bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation Scale - Proxy Report (BACE-PR): evidence of reliability and validity for caregivers reporting on children and adolescents with mental health concerns in Greece
Authors: Kotsis Konstantinos , Thornicroft Graham , Schafer Julia Luiza , Serdari Aspasia , Basta Maria , Casella Caio Borba , Marchionatti Lauro Estivalete , Hoffmann Mauricio Scopel , Tzotzi Alexandra , Mitropoulou Andromachi , Simioni André Rafael , Papanikolaou Katerina , Koumoula Anastasia , Salum Giovanni Abrahão
Published: August 2024

Background

To improve access to mental health care for children and adolescents, it is necessary to identify the barriers faced by their caregivers. The aim of this study is to identify these barriers in Greece and to investigate the reliability and validity of the modified version of the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale (BACE) - the BACE Proxy Report (BACE-PR).

Methods

A total of 265 caregivers completed the BACE-PR. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to investigate the factor structure of the instrument. Item parameters were assessed via Item Response Theory. Interpretability was assessed by linking summed scores to IRT-based scores.

Results

Caregivers reported care costs as the major barrier to access. Obsessive compulsive symptoms and self-harm were the conditions for which caregivers reported the highest level of barriers. EFA and CFA suggested that a one-factor solution fit the data well (RMSEA = 0.048, CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.990). Internal consistency was found to be high (ω=0.96). Average z-scores provided five meaningful levels of caregivers’ perceived barriers compared to the national average.

Conclusions

Caregivers face a variety of barriers to access mental health care for their children and this could partly explain the treatment gap in the Greek mental health sector. Our study provides evidence for the reliability and validity of the BACE-PR scale, which can aid to identify caregiver-perceived barriers and to design interventions to improve access to mental health care.
A Balanced Bagging Classifier machine learning model-based web application to predict risk of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients
Authors: Bozcuk HŞ , Yıldız M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Although several models exist to predict risk of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients, there is still need to more accurately quantify this risk to minimize morbidity of and mortality from this treatment toxicity.

Material and methods

From previous reports of our group, un updated predictive model had emerged. We refined our algorithm even further by using Balanced Bagging Classifier (BBC) machine learning in the previous model derivation cohort, discarding all the missing data. Moreover, we made a web application to make it accessible for experimental clinical use.

Results

We used clinical data from 3439 cycles of chemotherapy obtained from the periods of 2010-2011 and 2015-2019, with 133 episodes of febrile neutropenia observed (after 4% of chemotherapy cycles). BBC resulted in a more efficient model as reflected by an area under curve (AUC) of 0.97, accuracy of 0.95, sensitivity of 0.93, and specificity of 0.95. Permutation importance analysis revealed previous febrile neutropenia, cancer type and receipt of previous radiotherapy as the most important features for the BBC model. The web app that integrates the BBC model with a user-friendly user interface has been found to be clinically useful.

Conclusions

Using machine learning with our previous data, we are now able to predict the risk of febrile neutropenia more effectively after chemotherapy in cancer patients. The resultant web application is functional and makes use of the developed machine learning model to predict febrile neutropenia.
Elevated Cardiovascular Biomarkers Following Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy
Authors: Gabel Austin M. , Cheu Lindsay , Pike Mindy , Olerich Kelsey L , Kachikis Alisa , McCartney Stephen A , Shree Raj
Published: August 2024

Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) is associated with an increased risk for later-life cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether the HDP pregnancy itself confers risk towards CVD later in life is suggested in several epidemiologic studies. Given this connection and that the HDP exposure itself may play a role, understanding whether markers associated with cardiovascular risk vary based on HDP history in the years following pregnancy may assist with risk stratification and development of targeted interventions. We measured 77 proteins (CVD-associated and inflammatory markers) in n=22 individuals with a history of HDP and n=43 matched controls with no HDP history at a median of 4 years after pregnancy. Several CVD-associated proteins (fibrinogen, fetuin-A, L-selectin, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein) were significantly elevated, by orders of magnitude, in individuals with a history of HDP compared to normotensive pregnancies (all p<0.0001). In multivariable linear regression models controlling for age, body mass index, chronic hypertension, and diabetes, a history of HDP remained associated with higher levels of CVD-associated proteins (all p<0.0001). We clustered samples based on global patterns of CVD protein expression and found a significant difference in CVD protein expression patterns between post-Normal and post-HDP samples. Conversely, differences in circulating inflammatory markers were largely insignificant or more subtle than that observed with the CVD-associated proteins. Identification of biomarkers associated with CVD in the intervening years after HDP but before evident CVD is critical to understanding post-HDP cardiovascular risk to provide insight for the development of therapeutic interventions that mitigate CVD event risk in this high-risk population.
Monosaccharides DriveSalmonellaGut Colonization in a Context-Dependent Manner
Authors: Schubert Christopher , Nguyen Bidong D. , Sichert Andreas , Näpflin Nicolas , Sintsova Anna , Feer Lilith , Näf Jana , Daniel Benjamin B.J. , Steiger Yves , von Mering Christian , Sauer Uwe , Hardt Wolf-Dietrich
Published: August 2024

