bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scalable and Efficient Generation of Mouse Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells
Authors: Ding Xinbao , Li Liangdao , Gao Jingyi , Yi Dain , Schimenti John C
Published: February 2024

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the founder cells of the germline. The ability to generate PGC-like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells has advanced our knowledge of gametogenesis and holds promise for developing infertility treatments. However, generating an ample supply of PGCLCs for demanding applications such as high-throughput genetic screens has been a limitation. Here, we demonstrated that simultaneous overexpressing 4 transcriptional factors -Nanogand three PGC master regulatorsPrdm1,Prdm14andTfap2c- in suspended mouse epiblast like cells (EpiLCs) and formative embryonic stem cells (ESCs) results in efficient and cost-effective production of PGCLCs. The overexpression ofNanogenhances the PGC regulatory network and suppresses differentiation of somatic lineages, enabling a significant improvement in the efficiency of PGCLC production. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that differentiated PGCLCs exhibit similarities toin vivoPGCs and are more advanced compared to cytokine-induced PGCLCs. These differentiated PGCLCs could be sustained over prolonged periods of culture and could differentiate into spermatogonia-like cellsin vitro. Importantly, the ability to produce PGCLCs at scale, without using costly cytokines, enables biochemical and functional genomic screens to dissect mechanisms of germ cell development and infertility.
A Major Role of Class III HD-ZIPs in Promoting Sugar Beet Cyst Nematode Syncytium Formation inArabidopsis
Authors: Liu Xunliang , Mitchum Melissa G.
Published: February 2024

Cyst nematodes use a stylet to secrete plant CLE-like peptide effector mimics into selected root cells of their host plants to hijack CLE signaling pathways for feeding site (syncytium) formation. Here, we identifiedATHB8, a HD-ZIP III family transcription factor, as a downstream component of the CLE signaling pathway in syncytium formation.ATHB8is expressed in the early stages of syncytium initiation, and then transitions to neighboring cells of the syncytium as it expands; an expression pattern coincident with auxin response at the infection site. Conversely,MIR165a, which expresses in endodermal cells and moves into the vasculature to suppress HD-ZIP III TFs, is down-regulated near the infection site. Knocking down HD-ZIP III TFs by inducible over-expression ofMIR165ainArabidopsisdramatically reduced female development of the sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii). HD-ZIP III TFs are known to function downstream of auxin to promote cellular quiescence and define stem cell organizer cells in vascular patterning. Taken together, our results suggest that HD-ZIP III TFs may function as a connecting point for CLE and auxin signaling pathways in promoting syncytium formation, possibly by inducing root cells into a quiescent status and priming them for initial syncytial cell establishment and/or subsequent cellular incorporation.
Lattice QED in an external magnetic field: Evidence for dynamical chiral symmetry breaking
Authors: Kogut J. B. , Sinclair D. K.
Published: February 2024

We simulate quantum electrodynamics (QED) in a strong constant homogeneous external magnetic field on a Euclidean space-time lattice using the rational hybrid Monte Carlo method, developed for simulating lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Our primary goal is to measure the chiral condensate in the limit when the input electron mass m is zero. We observe a nonzero value, indicating that the external magnetic field catalyzes chiral symmetry breaking as predicted by approximate truncated Schwinger-Dyson methods. Such behavior is associated with dominance by the lowest Landau level which causes the effective dimensional reduction from 3+1 dimensions to 1+1 dimensions for charged particles (electrons and positrons) where the attractive forces of QED can produce chiral symmetry breaking with a dynamical electron mass and associated chiral condensate. Since our lattice simulations use bare (lattice) parameters, while the Schwinger-Dyson analyses work with renormalized quantities, direct numerical comparison will require renormalization of our lattice results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Correlation function distributions for
O(N)
lattice field theories in the disordered phase
Authors: Yunus Cagin , Detmold William
Published: February 2024

