included the most popular SNSs at the time of the survey in terms of popularity.

Practical implications
The results contribute to the theory by furthering our knowledge on the elements that shape digital identity and by providing evidence with regard to the role of privacy and self-esteem within social networking. In practice, they can be useful for SNS providers, as well as for entities that design security and privacy awareness campaigns.

Originality/value
This paper identifies novel factors that influence digital identity formation, including the specific SNS used with its particular characteristics in combination with privacy concerns and self-esteem of the user.
Collective information security behaviour: a technology-driven framework
Authors: Snyman Dirk P. , Kruger Hennie 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to present the development of a framework for evaluating group behaviour in information security in practice.

Design/methodology/approach
Information security behavioural threshold analysis is used as the theoretical foundation for the proposed framework. The suitability of the proposed framework is evaluated based on two sets of qualitative measures (general frameworks and information security frameworks) which were identified from literature. The successful evaluation of the proposed framework, guided by the identified evaluation measures, is presented in terms of positive practical applications, as well as positive peer review and publication of the underlying theory.

Findings
A methodology to formalise a framework to analyse group behaviour in information security can successfully be applied in a practical environment. This application takes the framework from only a theoretical conceptualisation to an implementable solution to evaluate and positively influence information security group behaviour.

Practical implications
Behavioural threshold analysis is identified as a practical mechanism to evaluate information security group behaviour. The suggested framework, as implemented in a management decision support system (DSS), allows practitioners to assess the security behaviour and awareness in their organisation. The resulting information can be used to exert an influence for positive change in the information security of the organisation.

Originality/value
A novel conceptual mapping of two sets of qualitative evaluation measures is presented and used to evaluate the proposed framework. The resulting framework is made practical through its encapsulation in a DSS.
Evaluating the profit efficiency of bioenergy industry and its determinants in EU28 region
Authors: Zubair A.O. , Alsaleh Mohd , Abdul-Rahim Abdul Samad 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the profit efficiency of bioenergy industry and its determinants in EU28 region roadmaps for the transition towards energy efficiency which is increasingly perceived by stakeholders, researchers and the public as a pathway to bring dependency on fossil resources to a significant reduction. Many studies overlooked the importance of profit efficiency as a factor for bioenergy industry business improvement. More so, external environmental variables can play a key role in achieving profit efficiency in the industry.Design/methodology/approachThis paper seeks to answer the questions on the following: (1) the profit efficiency level using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach in the EU28 region during the period between 1990 and 2018; and (2) to explore the impacts of external environmental variables on the profit efficiency level using panel regression model in the EU28 region during the period between 1990 and 2018.FindingsResults revealed that gross domestic product, size of biomass and investment are essential for the development of the bioenergy industry and positively influence on profit efficiency level. The increase in temperature change decreased the profit efficiency level during 1990–2018.Research limitations/implicationsFor those profit-inefficient bioenergy industries in countries such as Cyprus and Ireland, participation in innovative programs, expanding a knowledge-based economic system and implementation of support policy for bioenergy technologies, by investing in biomass sources that are suitable for their respective renewable energy development will enhance specialization, resource efficiency and improved profitability can be expected in future.Originality/valueUnlike other previous studies, this study investigated the profit efficiency by applying the DEA statistical method. Moreover, the authors have applied a second regression analysis to estimate the impacts of macroeconomic and microeconomic variables on the profit efficiency level. This study has focused on the EU28 region, including both developed and developing countries, to compare the level of profit efficiency levels in the selected sample. The authors have applied data panel analysis for the period from 1990 to 2018. No previous study has applied the methods, samples and periods as those used in this study. Therefore, this study contributes significantly to the bioenergy industry specifically and the renewable energy industry in general and to the associated extant research.
Digital transformation in West Africa: a two country, two-sector analysis
Authors: Madichie Nnamdi O. , Bolat Elvira , Taura Nasiru 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore opportunities and challenges of accelerating digital entrepreneurship development in key economic growth sectors in West Africa.

Design/methodology/approach
The study uses case illustrations from the media and agriculture sectors to highlight some of the opportunities and challenges that have shaped current business practices in this digital space in West Africa.

Findings
Technological infrastructure featured as one of the main challenges for fostering success in the media-tech cases and perhaps linked to the low internet penetration rates. Likewise, infrastructure proved to be a challenge in the agri-tech sector cases.

Originality/value
This study highlights the importance of partnerships within the entrepreneurship ecosystems as a critical condition for ensuring positive benefits for all stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem taken from the lens of West Africa.
The resilience and realignment of house prices in the era of Covid-19*
Authors: Duca John V. , Hoesli Martin , Montezuma Joaquim 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
The study aims to analyze the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on house prices.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors start by discussing the possibility that house price indexes may not fully incorporate the effects of the pandemic as of yet. Against the background of the pandemic, the authors then analyze economic and behavioral effects affecting house prices. The authors also discuss how the linkages between tourism and house prices have been affected. The authors further present evidence of an emerging shift in preferences from urban locations to more peripheral ones.

Findings
The authors report variance in the evolution of house prices across countries at the onset of the pandemic, with locations depending heavily on tourism showing slower price appreciation while appreciation has firmed in other places. The authors argue that the resilience of house prices is not only because of the low-interest rate environment and government efforts to support firms and households, but also behavioral factors. In some locations, the price of condominiums has declined relative to the price of detached houses. This could indicate that wealthier households are seeking more space and larger units as a result of the crisis. There is also evidence of a downward pressure on rents, leading to increased price–rent ratios in the USA.