The carbohydrates that fuel gut colonization byS. Typhimurium are not fully known. To investigate this, we designed a quality-controlled mutant pool to probe the metabolic capabilities of this enteric pathogen. Using WISH-barcoding, we tested 35 metabolic mutants across five different mouse models, allowing us to differentiate between context-dependent and context-independent nutrient sources. Results showed thatS. Typhimurium uses D-glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, and D-galactose as context-independent carbohydrates across all models. The utilization of N-acetylglucosamine and hexuronates, on the other hand, was context-dependent. Furthermore, we showed that D-fructose is important in strain-to-strain competition betweenSalmonellaserovars. Complementary experiments confirmed that D-glucose, D-fructose, and D-galactose are excellent niches forS. Typhimurium to exploit during colonization. Quantitative measurements revealed sufficient amounts of D-glucose and D-galactose in the murine cecum to driveS. Typhimurium colonization. Understanding these key substrates and their context-dependent use by enteric pathogens will inform the future design of probiotics and therapeutics to prevent diarrheal infections such as non-typhoidal salmonellosis.
In-cell structural insight into the asymmetric assembly of central apparatus in mammalian sperm axoneme
Authors: Zhu Yun , Yin Guoliang , Tai Linhua , Wang Binbin , Lu Yi , Zhang Zhiyong , Chen Suren , Sun Fei
Published: August 2024

In motile cilia or flagella, the axoneme typically exhibits a “9+2” configuration, with the central apparatus (CA) consisting of extensively modified microtubules C1 and C2 to regulate ciliary motility. How C1 and C2 are interconnected asymmetrically remains unknown due to the lack of complete structural model of CA. Here, we utilized thein situcryo-electron tomography approach to solve the in-cell structure of intact mouse sperm CA at sub-nanometer resolution and built its near-complete atomic model with the aid of AlphaFold2. We identified 39 different CA-associated proteins with 8 never reported from isolated specimen. We assigned the long chain-like ASH-containing proteins CFAP47 and HYDIN responsible for connecting C1 and C2. Sperm fromCfap47-knockout mice displayed a hollowing bridge in the CA structure, correlating with its reduced progressive motility. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms of CA components in ciliary motility, and the implications of their mutations in human ciliopathies.
Defining short linear motif binding determinants by phage-based multiplexed deep mutational scanning
Authors: Benz Caroline , Maasen Lars , Simonetti Leandro , Mihalic Filip , Lindqvist Richard , Tsitsa Ifigenia , Jemth Per , Överby Anna K. , Davey Norman E. , Ivarsson Ylva
Published: August 2024

Deep mutational scanning (DMS) has emerged as a powerful approach for evaluating the effects of mutations on binding or function. Here, we developed a multiplexed DMS by phage display protocol to define the binding determinants of short linear motifs (SLiMs) binding to peptide binding domains. We first designed a benchmarking DMS library to evaluate the performance of the approach on well-known ligands for eleven different peptide binding domains, including the talin-1 PTB domain. Systematic benchmarking against a gold-standard set of motifs from the eukaryotic linear motif (ELM) database confirmed that the DMS by phage analysis correctly identifies known motif binding determinants. The DMS analysis further defined a non-canonical PTB binding motif, with a putative extended conformation. A second DMS library was designed aiming to provide information on the binding determinants for 19 SLiM-based interactions between human and SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The analysis confirmed the affinity determining residues of viral peptides binding to host proteins, and refined the consensus motifs in human peptides binding to five domains from SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including the non-structural protein (NSP) 9. The DMS analysis further pinpointed mutations that increased the affinity of ligands for NSP3 and NSP9. An affinity improved cell-permeable NSP9-binding peptide was found to exert stronger antiviral effects as compared to the initial wild-type peptide. Our study demonstrates that DMS by phage display can efficiently be multiplexed and applied to refine binding determinants, and shows how DMS by phage display can guide peptide-engineering efforts.
Episodic Transport of Protein Aggregates Achieves a Positive Size Selectivity in Aggresome Formation
Authors: Fang Rui , Bai Luolan , Li Boyan , Dong Kevin , Paulo Joao A. , Zhou Mengying , Chu Yi-Chi , Song Yuyu , Sherman Michael Y. , Gygi Steven , Field Christine M. , Mitchison Timothy J. , Lu Ying
Published: August 2024

