Crowdfunding of Climate Mitigation Measures in Agriculture: Developing a Sustainable Business Model Concept

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to develop a sustainable business model (SBM) concept for local crowdfunding of climate measures in agriculture. Many climate measures entail significant capital costs preventing farmers from their adoption, and existing finance schemes have experienced limited success. Crowdfunding can be a novel financing tool for farmers to implement climate measures in agriculture. Design/Methodology/Approach: We apply the adapted SBM canvas framework and argue that the framework presents a suitable tool for identifying and validating business models for a local crowdfunding program. Findings: By applying the adapted SBM canvas tool and through an extensive mixed method approach, the study identifies 6 relevant design principles for SBM development and relates them to different dimensions in the SBM canvas. Practical Implications: The study develops a proven business model concept that can be implemented by practitioners and farmers to facilitate the adoption of climate change mitigation measures, overall contributing to the transition to a low emission society. Originality/Value: This study demonstrates the existing limitations of the adapted SBM canvas and suggests how it can be improved by integrating external structural constraints that can be a barrier to business model development. Moreover, we contribute to the SBM literature by being the first to connect Design Science with crowdfunding and the adapted SBM canvas

Identification of six new susceptibility loci for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 12 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) susceptibility alleles. The pattern of association at these loci is consistent in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers who are at high risk of EOC. After imputation to 1000 Genomes Project data, we assessed associations of 11 million genetic variants with EOC risk from 15,437 cases unselected for family history and 30,845 controls and from 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers (3,096 with ovarian cancer), and we combined the results in a meta-analysis. This new study design yielded increased statistical power, leading to the discovery of six new EOC susceptibility loci. Variants at 1p36 (nearest gene, WNT4), 4q26 (SYNPO2), 9q34.2 (ABO) and 17q11.2 (ATAD5) were associated with EOC risk, and at 1p34.3 (RSPO1) and 6p22.1 (GPX6) variants were specifically associated with the serous EOC subtype, all with P < 5 × 10(-8). Incorporating these variants into risk assessment tools will improve clinical risk predictions for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.COGS project is funded through a European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme grant (agreement number 223175 ] HEALTH ]F2 ]2009 ]223175). The CIMBA data management and data analysis were supported by Cancer Research.UK grants 12292/A11174 and C1287/A10118. The Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium is supported by a grant from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund thanks to donations by the family and friends of Kathryn Sladek Smith (PPD/RPCI.07). The scientific development and funding for this project were in part supported by the US National Cancer Institute GAME ]ON Post ]GWAS Initiative (U19 ]CA148112). This study made use of data generated by the Wellcome Trust Case Control consortium. Funding for the project was provided by the Wellcome Trust under award 076113. The results published here are in part based upon data generated by The Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Project established by the National Cancer Institute and National Human Genome Research Institute (dbGap accession number phs000178.v8.p7). The cBio portal is developed and maintained by the Computational Biology Center at Memorial Sloan ] Kettering Cancer Center. SH is supported by an NHMRC Program Grant to GCT. Details of the funding of individual investigators and studies are provided in the Supplementary Note. This study made use of data generated by the Wellcome Trust Case Control consortium, funding for which was provided by the Wellcome Trust under award 076113. The results published here are, in part, based upon data generated by The Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Project established by the National Cancerhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.3185This is the Author Accepted Manuscript of 'Identification of six new susceptibility loci for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer' which was published in Nature Genetics 47, 164–171 (2015) © Nature Publishing Group - content may only be used for academic research

Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers

Correction: Nature Communications 10 (2019): art. 4386 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12095-8Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r(g) = 0.57, p = 4.6 x 10(-8)), breast and ovarian cancer (r(g) = 0.24, p = 7 x 10(-5)), breast and lung cancer (r(g) = 0.18, p = 1.5 x 10(-6)) and breast and colorectal cancer (r(g) = 0.15, p = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis.Peer reviewe

Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers

Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r(g) = 0.57, p = 4.6 x 10(-8)), breast and ovarian cancer (r(g) = 0.24, p = 7 x 10(-5)), breast and lung cancer (r(g) = 0.18, p = 1.5 x 10(-6)) and breast and colorectal cancer (r(g) = 0.15, p = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis

On congruence between brand and human personalities

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to uncover the relations between brand and human personality by identifying brand preferences of consumers with different personality types. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the existing literature, 15 propositions are suggested linking Ekelund's DI types as parsimonious proxies of human personality and brand personality dimensions as suggested by Aaker. Propositions were tested through statistical analysis of survey data collected in two stages. Findings: It was found that consumers prefer brands with personalities that match their own. For example, consumers with Blue DI type exhibit clear aversion from the excitement dimension of brand personality, whereas consumers with Red DI type exhibit clear preference for the sincerity dimension of brand personality. No clear findings emerged concerning the Green DI type, mostly likely linked to the individualistic, non-conformist and innovative orientations of such individuals. In addition data revealed a possible hierarchy of brand personality dimensions' influence. Practical implications: Findings provide guidelines for better tailoring of promotional materials based on target customer groups, as well as the ability to evaluate underperforming brands in terms of a brand-human personality mismatch. Originality/value: The paper fills a gap in the literature about the congruence between brand and human personalities, and demonstrates how brand personality dimensions impacts brand preference among different consumer types. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Case Studies in the Beer Sector

Case Studies in the Beer Sector investigates managerial and marketing dynamics in the beer sector. It explores the relevance of consumer science and its use as a tool for marketing strategies, putting special focus on small craft breweries. The book provides a variety of case studies from several countries to outline the global context within which the beer industry is developing. Real-life examples on how innovation and differentiation strategies affect consumer perceptions of beer are included, along with the relationship among breweries throughout the supply chain. Sections cover business strategy, sustainability, and how breweries are meeting the increasing demand for sustainable production processes. While this book provides a thorough reference for scholars and practitioners who work in the beer sector, it is also ideal for those studying business, agriculture, food engineering, technology, applied marketing and business strategy

Self‐tracking in effortful activities: Gender differences in consumers' task experience

Despite the increasing use of self‐tracking technologies, surprisingly little empirical research has examined the effect of self‐tracking in effortful activities on consumers' task experience. Accordingly, the present research examined the moderating role of gender in the effect of self‐tracking in effortful activities on perceived competence and task experience (namely, enjoyment and subjective vitality). Across three experiments, results suggested that self‐tracking in effortful activities increases the perceived competence, enjoyment, and subjective vitality of females more than males, and that perceived competence explains these interaction effects. Interestingly, an experimental manipulation designed to prompt overestimation of abilities attenuated these positive effects among females. As such, the present research contributes to the literatures on self‐tracking and feedback instrumentality, and offers important practical implications for marketers.publishedVersio