Numerical computations in strongly interacting quantum field theories are often performed using Monte Carlo sampling methods. A key task in these calculations is to estimate the value of a given physical quantity from the distribution of stochastic samples that are generated using the Monte Carlo method. Typically, the sample mean and sample variance are used to define the expectation values and uncertainties of computed quantities. However, the Monte Carlo sample distribution contains more information than these basic properties, and it is useful to investigate it more generally. In this work, the exact form of the probability distributions of two-point correlation functions at zero momentum in O(N) lattice field theories in the disordered phase and in infinite volume are determined. These distributions allow for a robust investigation of the efficacy of the Monte Carlo sampling procedure and are shown also to allow for improved estimators of the target physical quantity to be constructed. The theoretical expectations are shown to agree with numerical calculations in the O(2) model.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Low frequency, 100–600 MHz, searches with axion cavity haloscopes
Authors: Chakrabarty S. , Gleason J. R. , Han Y. , Hipp A. T. , Solano M. , Sikivie P. , Sullivan N. S. , Tanner D. B. , Goryachev M. , Hartman E. , McAllister B. T. , Quiskamp A. , Thomson C. , Tobar M. E. , Awida M. H. , Chou A. S. , Hollister M. , Knirck S. , Sonnenschein A. , Wester W. , Braine T. , Guzzetti M. , Hanretty C. , Leum G. , Rosenberg L. J , Rybka G. , Sinnis J. , Clarke John , Siddiqi I. , Khatiwada R. , Carosi G. , Du N. , Robertson N. , Duffy L. D. , Boutan C. , Oblath N. S. , Taubman M. S. , Yang J. , Lentz E. , Daw E. J. , Perry M. G. , Bartram C. , Buckley J. H. , Gaikwad C. , Hoffman J. , Murch K. W. , Nitta T.
Published: February 2024

We investigate reentrant and dielectric loaded cavities for the purpose of extending the range of axion cavity haloscopes to lower masses, below the range where the Axion Dark Matter experiment (ADMX) has already searched. Reentrant and dielectric loaded cavities were simulated numerically to calculate and optimize their form factors and quality factors. A prototype reentrant cavity was built and its measured properties were compared with the simulations. We estimate the sensitivity of axion dark matter searches using reentrant and dielectric loaded cavities inserted in the existing ADMX magnet at the University of Washington and a large magnet being installed at Fermilab.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Black holes and foliation-dependent physics
Authors: Magueijo João
Published: February 2024

In theories where physics depends on a global foliation of space-time, a black hole’s horizon is surrounded by an “eternity skin”: a pile-up of spacelike leaves that in the far-out region cover all times from the start of collapse to future eternity. Any future foliation-dependent change in the laws of physics would be enacted in this region and affect the last stages of collapse toward black hole formation. We show how in some cases the black hole never forms but, rather, bounces into an explosive event. There is also a nonlocal transfer of energy between the asymptotic Universe and the formed black hole precursor, so that the back hole (if formed) or the exploding star (otherwise) will have a different mass from what was initially thrown in. These last matters are generic to nonlocal theories and can be traced to the breakdown of the local Hamiltonian constraint.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Multiparticle states in braided lightlike
κ
-Minkowski noncommutative QFT
Authors: Fabiano Giuseppe , Mercati Flavio
Published: February 2024

In this study, we construct a 1+1-dimensional, relativistic, free, complex scalar quantum field theory on the noncommutative spacetime known as lightlike κ-Minkowski. The associated κ-Poincaré quantum group of isometries is triangular, and its quantum R matrix enables the definition of a braided algebra of N points that retains κ-Poincaré invariance. Leveraging our recent findings, we can now represent the generators of the deformed oscillator algebra as nonlinear redefinitions of undeformed oscillators, which are nonlocal in momentum space. The deformations manifest at the multiparticle level, as the one-particle states are identical to the undeformed ones. We successfully introduce a covariant and involutive deformed flip operator using the R matrix. The corresponding deformed (anti)symmetrization operators are covariant and idempotent, allowing for a well-posed definition of multiparticle states, a result long sought in quantum field theory on κ-Minkowski. We find that P and T are not symmetries of the theory, although PT (and hence CPT) is. We conclude by noticing that identical particles appear distinguishable in the new theory, and discuss the fate of the Pauli exclusion principle in this setting.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gap between holographic and quantum mechanical extreme rays of the subadditivity cone
Authors: He Temple , Hubeny Veronika E. , Rota Massimiliano
Published: February 2024

We show via explicit construction that for six or more parties, there exist extreme rays of the subadditivity cone that can be realized by quantum states, but not by holographic states. This is a counterexample to a conjecture first formulated in Hernández-Cuenca [The holographic entropy cone from marginal independence, .], and implies the existence of deep holographic constraints that restrict the allowed patterns of independence among various subsystems beyond the universal quantum mechanical restrictions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum Steering with Imprecise Measurements
Authors: Tavakoli Armin
Published: February 2024