Eukaryotic cells direct toxic misfolded proteins to various protein quality control pathways based on their chemical features and aggregation status. Aggregated proteins are targeted to selective autophagy or specifically sequestered into the “aggresome,” a perinuclear inclusion at the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC). However, the mechanism for selectively sequestering protein aggregates into the aggresome remains unclear. To investigate aggresome formation, we reconstituted MTOC-directed aggregate transport inXenopus laevisegg extract using AgDD, a chemically inducible aggregation system. High-resolution single-particle tracking revealed that dynein-mediated transport of aggregates was highly episodic, with average velocity positively correlated with aggregate size. Our mechanistic model suggests that the recurrent formation of the dynein transport complex biases larger aggregates towards the active transport state, compensating for the slowdown due to viscosity. Both episodic transport and positive size selectivity are specifically associated with aggresome-dynein adaptors. Coupling conventional dynein-activating adaptors to the aggregates perturbs aggresome formation and reverses size selectivity.
Dysfunction of telomeric Cdc13-Stn1-Ten1 simultaneously activates the DNA damage and spindle checkpoints
Authors: Grandin Nathalie , Charbonneau Michel
Published: August 2024

Telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic linear chromosomes, are composed of repeated DNA sequences and specialized proteins, with the conserved Cdc13/CTC1-Stn1-Ten1 (CST) telomeric comple providing chromosome stability via telomere end-protection and regulation of telomerase accessibility. In the present study,SIZ1, coding for a SUMO E3 ligase, andTOP2(Top2 is a SUMO target for Siz1 and Siz2) were isolated as extragenic suppressors of temperature-sensitive mutants ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeCST.ten1-sz, stn1-szandcdc13-szmutants were next isolated on the basis of being sensitive to intracellular Siz1 dosage. In parallel, strong negative genetic interactions between mutants of CST and septins were identified, septins being noticeably sumoylated through action of Siz1. The temperature-sensitive arrest in these new mutants of CST was dependent on the G2/M Mad2-mediated and Bub2-mediated spindle checkpoints as well as on the G2/M Mec1-mediated DNA damage checkpoint. Our data suggest the existence of yet unknown functions of the telomeric Cdc13-Stn1-Ten1 complex related with mitotic spindle positioning and/or spindle assembly that could be further elucidated by studying these newten1-sz, stn1-szandcdc13-szmutants.
Aperiodic and oscillatory systems underpinning human domain-general cognition
Authors: Lu Runhao , Dermody Nadene , Duncan John , Woolgar Alexandra
Published: August 2024

Domain-general cognitive systems are essential for adaptive human behaviour, supporting various cognitive tasks through flexible neural mechanisms. While fMRI studies link the frontoparietal network activation to increasing demands across various tasks, the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying this domain-general response to demand remain unclear. Here, we used MEG/EEG, with aperiodic and oscillatory components separated, to examine their roles in domain-general cognition across three cognitive tasks using multivariate analysis. We found that both aperiodic (broadband power, slope, and intercept) and oscillatory (theta, alpha, and beta power) components coded task demand and content across all subtasks. Aperiodic broadband power in particular strongly coded task demand, in a manner that generalised across all subtasks. Source estimation suggested that increasing cognitive demand decreased aperiodic broadband power across the brain, with the strongest modulations overlapping with the frontoparietal network. In contrast, oscillatory activity showed more localised patterns of modulation, primarily in frontal or occipital regions. These results provide insights into the electrophysiological underpinnings of human domain-general cognition, highlighting the critical role of aperiodic broadband power.
Engineering synthetic agonists for targeted activation of Notch signaling
Authors: Perez David H. , Antfolk Daniel , Bustos Xiomar E. , Medina Elliot , Chang Shiun , Ramadan Ahmed A. , Rodriguez Paulo C. , Gonzalez-Perez David , Abate-Daga Daniel , Luca Vincent C.
Published: August 2024

Notch signaling regulates cell fate decisions and has context-dependent tumorigenic or tumor suppressor functions. Although there are several classes of Notch inhibitors, the mechanical force requirement for Notch receptor activation has hindered attempts to generate soluble agonists. To address this problem, we engineered synthetic Notch agonist (SNAG) proteins by tethering affinity-matured Notch ligands to antibodies or cytokines that internalize their targets. This bispecific format enables SNAGs to “pull” on mechanosensitive Notch receptors, triggering their activation in the presence of a desired biomarker. We successfully developed SNAGs targeting six independent surface markers, including the tumor antigens PDL1, CD19, and HER2, and the immunostimulatory receptor CD40. SNAGs targeting CD40 increase expansion of central memory γδ T cells from peripheral blood, highlighting their potential to improve the phenotype and yield of low-abundance T cell subsets. These insights have broad implications for the pharmacological activation of mechanoreceptors and will expand our ability to modulate Notch signaling in biotechnology.
Early life stress induced sex-specific changes in behavior is paralleled by altered locus coeruleus physiology in BALB/cJ mice
Authors: Savannah Brannan , Garbe Lauren , Richardson Ben D
Published: August 2024

