bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Machine learning approach to assess the pathogenicity of BRCA1/2 genetic variants : brca-NOVUS
Authors: Vatsyayan Aastha , Scaria Vinod 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTBreast cancer is globally the leading type of cancer in terms of both incidence and mortality. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants have long been linked to and studied in context of the disease. Rapid variant discovery has further been made freely accessible by advances in Next-generation sequencing, making it a demanding task to accurately interpret these variants for clinical and research applications. To establish the nature of these variants, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association of Molecular Pathologists (ACMG-AMP) have issued a set of guidelines for variant classification. However, given the huge number of variants associated with the two large and well-studied genes, functional studies or ACMG-AMP classification is a mountainous challenge. Here we describe brca-NOVUS, a machine learning approach trained on a gold-standard ACMG-qualified dataset for the accurate interpretation of variants at large scale. Using two independent test and validation datasets of ACMG-qualified variants, we show that brca-NOVUS can be used to for the classification of variants in clinical as well as research settings.
Understanding the prevalence of germline oncogenic biomarker variants across the Indian population
Authors: Vatsyayan Aastha , Scaria Vinod 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundGermline variants have traditionally been used for determining carrier status in heritable cancer families. However, studies are increasingly finding use of germline variants as therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers used to guide therapy decisions in cancer treatment.ObjectivesTo study the prevalence of mutation specific oncogenic biomarkers in the Indian population and analyze their presence across disease cohortsMaterials and MethodsWe annotate the IndiGen data obtained from whole genome sequencing of 1029 self-declared healthy Indian individuals with biomarker information obtained from the OncoKB knowledgebase, a repository of evidence-based information about somatic biomarkers and structural alterations in patient tumors.ResultsIn our study we have discovered 34 biomarker variants of therapeutic actionability across 16 genes linked with 23 unique drugs or drug combinations in 23 unique types of cancer disease in the Indian population. In all, we have found 52 biomarker variants with 172 different biomarker types including therapeutic, resistance, diagnostic, and prognostic. We establish that 4.3% of the Indian population are carriers of therapeutic, and 2.13% are carriers of both diagnostic as well as prognostic germline biomarkers. Finally, we also establish the prevalence of 42 biomarker variants across the 23 genes in both AD and AR modes of inheritance in the Indian population.
Mapping axon diameters and conduction velocity in the rat brain – different methods tell different stories of the structure-function relationship
Authors: Skoven Christian S. , Andersson Mariam , Pizzolato Marco , Siebner Hartwig R. , Dyrby Tim B. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe structure-function relationship of nerve fibers describes an empirically determined linear relationship between axon diameter, myelin thickness (i.e., g-ratio), and conduction velocity. We investigated the structure-function relationship with different modalities in axons projecting through the corpus callosum of the rodent brain. We measured transcallosal conduction times using optogenetically evoked local field potentials (LFP) and estimated conduction velocity after measuring the callosal length with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) based tractography. Tractography followed the same projection as the fluorescently labeled axons in the corpus callosum. In the same animal, axon diameters were quantified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dMRI. Axon distributions of TEM indicated a bimodal population, where the larger axons shrink more than the smaller ones, when comparing the modes with cryo-TEM. When applying shrinkage-correction to axon diameters from TEM of dehydrated tissue, they were better aligned with estimates from dMRI obtained in the same animal. Measured LFPs predicted axon diameters that agree with the primary mode of the axon distribution, whereas the large axons estimated by dMRI predicted latencies too short to be measured by LFPs. Different modalities show different degrees of variations, being low between animals, suggesting that the variation is methodologically dominated - not anatomically. Our results show that modalities have different sensitivity profiles to the whole axon diameter distribution. Therefore, caution must be taken when interpreting a method’s prediction of a metric, as it may not represent the full but only a sub-part of the structure-function relationship of an axonal projection.Significance StatementWe acquire both functional and structural metrics, namely conduction velocity, pathway length, axon diameter, and g-ratio in the same cohort of animals. The transcallosal conduction time was obtained from electrophysiological measurements after contralateral optogenetic stimulation in the rat motor cortex. Cryo-fixation of the tissue reveals different shrinkages for different sub-populations in the diameter distribution. Measured latencies correspond to the small axonal subpopulation with diameters extending up to the mode of the distribution obtained with electron microscopy. Diffusion-MRI primarily appears sensitive to the larger axons, obtained with histology, after correcting for diameter weighting and shrinkage. Different modalities can have very different sensitivities to the structure-function relationship of an axonal projection which must be accounted for in the interpretation.
Priming using Human and Chimpanzee Expressions of Emotion Biases Attention toward Positive Emotions
Authors: Matsulevits Anna , Kret Mariska E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPerceiving and correctly interpreting emotional expressions is one of the most important abilities for social animals’ communication. It determines the majority of social interactions, group dynamics, and cooperation, being highly relevant for an individual’s survival. Core mechanisms of this ability have been hypothesized to be shared across closely related species with phylogenetic similarities. Here, we explored homologies in human processing of different species’ facial expressions using eye-tracking. Introducing a prime-target paradigm, we tested the influences on human attention elicited by priming with differently valenced emotional stimuli depicting human and chimpanzee faces. We demonstrated an attention shift towards the conspecific (human) target picture that was congruent with the valence depicted in the primer picture. We did not find this effect with heterospecific (chimpanzee) primers and ruled out that this was due to participants interpreting them incorrectly. Implications about the involvement of related emotion-processing mechanisms for human and chimpanzee facial expressions, are discussed. Systematic cross-species-investigations of emotional expressions are needed to unravel how emotion representation mechanisms can extend to process other species’ faces. Through such studies, we address the gap of a shared evolutionary ancestry between humans and other animals to ultimately answer the question of“Where do emotions come from?”.
“Empowering leadership ripple effect: improving employee engagement, performance and knowledge sharing through relational energy and autonomy”
Authors: Burhan Qurat-ul-Ain , Khan Muhammad Asif 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The present study aims to elucidate the mediating role of relational energy between empowering leadership and its attitudinal (employee engagement), behavioral (knowledge sharing) and performance (task) related outcomes, respectively, and the moderating role of autonomy between empowering leadership and relational energy, using the social cognitive theory.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used surveys in the small and medium-sized enterprises sector and collected time-lagged data to address common method variance and reveal causal relationships. AMOS was used to conduct hypothesis testing.