We study quantum steering experiments without assuming that the trusted party can perfectly control their measurement device. Instead, we introduce a scenario in which these measurements are subject to small imprecision. We show that small measurement imprecision can have a large detrimental influence in terms of false positives for steering inequalities, and that this effect can become even more relevant for high-dimensional systems. We then introduce a method for taking generic measurement imprecision into account in tests of bipartite steering inequalities. The revised steering bounds returned by this method are analytical, easily computable, and are even optimal for well-known families of arbitrary-dimensional steering tests. Furthermore, it applies equally well to generalized quantum steering scenarios, where the shared quantum state does not need to be separable, but is instead limited by some other entanglement property.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Saturation of Fishbone Instability by Self-Generated Zonal Flows in Tokamak Plasmas
Authors: Brochard G. , Liu C. , Wei X. , Heidbrink W. , Lin Z. , Gorelenkov N. , Chrystal C. , Du X. , Bao J. , Polevoi A. R. , Schneider M. , Kim S. H. , Pinches S. D. , Liu P. , Nicolau J. H. , Lütjens H.
Published: February 2024

Gyrokinetic simulations of the fishbone instability in DIII-D tokamak plasmas find that self-generated zonal flows can dominate the nonlinear saturation by preventing coherent structures from persisting or drifting in the energetic particle phase space when the mode frequency down-chirps. Results from the simulation with zonal flows agree quantitatively, for the first time, with experimental measurements of the fishbone saturation amplitude and energetic particle transport. Moreover, the fishbone-induced zonal flows are likely responsible for the formation of an internal transport barrier that was observed after fishbone bursts in this DIII-D experiment. Finally, gyrokinetic simulations of a related ITER baseline scenario show that the fishbone induces insignificant energetic particle redistribution and may enable high performance scenarios in ITER burning plasma experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A note on the Hendrickson–Lattman phase probability distribution and its equivalence to the generalized von Mises distribution
Authors: Barnett Michael J. , Kingston Richard L.
Published: February 2024

Hendrickson & Lattman [Acta Cryst.(1970), B26, 136–143] introduced a method for representing crystallographic phase probabilities defined on the unit circle. Their approach could model the bimodal phase probability distributions that can result from experimental phase determination procedures. It also provided simple and highly effective means to combine independent sources of phase information. The present work discusses the equivalence of the Hendrickson–Lattman distribution and the generalized von Mises distribution of order two, which has been studied in the statistical literature. Recognizing this connection allows the Hendrickson–Lattman distribution to be expressed in an alternative form which is easier to interpret, as it involves the location and concentration parameters of the component von Mises distributions. It also allows clarification of the conditions for bimodality and access to a simplified analytical method for evaluating the trigonometric moments of the distribution, the first of which is required for computing the best Fourier synthesis in the presence of phase, but not amplitude, uncertainty.
PYXIS: an integrated software package for synchrotron micro/nanodiffraction data analysis
Authors: Kou Jiawei , Chen Kai
Published: February 2024

PYXIS, a software package based on the MATLAB platform, is suitable for the in-depth analysis of synchrotron X-ray Laue micro/nanodiffraction and energy scan data. The main objective of the software is to analyze the following three aspects of the data. First, in a single Laue diffraction pattern, it can remove the background, search and index the peaks, and obtain the crystal orientation and the elastic strain tensor. A novel zone-axis assisted indexing algorithm has been developed to speed up this process. Second, a batch of Laue patterns obtained from a scan can be analyzed simultaneously to map the orientation and strain distributions, which is achieved efficiently by applying a peak position comparison strategy. An analysis of a Laue microdiffraction scan of the cross section of Li7La3Zr2O12 solid-state electrolyte has been taken as an example in this article to illustrate these functions. The third unique function in PYXIS involves data mining of energy scans. Considering a Ni-based superalloy as an example, the energy scan data sets are processed to reconstruct the diffraction peaks in three dimensions, allowing extraction of the lattice constants, lattice misfit and dislocation characteristics from the peak profiles.
Grazing-incidence synchrotron radiation diffraction studies on irradiated Ce-doped and pristine Y-stabilized ZrO2 at the Rossendorf beamline
Authors: Svitlyk Volodymyr , Braga Ferreira dos Santos Luiza , Niessen Jonas , Gilson Sara , Marquardt Julien , Findeisen Stefan , Richter Selina , Akhmadaliev Shavkat , Huittinen Nina , Hennig Christoph
Published: February 2024