Adverse childhood experiences have been associated with many neurodevelopmental and affective disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, with more exposures increasing negative risks. Sex and genetic background are biological variables involved in adverse psychiatric outcomes due to early life trauma. Females in general have an increased prevalence of stress-related psychopathologies beginning after adolescence, indicative of the adolescent time period being a female-specific sensitive period. To understand the underlying neuronal components responsible for this relationship between genetic background, sex, stress/trauma, and cognitive/affective behaviors, we assessed behavioral and neuronal changes in a novel animal model of early life stress exposure. Male and female BALB/cJ mice that express elevated basal anxiety-like behaviors and differences in monoamine associated genes, were exposed to an early life variable stress protocol that combined deprivation in early life with unpredictability in adolescence. Stress exposure produced hyperlocomotion and attention (5 choice serial reaction time task) in male and female mice along with female-specific increased anxiety-like behavior. These behavioral changes were paralleled by reduced excitability of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons, due to resting membrane potential hyperpolarization in males and a female specific increase in action potential delay time. These data describe a novel interaction between sex, genetic background, and early life stress that results in behavioral changes in clinically-relevant domains and potential underlying mechanistic lasting changes in physiological properties of neurons in the LC.

HIGHLIGHTS

BALB/cJ mice exposed to early life stress are hyperactive in adolescence and displayed attention deficits in adulthood.

Only female BALB/cJ mice develop increased anxiety in adolescence after early life stress.

Early life stress causes reduced excitability of locus coeruleus neurons in BALB/cJ mice.

Only locus coeruleus neurons from female BALB/cJ mice exposed to early life stress displayed an increase in action potential delay time upon depolarization.
Interruption of glucagon signaling augments islet non-alpha cell proliferation in SLC7A2- and mTOR-dependent manners
Authors: Coate Katie C. , Dai Chunhua , Singh Ajay , Stanley Jade , Covington Brittney A. , Bradley Amber , Oladipupo Favour , Gong Yulong , Wisniewski Scott , Spears Erick , Poffenberger Greg , Bustabad Alexandria , Rodgers Tyler , Dey Nandita , Shultz Leonard D. , Greiner Dale L. , Yan Hai , Powers Alvin C. , Chen Wenbiao , Dean E. Danielle
Published: August 2024

Objective

Dysregulated glucagon secretion and inadequate functional beta cell mass are hallmark features of diabetes. While glucagon receptor (GCGR) antagonism ameliorates hyperglycemia and elicits beta cell regeneration in pre-clinical models of diabetes, it also promotes alpha and delta cell hyperplasia. We sought to investigate the mechanism by which loss of glucagon action impacts pancreatic islet non-alpha cells, and the relevance of these observations in a human islet context.

Methods

We used zebrafish, rodents, and transplanted human islets comprising six different models of interrupted glucagon signaling to examine their impact on delta and beta cell proliferation and mass. We also used models with global deficiency of the cationic amino acid transporter, SLC7A2, and mTORC1 inhibition via rapamycin, to determine whether amino acid-dependent nutrient sensing was required for islet non-alpha cell growth.

Results

Inhibition of glucagon signaling stimulated delta cell proliferation in mouse and transplanted human islets, and in mouse islets. This was rapamycin-sensitive and required SLC7A2. Likewise,gcgrdeficiency augmented beta cell proliferation via SLC7A2- and mTORC1-dependent mechanisms in zebrafish and promoted cell cycle engagement in rodent beta cells but was insufficient to drive a significant increase in beta cell mass in mice.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that interruption of glucagon signaling augments islet non-alpha cell proliferation in zebrafish, rodents, and transplanted human islets in a manner requiring SLC7A2 and mTORC1 activation. An increase in delta cell mass may be leveraged for future beta cell regeneration therapies relying upon delta cell reprogramming.
SLC27A2as a molecular marker of impaired epithelium in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Park Jaewoo , Jang Jung Yeon , Kim Jeong Heon , Yi Se Eun , Lee Yeong Ju , Yu Myeong Sang , Chung Yoo-Sam , Jang Yong Ju , Kim Ji Heui , Kang Kyuho
Published: August 2024

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a complex disease characterized by multiple inflammatory endotypes. Although recent progress has been made in endotype-based classification, developing tailored therapeutic strategies for CRSwNP remains challenging. This study aimed to optimize therapeutic outcomes in CRSwNP by identifying potential molecular markers.

Methods

We utilized an integrated approach that combined bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to delineate the molecular signatures inherent to the cellular components of nasal polyp (NP) tissue. The levels of C11-BODIPY (as a marker of lipid peroxidation) andSLC27A2/FATP2 were assessed using quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The effects of lipofermata, a FATP2 inhibitor, were examined in air-liquid interface (ALI) cultured epithelial cells derived from CRSwNP patients and healthy controls.