Findings
The results suggest that empowering leaders have a positive impact on outcomes such as employee engagement, knowledge sharing and task performance, and this impact is mediated by relational energy. Autonomy moderates the empowering leaders and relational energy relationship, strengthening it when autonomy is high.

Practical implications
Organizations should focus on leadership development programs depending on the need. Empowering leadership should be promoted to get positive attitudinal and behavioral outcomes in terms of employees. Empowering the employee in terms of decision-making helps motivate employees to perform better.

Originality/value
The study contributes to the empowering leadership literature by associating social cognitive theory. Empowering leaders has the potential to increase employee engagement, knowledge sharing and task performance.
LIKO-S: is green the new grey?
Authors: Zima Filip , Srivastava Mohit , Tyll Ladislav 
Published: October 2023

Learning outcomes
After reading and analyzing the case study, the students would be able to identify the main stakeholders and decision-makers and their importance and influence on the environment for a product, evaluate the value chain of the product and critical decision-makers, evaluate the various ways to avoid falling into the trap of greenwashing and examine the marketing strategy to market an environmentally friendly product.

Case overview/synopsis
LIKO-S is a Czech manufacturing and construction company. The company has been designing and creating intelligent solutions, such as green facades or vertical greenery systems, to save energy in building heating and cooling systems. The company launched green facades in the Czech market. However, the main obstacle was the need for supporting data to showcase the positive environmental impact of green facades. Under these circumstances, Libor Musil’s main objective was to overcome prevalent misconceptions about green facades and find a suitable market segment. The situation worried the company, as LIKO-S had heavily invested in developing and marketing the green walls. The management had to tackle this challenge as soon as possible to recover the substantial research and development and marketing investments. Furthermore, owing to lack of information, even genuinely sustainable products were seen as greenwashing. In addition, bad or wrong customer perceptions of these walls might spill over to other products, tarnishing the company’s image and threatening its survival in the domestic market. Under these circumstances, competitors might enter the Czech market, jeopardizing the company’s overall profits. Consequently, Libor was in a great dilemma about managing the financial and reputational risk of the company. Should Libor close the green walls unit, explore different markets/uses or help increase awareness among the general population about green walls by finding a suitable marketing strategy?