In this work, Ce-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and pure YSZ phases were subjected to irradiation with 14 MeV Au ions. Irradiation studies were performed to simulate long-term structural and microstructural damage due to self-irradiation in YSZ phases hosting alpha-active radioactive species. It was found that both the Ce-doped YSZ and the YSZ phases had a reasonable tolerance to irradiation at high ion fluences and the bulk crystallinity was well preserved. Nevertheless, local microstrain increased in all compounds under study after irradiation, with the Ce-doped phases being less affected than pure YSZ. Doping with cerium ions increased the microstructural stability of YSZ phases through a possible reduction in the mobility of oxygen atoms, which limits the formation of structural defects. Doping of YSZ with tetravalent actinide elements is expected to have a similar effect. Thus, YSZ phases are promising for the safe long-term storage of radioactive elements. Using synchrotron radiation diffraction, measurements of the thin irradiated layers of the Ce-YSZ and YSZ samples were performed in grazing incidence (GI) mode. A corresponding module for measurements in GI mode was developed at the Rossendorf Beamline and relevant technical details for sample alignment and data collection are also presented.
The role of carboxylate ligand orbitals in the breathing dynamics of a metal-organic framework by resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy
Authors: Ugalino Ralph , Yamazoe Kosuke , Miyawaki Jun , Kiuchi Hisao , Kurahashi Naoya , Kosegawa Yuka , Harada Yoshihisa
Published: February 2024

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit structural flexibility induced by temperature and guest adsorption, as demonstrated in the structural breathing transition in certain MOFs between narrow-pore and large-pore phases. Soft modes were suggested to entropically drive such pore breathing through enhanced vibrational dynamics at high temperatures. In this work, oxygen K-edge resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy of the MIL-53(Al) MOF was performed to selectively probe the electronic perturbation accompanying pore breathing dynamics at the ligand carboxylate site for metal–ligand interaction. It was observed that the temperature-induced vibrational dynamics involves switching occupancy between antisymmetric and symmetric configurations of the carboxylate oxygen lone pair orbitals, through which electron density around carboxylate oxygen sites is redistributed and metal–ligand interactions are tuned. In turn, water adsorption involves an additional perturbation of π orbitals not observed in the structural change solely induced by temperature.
Omadacycline dihydrate, C29H40N4O7·2H2O, from X-ray powder diffraction data
Authors: Kaduk James A. , Boaz Nicholas C. , Gates-Rector Stacy , Gindhart Amy M. , Blanton Thomas N.
Published: February 2024

The crystal structure of the title compound {systematic name: (4S,4aS,5aR,12aR)-4,7-bis(dimethylamino)-9-[(2,2-dimethylpropylamino)methyl]-1,10,11,12a-tetrahydroxy-3,12-dioxo-4a,5,5a,6-tetrahydro-4H-tetracene-2-carboxamide dihydrate, C29H40N4O7·2H2O} has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data: it crystallizes in space group R3 with a = 24.34430 (7), c = 14.55212 (4) Å, V = 7468.81 (2) Å3 and Z = 9. Most of the hydrogen bonds are intramolecular, but two classical N—H...O intermolecular hydrogen bonds (along with probable weak C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds) link the molecules into a three-dimensional framework. The framework contains voids, which contain disordered water molecules. Keto–enol tautomerism is apparently important in this molecule, and the exact molecular structure is ambiguous.
Exploring users’ adoption intention of virtual try-on apps: how users’ individual characteristics affect post-use feelings
Authors: Hua Wen , Liu Yidong , Zhang Zongdeng , Li Meng , Yu Xiaofan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To gain a deeper understanding of the determinants impacting the intention of Chinese young consumers to utilize virtual try-on apps (VTOs), this study adopts a modified version of the electronic technology acceptance model (e-TAM). The primary objective is to investigate how consumers' characteristics influence their post-use feelings, subsequently affecting their attitude towards VTOs and their intention to use them. Additionally, this research aims to explore potential gender differences within this process.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a sample of 243 college students from a university in China was recruited to participate in on-site software use. A total of 227 valid questionnaires were collected and used for data analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to empirically evaluate the data and test the research hypotheses. Additionally, multiple group comparisons were conducted based on gender to examine potential differences in the acceptance process.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal a significant association between users' individual characteristics and post-use feelings. Moreover, there are notable differences between male and female students in terms of their perceptions of innovativeness, knowledge and understanding regarding post-use feelings. Notably, four variables within post-use feelings, except for perceived compatibility, are found to be predictive of attitude towards VTOs. Additionally, it is observed that attitude towards VTOs directly influences users' intention to utilize them.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the research on consumers' intention to use VTOs by examining the antecedents of post-use feelings, specifically four consumers’ individual characteristics. The findings of this study offer managerial insights for professionals to formulate marketing positioning and communication strategies.
Tussle of identities: Indian women engineers on work–family conflict
Authors: Purang Pooja , Dutta Archita , Biwalkar Sailee
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to focus on understanding the work–family conflict of Indian women engineers through the lens of identity conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 Indian women engineers working in India and abroad of varying ages and work experience helped in understanding the types, sources and coping decisions about work–family conflicts experienced by them. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the qualitative data.