Results

Deconvolution analysis of NP tissue revealed an upregulation of genes associated with lipid metabolism in the NP epithelium. In CRSwNP patients, we observed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation andSLC27A2/FATP2 expression in the NP epithelium. A marked expression of genes critical to metabolic pathways involved in lipid peroxidation was identified inSLC27A2-positive epithelial cells. Additionally, FATP2 and lipid peroxidation staining patterns exhibited a positive correlation in their respective % Area levels. ElevatedSLC27A2expression was associated with disease pathogenesis and correlated with disease severity. Treatment with lipofermata resulted in decreased mRNA levels ofALOX15, a key mediator of inflammation and lipid peroxidation, andFOXJ1, a marker of abnormal ciliogenesis.

Conclusion

ElevatedSLC27A2expression in the NP epithelium correlates with the severity of CRSwNP, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for managing advanced CRSwNP cases.
RIGHT SEPSIS CLASSIFICATION- MUST FOR ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP: A LONGITUDINAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Authors: Pilania Jaideep , Panda Prasan Kumar , Das Ananya , Chauhan Udit , Kant Ravi
Published: August 2024

Background

Sepsis is a critical medical condition characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction triggered by a dysregulated response to infection. It poses a substantial global health burden, with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic costs, particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries. Effective management of sepsis relies on early recognition and appropriate intervention, underscoring the importance of accurate classification to guide treatment decisions.

Objective

This longitudinal observational study aimed to assess the distribution of sepsis categories and the use of empirical antibiotics classified by the WHO AWaRe system in a tertiary care hospital in Northern India. The study also aimed to highlight implications for antimicrobial stewardship by examining the use of AWaRe group antibiotics and their correlation with sepsis classifications.

Methods

A total of 1867 patients admitted with suspected sepsis were screened, with 230 meeting inclusion criteria. Patients were categorized into different sepsis classes (Asepsis, Possible Sepsis, Probable Sepsis, Confirm Sepsis) and followed until discharge or Day-28. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed to assess sepsis categories and empirical antibiotic usage classified by Access, Watch, and Reserve categories according to the WHO AWaRe system.

Results

Among the study cohort (mean age 40.70 ± 14.49 years, 50.9% female), initial sepsis classification predominantly included Probable Sepsis (51.3%) and Possible Sepsis (35.7%), evolving to Asepsis (57.8%) upon final classification. Empirical antibiotic use showed a concerning predominance of Watch group antibiotics (92.5%), with Ceftriaxone (45.7%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (31.7%) being the most commonly prescribed.

Conclusion

The dynamic nature of sepsis classification underscores the complexity of diagnosing and managing this condition. Accurate categorization is pivotal for clinical decision-making, optimizing antibiotic use, and combating antimicrobial resistance. The majority of the asepsis category was levelled as probable or possible sepsis and given antibiotics. The high reliance on Watch group antibiotics in empirical therapy signals a need for enhanced diagnostic strategies to refine treatment initiation, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure. Future efforts should focus on establishing sepsis classification checklists and promoting adherence to antimicrobial stewardship principles to mitigate the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Demonstration of high-efficiency microwave heating producing record highly charged xenon ion beams with superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion sources
Authors: Wang X. , Li J. B. , Mironov V. , Guo J. W. , Zhang X. Z. , Tarvainen O. , Feng Y. C. , Li L. X. , Ma J. D. , Zhang Z. H. , Lu W. , Bogomolov S. , Sun L. , Zhao H. W.
Published: August 2024

Intense highly charged ion beam production is essential for high-power heavy ion accelerators. A novel movable Vlasov launcher for superconducting high charge state electron cyclotron resonance ion source has been devised that can affect the microwave power effectiveness by a factor of about 4 in terms of highly charged ion beam production. This approach based on a dedicated microwave launching system instead of the traditional coupling scheme has led to new insight on microwave-plasma interaction. With this new understanding, the world record highly charged xenon ion beam currents have been enhanced by up to a factor of 2, which could directly and significantly enhance the performance of heavy ion accelerators and provide many new research opportunities in nuclear physics, atomic physics, and other disciplines.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quasiparticle Dynamics in a Superconducting Qubit Irradiated by a Localized Infrared Source
Authors: Benevides R. , Drimmer M. , Bisson G. , Adinolfi F. , Lüpke U. v. , Doeleman H. M. , Catelani G. , Chu Y.
Published: August 2024

A known source of decoherence in superconducting qubits is the presence of broken Cooper pairs, or quasiparticles. These can be generated by high-energy radiation, either present in the environment or purposefully introduced, as in the case of some hybrid quantum devices. Here, we systematically study the properties of a transmon qubit under illumination by focused infrared radiation with various powers, durations, and spatial locations. Despite the high energy of incident photons, our observations agree well with a model of low-energy quasiparticle dynamics dominated by trapping. This technique can be used for understanding and potentially mitigating the effects of high-energy radiation on superconducting circuits with a variety of geometries and materials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Emergence of vortex state in the
S=1
Kitaev-Heisenberg model with single-ion anisotropy
Authors: Singhania Ayushi , van den Brink Jeroen , Nishimoto Satoshi
Published: August 2024