Complexity academic level
The case study was designed for graduate-level students in the strategic management (CSR and innovation module) courses. However, the case could also be an excellent addition to marketing courses dealing with customers’ perceptions of innovative products and strategies to improve the adoption of the product.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship
Consumer engagement with restaurant brands on Instagram: the mediating role of consumer-related factors
Authors: Rasty Fereshte , Filieri Raffaele 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
Consumers’ digital engagement can bring various benefits to both brands and consumers. Besides, few studies investigated the outcomes of engagement with restaurant brands on Instagram. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of consumer engagement (CE) with restaurant brands on consumer-related factors (namely, consumer’s brand knowledge, perceived enjoyment and consumer social interaction) and brand-related factors (namely, e-WOM and brand reputation), as well as the mediating role of consumer-related factors.

Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of 394 Instagram followers of restaurant/coffee shop brands, and covariance-based structural equation modeling and bootstrapping were used to assess the hypothesized relationships.

Findings
The results show that CE with restaurant brands on Instagram enhances brand-related outcomes as well as consumer-related outcomes. Moreover, consumer-related factors partially mediate these relationships.

Practical implications
The findings of this study provide insights for restaurant managers and digital marketers to stimulate consumer-brand engagement.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first that examines the effect of CE with restaurant brands on consumer- and brand-related outcomes on Instagram. The context of the study is Iran, which adds to the literature on CE that mainly focuses on developed countries.
How much conflict is too much? How frequent task conflict expressions affect angels’ reinvestment intention
Authors: Tetteh Alexander (Degreat) Narh , Weng Qingxiong (Derek) , Sungu Lincoln Jisuvei , Adams Magdalene Zeinab Akosua 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study is to understand the levels (i.e. mild vs intense) of task conflict (TC) expressions between angel investors and entrepreneurs at the post-investment stage and how it affect angel investors’ follow-on investment intentions with the same entrepreneur.

Design/methodology/approach
Survey data was gathered from 71 angel investors in China. Mplus was used to test the proposed research model.

Findings
This study found that angels perceive affective conflict (AC) when engaged in intense TC, unlike the case for mild TC expressions. Furthermore, the analysis shows that, unlike mild TC expressions, intense TC expressions impede angels’ reinvestment intentions when they perceive ACs. Other results indicate that when angels perceive that entrepreneurs are not open to coaching, the prominence of mild TC expression is sharply mitigated and becomes as detrimental as intense TC expressions.

Research limitations/implications
This study only focused on one specific aspect of the angel–entrepreneur post-investment relationship: The effect of their TC expressions on angels’ reinvestment intentions. By no means do the authors imply that TC expression in the angel–entrepreneur post-investment relationship is the only factor that matters to angel investors in their follow-on investment intentions with the same entrepreneur.

Practical implications
The findings suggest that entrepreneurs should pay careful attention to TC that may arise between them and their financiers. TCs are not entirely detrimental, but their negative effect might depend on how they are expressed. An appropriate level of TC may also improve enterprise performance and collaboration. Thus, angels and entrepreneurs should set clear goals and performance standards, where task interactions mainly focus on the goals and expected outcomes.

Originality/value
Prior to this study, little was known about whether all TCs potentially lead to ACs. By distinguishing between levels (i.e. mild vs intense) of TC expressions between angels and entrepreneurs, this study adds a novel aspect to it by showing that TC, in and of itself, does not necessarily lead to AC but can lead to AC once its intensity grows.
Blockchain adoption and strategic contracting in a green supply chain considering market segmentation
Authors: Xu Wentao , Yan Wei , Song Bo , He Junliang 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the influence of consumer preferences for overseas green products and the implementation of blockchain technology on the performance of a supply chain, which comprises an overseas manufacturer and a domestic e-commerce platform. This research endeavors to identify the optimal pricing decisions and strategies for both the manufacturer and the platform in the context of the expanding e-commerce and globalization of the economy.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose and analyze four distinct models based on the selection of selling contracts by the manufacturer and the adoption strategy of blockchain by the platform, using game theory to obtain the optimal solutions for these models.FindingsThe authors show that consumer migration promotes the manufacturer's green inputs, while the expansion of green consumer proportion is not conducive to it. They also show that blockchain technology has the potential to effectively limit manufacturer cannibalization. Interestingly, the study reveals a cascading effect of advantage where the manufacturer's profit variation trend changes only with the integration of pricing power advantage and blockchain technology inputs. This effect suggests that the equilibrium strategy is achievable under the agency contract with blockchain adoption, while Pareto improvement can be obtained with blockchain technology under both selling contracts.Research limitations/implicationsThis research could be extended in several possible directions. First, future work could explore outsourcing strategies for overseas manufacturers. Second, more types of consumer heterogeneity and different risk preferences could be considered. Third, this study can be extended by further exploring the design of mechanisms under asymmetric demand information to make the model more realistic.Originality/valueThe authors examine the impact of market segmentation and consumer preferences on green supply chain decisions, and analyze supply chain members' strategic choices for selling contracts and blockchain adoptions. The research also sheds light on the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of green supply chain development and blockchain applications.
Consumer response to podcast advertising: the interactive role of persuasion knowledge and parasocial relationships
Authors: Brinson Nancy H. , Lemon Laura L. , Bender Coral , Graham Annika Fetzer 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine whether consumers are able to critically evaluate promotional content presented by a podcast host with whom they have a parasocial relationship, and how this interaction impacts the listeners’ behavioral intentions toward the advertised brand.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a blended theoretical foundation of Persuasion Knowledge Model and Parasocial Interaction theory, this between subjects’ experimental study examined the effects of a traditional advertisement versus a host-read promotional message for the same brand in a highly rated podcast among listeners who reported varying levels of a parasocial relationship (PSR) with the host.