Findings

The findings reveal that as women engineers negotiate their “engineering” and “woman” identities, work–family conflict manifests as a battle of time and responsibilities, psychological strain and behaviour-based conflict. Furthermore, self-expectations and negative social sanctions play an important role in augmenting the experiences of these conflicts. The results also reveal how women re-strategize their career decisions to conciliate their conflicting identities.

Originality/value

This study furthers the literature on resolving work–family conflict by taking an identity perspective. Recommendations in literature such as work flexibility and part-time work, place the onus on women to increase their capacities to perform different roles better. Examining work–family conflict from an identity perspective allows us to look at the psychological processes underlying the challenges women face in balancing work and home in a male-dominated profession. These give insights into the need to go beyond accommodations in the workplace to redefine gender roles and relations for equal participation of women in the modern workforce.
The first national subject benchmark statement for UK higher education in policing: the importance of effective partnership and collaboration
Authors: Pepper Ian , Cox Carol , Fee Ruth , Horgan Shane , Jarman Rod , Jones Matthew , Policek Nicoletta , Rogers Colin , Tattum Clive
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education in the UK focuses on maintaining, enhancing and standardising the quality of higher education. Of significant impact are the development of subject benchmark statements (SBS) by the QAA, which describe the type and content of study along with the academic standards expected of graduates in specific disciplines. Prior to 2022, the QAA did not have a SBS to which higher education policing programmes could be directly aligned.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 12-months, a SBS advisory group with representatives from higher education across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, The College of Policing, QAA, Police Federation of England and Wales and policing, worked in partnership to harness their collective professional experience and knowledge to create the first UK SBS for policing. Post publication of the SBS, permission was sought and granted from both the College of Policing and QAA for members of the advisory group to reflect in an article on their experiences of collaborating and working in partnership to achieve the SBS.

Findings

There is great importance of creating a shared vision and mutual trust, developed through open facilitated discussions, with representatives championing their cause and developing a collaborative and partnership approach to completing the SBS.

Practical implications

A collaborative and partnership approach is essential in developing and recognising the academic discipline of policing. This necessarily requires the joint development of initiatives, one of which is the coming together of higher education institutions, PSRBs and practitioner groups to collaborate and design QAA benchmark statements.

Social implications

The SBS advisory group has further driven forward the emergence of policing as a recognised academic discipline to benefit multiple stakeholders.

Originality/value

The SBS for policing is the first across the UK. The authors experiences can be used to assist others in their developments of similar subject specific benchmarking or academic quality standards.
A new exploration on passive control of transonic flow over a backward-facing step
Authors: Shen Xiang , Zeng Kai , Yang Liming , Zhu Chengyong , Dala Laurent
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to study passive control techniques for transonic flow over a backward-facing step (BFS) using square-lobed trailing edges. The study investigates the efficacy of upward and downward lobe patterns, different lobe widths and deflection angles on flow separation, aiming for a deeper understanding of the flow physics behind the passive flow control system.

Design/methodology/approach

Large Eddy Simulation and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes were used to evaluate the results of the study. The research explores the impact of upward and downward patterns of lobes on flow separation through the effects of different lobe widths and deflection angles. Numerical methods are used to analyse the behaviour of transonic flow over BFS and compared it to existing experimental results.