The search for Kitaev spin liquid states has recently broadened to include a number of honeycomb materials with integer spin moments. The qualitative difference with their spin-1/2 counterparts is the presence of single-ion anisotropy (SIA). This motivates our investigation of the effects of SIA on the ground state of the spin-1 Kitaev-Heisenberg (KH) model using the density-matrix renormalization group which allows construction of detailed phase diagrams around the Kitaev points. We demonstrate that positive out-of-plane SIA induces an in-plane vortex state without the need for off-diagonal interactions. Conversely, negative SIA facilitates the emergence of a state in the presence of antiferromagnetic Heisenberg interactions, whereas a state can emerge for ferromagnetic Heisenberg coupling. These findings, pertinent even for weak SIA, not only enhance our theoretical understanding of the spin-1 KH model but also suggest experimental prospects for observing these novel magnetic states in material realizations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Laser-plasma ion beam booster based on hollow-channel magnetic vortex acceleration
Authors: Garten Marco , Bulanov Stepan S. , Hakimi Sahel , Obst-Huebl Lieselotte , Mitchell Chad E. , Schroeder Carl B. , Esarey Eric , Geddes Cameron G. R. , Vay Jean-Luc , Huebl Axel
Published: August 2024

Laser-driven ion acceleration provides ultrashort, high-charge, low-emittance beams, which are desirable for a wide range of high-impact applications. Yet after decades of research, a significant increase in maximum ion energy is still needed. This paper introduces a quality-preserving staging concept for ultraintense ion bunches that is seamlessly applicable from the nonrelativistic plasma source to the relativistic regime. Full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations prove robustness and capture of a high-charge proton bunch, suitable for readily available and near-term laser facilities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum Coding Transitions in the Presence of Boundary Dissipation
Authors: Lovas Izabella , Agrawal Utkarsh , Vijay Sagar
Published: August 2024

We investigate phase transitions in the encoding of quantum information in a quantum many-body system due to the competing effects of unitary scrambling and boundary dissipation. Specifically, we study the fate of quantum information in a one-dimensional qudit chain, subject to local unitary quantum circuit evolution in the presence of depolarizing noise at the boundary. If the qudit chain initially contains a finite amount of locally accessible quantum information, unitary evolution in the presence of boundary dissipation allows this information to remain partially protected when the dissipation is sufficiently weak, and up to timescales growing linearly in the system size L. In contrast, for strong enough dissipation, this information is completely lost to the dissipative environment. We analytically investigate this “quantum coding transition” by considering dynamics involving Haar-random, local unitary gates, and confirm our predictions in numerical simulations of Clifford quantum circuits. Scrambling the quantum information in the qudit chain with a unitary circuit of depth O(log﻿L) before the onset of dissipation can perfectly protect the information until late times. The nature of the coding transition changes when the dynamics extend for times much longer than L. We further show that at weak dissipation, it is possible to code at a finite rate, i.e., a fraction of the many-body Hilbert space of the qudit chain can be used to encode quantum information.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Strategic positioning and asymmetric cost behavior
Authors: Banker Rajiv , Flasher Renee , Zhang Daqun
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper explores if the firm’s strategic orientation can be associated with differences in cost behavior activity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Compustat data from 1979 to 2012, the archival study examines if there are differences between differentiation and cost leadership strategies on the firm’s cost stickiness.

Findings

The main finding provides evidence that firms pursuing a differentiation strategy exhibit greater cost stickiness, on average, as compared to firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy. This relationship is moderated by the optimistic or pessimistic expectations of managers for future sales.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on cost management by explaining how strategic positioning affects firms’ cost behavior using the framework of asymmetric cost behavior. The study encompasses both product and period costs and documents the impact on earnings.
Quality and safety nexus: exploring critical factors in global food security
Authors: Qazi Abroon , Al-Mhdawi M.K.S.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the interrelationships among quality and safety metrics within the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). Its primary objective is to identify key indicators and their respective influences on food security outcomes, thereby enriching comprehension of the intricate dynamics within global food security.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis encompasses data from 113 countries for the year 2022, utilizing Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) models to identify significant drivers of both the GFSI and quality and safety dimensions. This methodological approach enables the examination of probabilistic connections among different indicators, providing a structured framework for investigating the complex dynamics of food security.