Findings
Results from a moderated mediation analysis suggest that a PSR with the podcast host decreased evaluative persuasion knowledge about the promotional message presented, which indirectly enhanced respondents’ intention to seek more information about the promoted brand.

Originality/value
This study extends the limited research examining the effects of promotional messaging delivered by podcast hosts with whom audiences have a PSR, and how this interaction impacts the listeners’ behavioral intentions. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for podcast marketers are also discussed.
A primer on using Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate marksmanship
Authors: Biggs Adam , Hamilton Joseph 
Published: October 2023

PurposeEvaluating warfighter lethality is a critical aspect of military performance. Raw metrics such as marksmanship speed and accuracy can provide some insight, yet interpreting subtle differences can be challenging. For example, is a speed difference of 300 milliseconds more important than a 10% accuracy difference on the same drill? Marksmanship evaluations must have objective methods to differentiate between critical factors while maintaining a holistic view of human performance.Design/methodology/approachMonte Carlo simulations are one method to circumvent speed/accuracy trade-offs within marksmanship evaluations. They can accommodate both speed and accuracy implications simultaneously without needing to hold one constant for the sake of the other. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations can incorporate variability as a key element of performance. This approach thus allows analysts to determine consistency of performance expectations when projecting future outcomes.FindingsThe review divides outcomes into both theoretical overview and practical implication sections. Each aspect of the Monte Carlo simulation can be addressed separately, reviewed and then incorporated as a potential component of small arms combat modeling. This application allows for new human performance practitioners to more quickly adopt the method for different applications.Originality/valuePerformance implications are often presented as inferential statistics. By using the Monte Carlo simulations, practitioners can present outcomes in terms of lethality. This method should help convey the impact of any marksmanship evaluation to senior leadership better than current inferential statistics, such as effect size measures.
Phenological overlap between crop and pollinators: Contrasting influence of native and non‐native bees on raspberry fruits over the flowering season
Authors: Sáez Agustín , Garibaldi Lucas A. , Aizen Marcelo A. , Morales Carolina L. , Traveset Anna , de Groot Grecia S. , Schmucki Reto 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Phenological overlap between crop flowering and pollinators is a crucial trait for the pollination of more than 75% of the world's crops. However, crop management rarely considers the seasonal aspect of plant–pollinator mutualism. Here, we investigate the phenological overlap between crops and pollinators and how it affects pollination and fruit production.

We measured the abundance and richness of native and non‐native pollinators visiting raspberry flowers at two different times during the flowering season (i.e. early and late flowering periods) and examined their effects on crop yield in 16 fields.

The community of pollinators foraging on raspberry flowers was more diverse and dominated by native pollinators during the early flowering period when most native plant species were flowering. Later in the season, when native flower resources declined in the surrounding environment, raspberry flowers were visited mainly by two non‐native bees: managed honeybees and the invasive bumblebee Bombus terrestris.

Pollinator contribution to raspberry yield was twice as high in the early flowering period compared to the late period (61% vs. 31% increase in drupelet set respectively). Flower damage caused by extremely high visitation frequencies by non‐native bees in the late period was six times higher than in the early flowering period (30% vs. 5% of damaged flowers respectively).

Synthesis and applications. Providing sufficient pollen and nectar resources to support wild pollinators over extended periods in agricultural landscapes can contribute to crop pollination and ensure high fruit weight and quality. This can be achieved by restoring natural and semi‐natural areas near crop fields with native, long‐flowering plant species. Growers and crop breeding programmes should consider selecting flowering times that coincide with periods of high diversity or abundance of native pollinators to reduce dependence on managed pollinators.