Originality/value
By considering both economic and behavioral factors, this paper provides for a better understanding of the resilience and realignment of house prices at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The growing Russian role in sub-Saharan Africa: interests, opportunities and limitations
Authors: Elbassoussy Ahmed 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify various Russian manifestations on expanding its role in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as shed light on the major obstacles it may face.

Design/methodology/approach
The research paper uses the “national role theory” to analyze the factors that helped in the growing Russian role in sub-Saharan African countries. It assumes that every state seeks to play a particular role, and that role is reflected in its foreign policy, which is known as “role performance,” and this role originates from several sources. On the other hand, this role faces various obstacles, mostly from the external environment, especially the international system’s structure, global values and international obligations, known as “role prescriptions.”

Findings
Despite Russia’s ability to use all its capacities in expanding its role in the African continent, the degree of its influence varied from one field to another. While it was very influential in the military, security, political, diplomatic and technical fields, it is relatively less in the economic and counter-terrorism areas.

Research limitations/implications
This study paves the way for further researches related to international competition over sub-Saharan Africa, whether economically, militarily or politically, in addition to other studies related to potential cooperation opportunities, especially in security and combating terrorism.

Originality/value
This research’s significance stems from using the existing theoretical structure represented in national role theory in analyzing the Russian orientation toward sub-Saharan Africa, giving more attention to the latest developments in Russian strategy, as well as clarifying the major obstacles that may hinder its activities.
Corporate sustainability assessment based on rough-grey set theory
Authors: Karimi Tooraj , Hojati Arvin 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design an inference engine to measure the level of readiness of each bank before starting the corporate sustainability auditing process. Based on the output of the designed inference engine, the audition team can decide about the audition resources and the auditing process.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the hybrid rough and grey set theory are used to design and create a rule model system to measure the sustainability level of banks. First, 16 rule models are extracted using rough set theory (RST), and the cross-validation of each model is done. Then, the grey clustering is used to combine the same condition attributes and improve the validity of the final model. A total of 16 new rule models are extracted based on the decreased condition attributes, and the best model is selected based on the cross-validation results.

Findings
By comparing the accuracy of rough-gray’s rule models and as a result of decreasing the condition attributes, a proper increase in the accuracy of all models is obtained. Finally, the Naive/Genetic/object-related reducts model with 95.6% accuracy is selected as an inference engine to measure new banks’ readiness level.

Originality/value
Sustainability measurement of banks based on RST is a new approach in the field of corporate sustainability. Furthermore, using the grey clustering for combining the condition attributes is a novel solution for improving the accuracy of the rule models.
Sustainable optimal ordering quantity for non-instantaneous deteriorating items under joint replenishment with substitution and carbon emission
Authors: Singh Ranu , Mishra Vinod Kumar 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
Carbon emission is a significant issue for the current business market and global warming. Nowadays, most countries have focused to reduce the environmental impact of business with durable financial benefits. The purpose of this study is to optimize the entire cost functions with carbon emission and to find the sustainable optimal ordering quantity for retailers.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper illustrates a sustainable inventory model having a set of two non-instantaneous substitutable deteriorating items under joint replenishment with carbon emission. In this model demand and deterioration rate are considered as deterministic, constant and triangular fuzzy numbers. The objective is to find the optimal ordering quantity for retailers and to minimize the total cost function per unit time with carbon emission. The model is then solved with the help of Maple software.

Findings
This paper presents a solution method and also develop an algorithm to determine the order quantities which optimize the total cost function. A numerical experiment illustrates the improvement in optimal total cost of the inventory model with substitution over without substitution. The graphical results show the convexity of the cost function. Finally, sensitivity analysis is given to get the impact of parameters and validity of the model.

Originality/value
This study considers a set of two non-instantaneous substitutable deteriorating items under joint replenishment with carbon emission. From the literature review, in the authors’ knowledge no researcher has undergone this kind of study.
Discerning citation patterns in dominant BME literature streams: lessons for BME scholars
Authors: Arbaugh J. Ben , Hwang Alvin , McNally Jeffrey J. , Fornaciari Charles J. , Burke-Smalley Lisa A. 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to compare the nature of three different business and management education (BME) research streams (online/blended learning, entrepreneurship education and experiential learning), along with their citation sources to draw insights on their support and legitimacy bases, with lessons on improving such support and legitimacy for the streams and the wider BME research field.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze the nature of three BME research streams and their citation sources through tests of differences across streams.

Findings
The three streams differ in research foci and approaches such as the use of managerial samples in experiential learning, quantitative studies in online/blended education and literature reviews in entrepreneurship education. They also differ in sources of legitimacy recognition and avenues for mobilization of support. The underlying literature development pattern of the experiential learning stream indicates a need for BME scholars to identify and build on each other’s work.

Research limitations/implications
Identification of different research bases and key supporting literature in the different streams shows important core articles that are useful to build research in each stream.

Practical implications
Readers will understand the different research bases supporting the three research streams, along with their targeted audience and practice implications.

Social implications
The discovery of different support bases for the three different streams helps identify the network of authors and relationships that have been built in each stream.

Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to uncover differences in nature and citation sources of the three continuously growing BME research streams with recommendations on ways to improve the support of the three streams.