Findings

The study highlights the critical role of regulatory frameworks, access to clean drinking water, and food safety mechanisms in fostering food security. Key findings reveal that “nutrition monitoring and surveillance” has the highest probability (75%) of achieving a high-performance state, whereas “national dietary guidelines” have the highest probability (41%) of achieving a low-performance state. High GFSI performance is associated with excelling in indicators such as “access to drinking water” and “food safety mechanisms”, while low performance is linked to underperformance in “national dietary guidelines” and “nutrition labeling”. “Protein quality” and “dietary diversity” are identified as the most critical indicators affecting both the GFSI and quality and safety dimensions.

Originality/value

This research operationalizes a probabilistic technique to analyze the interdependencies among quality and safety indicators within the GFSI. By uncovering the probabilistic connections between these indicators, the study enhances understanding of the underlying dynamics that influence food security outcomes. The findings highlight the critical roles of regulatory frameworks, access to clean drinking water, and food safety mechanisms, offering actionable insights that empower policymakers to make evidence-based decisions and allocate resources effectively. Ultimately, this research significantly contributes to the advancement of food security interventions and the achievement of sustainable development goals related to food quality and safety.
A dynamic analysis of the firms in oligopoly market structure: a case study
Authors: Basiri Reza , Abedian Mansour , Aghasi Saeed , Dashtaali Zahra
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Over the last years, powerful advances in the area of dynamic games have enriched game theory and made it more applicable to the modeling of real-world competitive strategies. The study of strategic behaviors of firms in an oligopoly market has received little attention, even though real firms have been shown to compete in output and in price in a single industry. The purpose of this study is to propose a game-theoretic approach to studying strategic behaviors of firms in an oligopoly market structure.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach was developed to study market dynamics and pricing strategic behavior of firms that have the possibility of deciding to be one of the two types (price-maker or price-taker) and reconsider the choice overtime on the basis of their current insights and knowledge and their experience. Firms try to improve their performance in the competitive market in a strategic way, by considering their steady-state profits and choosing the best type given the other firms’ types, actions and interactions.

Findings

The results of the present study confirm the previous study that the Cournot market is a stable market, where each firm can be a price-maker and enjoy individual learning as well as social learning. On the contrary, the market with price-takers only is never stable, and, therefore, the Walrasian equilibrium may not be supported in some instances. The Cournot market loses its stability as the number of firms in the market increases due to the fact that it will be more profitable for a firm to switch to price-taking when the number of firms is high enough. In such a situation, when the number of price-takers increases, there are no stable markets and price dynamics are destabilized.

Originality/value

The study and modeling of real-world competitive strategies would enhance the understanding of oligopoly markets. The study of strategic behaviors of firms in an oligopoly market has received little attention, even though real firms have been shown to compete in output and in price in a single industry as price-takers and price-makers.
Examining antecedents to Generation Z consumers’ green purchase intentions: the role of product categories
Authors: Heiberg Jørgensen René , Møller Jensen Jan , Yang Yingkui
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of environmental concern, perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE), green self-identity and social influence on Danish Generation Z consumers’ green purchase intention across three product categories: food, clothing and mobile phones.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through convenience sampling, asking undergraduate students in a quantitative data analysis class at the University of Southern Denmark to share a link to the online survey via mail and through their social media platforms. This study includes 287 usable cases. Structural equation modeling (AMOS) was used to test the suggested relationships.

Findings

The results show that environmental concern, PCE, green self-identity and social influence positively relate to Danish Generation Z consumers’ green purchase intentions. However, results also suggest that the influence of the different factors varies across product categories.

Practical implications

The results show that marketers must refine their understanding of what guides green consumption, as the factors leading to green purchase intention vary across product categories. Therefore, practitioners need a deeper understanding of their specific category. The results offer insight into food, clothing and mobile phones.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies investigating the antecedents to green purchase intentions across product categories.
Sensemaking through crisis: critical care pharmacist (CCP) leadership during COVID-19
Authors: Ukoha Adegbayi , Edwards Gareth
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how critical care pharmacists (CCPs) coped during the COVID-19 crisis by investigating what sense-making and leadership processes were evident during the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from ten semi-structured interviews of lead CCPs across different National Health Service organisations in the UK was analysed through a thematic process.

Findings

The findings identified that strong pre-existing relationships and high levels of trust play a significant role in successfully navigating a crisis. Four sense-making processes seem important to building and maintaining these relationships and trust, namely, identifying cues for change; authoring and labelling; interpretation and storytelling; negotiation and deliberation.

Originality/value

The research also highlights the need for organisations to acknowledge the leadership roles undertaken by CCP teams and leverage this role by investing in leadership training, thereby increasing resilience and preparedness for future storms or crises on the horizon.
How does FinTech empower China’s rural revitalization? The role of entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability and industrial structure advancement
Authors: Zhao RuiZeng , Sun Jiasen , Wang Xinyue
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Financial technology (FinTech) has enhanced the inclusivity and accessibility of traditional finance, offering a novel pathway for rural revitalization and development. The paper aims to assess the rural revitalization development level in prefecture-level cities in China and investigate the potential impact mechanism of FinTech.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops an index system to evaluate the rural revitalization level across 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2021. In addition, multi-mediation and threshold models are employed to analyze how FinTech influences rural revitalization.

Findings

The results reveal that, first, FinTech has significantly promoted rural revitalization. Second, entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement are intermediary factors within the benchmark path. Third, FinTech exhibits varied threshold effects in entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement, influencing rural revitalization with diverse impacts.

Originality/value

First, this paper expands the rural revitalization evaluation to include 30 indexes, enhancing overall measurement comprehensiveness. Second, in contrast to previous research concentrating on provincial-level assessments, this paper explores rural revitalization across 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2021, broadening the study’s scope and timeline. Third, this paper delves into empirical evidence illustrating how FinTech contributes to rural revitalization through entrepreneurial activeness, urban innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement, thereby deepening research in this domain.
Processing windows for Al-357 by LPBF process: a novel framework integrating FEM simulation and machine learning with empirical testing
Authors: Mahmood Muhammad Arif , Khraisheh Marwan , Popescu Andrei C. , Liou Frank
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop a holistic method that integrates finite element modeling, machine learning, and experimental validation to propose processing windows for optimizing the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process specific to the Al-357 alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

Validation of a 3D heat transfer simulation model was conducted to forecast melt pool dimensions, involving variations in laser power, laser scanning speed, powder bed thickness (PBT) and powder bed pre-heating (PHB). Using the validated model, a data set was compiled to establish a back-propagation-based machine learning capable of predicting melt pool dimensional ratios indicative of printing defects.

Findings

The study revealed that, apart from process parameters, PBT and PHB significantly influenced defect formation. Elevated PHBs were identified as contributors to increased lack of fusion and keyhole defects. Optimal combinations were pinpointed, such as 30.0 µm PBT with 90.0 and 120.0 °C PHBs and 50.0 µm PBT with 120.0 °C PHB.

Originality/value

The integrated process mapping approach showcased the potential to expedite the qualification of LPBF parameters for Al-357 alloy by minimizing the need for iterative physical testing.
External and internal factors affecting collaborative consumption practices: insights from new-middle classes in an emerging market
Authors: Güngördü Belbağ Aybegüm
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to unravel the perceived barriers, and external and internal factors affecting the new middle-class Turkish consumers’ collaborative consumption practices (e.g. accommodation rental and ride-sharing services).

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 21 new middle-class consumers from Turkey. The qualitative data were analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Findings show that environmental stimuli (economic crisis, transparent legal requirements, word-of-mouth, urban mobility, unique experiences, cosmopolitan thinking) affect organism factors (financial gains and psychological barriers such as difficulty in relying on service providers, guarded vulnerability, unfavorable brand image of local companies, conventional constraints). Organism factors affect the response of intention to engage in collaborative consumption.

Practical implications

Collaborative consumption services can integrate socially responsible projects into their lower-priced services giving signals of “unique,” “feeling at home” and “rely on”. This will help to overcome perceived barriers of conventional constraints, difficulty in relying on service providers and contribute to financial gains and unique experiences.

Originality/value

The extant literature focuses mainly on intrinsic and extrinsic motives without thoroughly investigating barriers and their connections to external and internal factors influencing collaborative consumption. This study answers the calls for further research on barriers, external and internal factors affecting collaborative consumption practices. Moreover, this study addresses the need for research on the collaborative consumption practices of middle-class consumers.
Three‐dimensional inversion of controlled‐source electromagnetic data using general measures to evaluate data misfits and model structures
Authors: Chung Yonghyun , Seol Soon Jee , Byun Joongmoo
Published: August 2024

Quantification of data misfits and model structures is an important step in the non‐linear iterative inverse scheme, allowing medium parameters to be iteratively refined through minimization. This study developed a new three‐dimensional controlled‐source electromagnetic inversion algorithm that allows general measures to be made selectively available for this evaluation. We adopt , , Huber, hybrid /, Sech, Cauchy, biweight and norms as general measures. The inversion implementation is based on a regularized Gauss–Newton method, and non‐quadratic measures are incorporated via the use of an iteratively reweighted least‐squares scheme. To exploit current computing power, forward solutions are computed on an edge finite‐element discretization using a parallel version of a direct sparse solver, while dense matrix operations in inversion are optimized using the LAPACK library. The behaviours of general measures for evaluating data misfits and model structures are examined in synthetic inversion experiments, focusing on elucidating weighting mechanisms and setting user‐defined parameters. A preliminary demonstration is presented, showcasing simultaneous regularization in imaging a toy model containing both sharp and smooth property changes, alongside a field data application for imaging subsurface artificial structures. Our findings highlight the seamless integration of general measures, contributing to improved robustness against data outliers and enhanced spatial properties provided in output models.