Findings

The square-lobed trailing edges significantly enhance the reduction of mean reattachment length by up to 80%. At Ma = 0.8, the up-downward configuration demonstrates increased effectiveness in reducing the root mean square of pressure fluctuations at a proximity of 5-step height in the wake region, with a reduction of 50%, while the flat-downward configuration proves to be more efficient in reducing the root mean square of pressure fluctuations at a proximity of 1-step height in the near wake region, achieving a reduction of 71%. Furthermore, the study shows that the up-downward configuration triggers early spanwise velocity fluctuations, whereas the standalone flat-downward configuration displays less intense crosswise velocity fluctuations within the wake region.

Practical implications

The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of square-lobed trailing edges as passive control techniques, showing significant implications for improving efficiency, performance and safety of the design in aerospace and industrial systems.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that the square-lobed trailing edges are effective in reducing the mean reattachment length and pressure fluctuations in transonic conditions. The study evaluates the efficacy of different configurations, deflection angles and lobe widths on flow and provides insights into the flow physics of passive flow control systems.
ISO 50001 based energy management system: a bibliometric perspective
Authors: Pandin Marlina , Sumaedi Sik , Yaman Aris , Ayundyahrini Meilinda , Supriatna Nina Konitat , Hesty Nurry Widya
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the bibliometric characteristics of the ISO 50001 publication, map the state of the art of the research topic and identify future research issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a bibliometric study. The data were collected from Scopus. Both performance and science mapping analysis were performed.

Findings

The research results showed the top author, paper and country of ISO 50001 publications. There are four author collaboration clusters and five country collaboration clusters. Eight research themes were mapped into four quadrants based on the density and centrality. The bibliometric coupling analysis showed six research clusters. Finally, the research issues were mapped. The implications were discussed.

Practical implications

This research gave several implications for researchers, practitioners and public policymakers. For researchers, the bibliometric analysis provides several research issues that can be followed up by future research. For practitioners, the bibliometric analysis showed that applied tools and methods that can assist the implementation of ISO 50001-based energy management have been developed. For public policymakers, the bibliometric analysis offered the knowledge structure on ISO 50001 that can be used in public policymaking development. The author collaboration cluster and the bibliometric coupling cluster can be used to trace the scientific information that is needed as the foundation of public policy.

Originality/value

Many ISO 50001 studies have been performed. However, based on the search in several main academic scientific paper databases, there is no bibliometric study on the research topic. This is the first bibliometric study on ISO 50001 publication. This study takes a holistic approach combining performance analysis and science mapping analysis that includes elaborated thematic mapping and evolution analysis.
Supply chain strategies in response to a black-swan event: a comparison of USA, French and Polish firms
Authors: Enz Matias G. , Ruel Salomée , Zsidisin George A. , Penagos Paula , Bernard Bracy Jill , Jarzębowski Sebastian
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This research aims to analyse the perceptions of practitioners in three regions regarding the challenges faced by their firms during the pandemic, considered a black-swan event. It examines the strategies implemented to mitigate and recover from risks, evaluates the effectiveness of these strategies and assesses the difficulties encountered in their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

In the summer of 2022, an online survey was conducted among supply chain (SC) practitioners in France, Poland and the St. Louis, Missouri region of the USA. The survey aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on their firms and the SC strategies employed to sustain operations. These regions were selected due to their varying levels of SC development, including infrastructure, economic resources and expertise. Moreover, they exhibited different responses in safeguarding the well-being of their citizens during the pandemic.

Findings

The study reveals consistent perceptions among practitioners from the three regions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on SCs. Their actions to enhance SC resilience primarily relied on strengthening collaborative efforts within their firms and SCs, thus validating the tenets of the relational view.

Originality/value

COVID-19 is (hopefully) our black-swan pandemic occurrence during our lifetime. Nevertheless, the lessons learned from it can inform future SC risk management practices, particularly in dealing with rare crises. During times of crisis, leveraging existing SC structures may prove more effective and efficient than developing new ones. These findings underscore the significance of relationships in ensuring SC resilience.
Drivers of wearable fitness technology adoption for health care: an investigation through organismic integration and regulatory focus theory
Authors: Haider Syed Waqar , Hashmi Hammad Bin Azam , Maryam Sayeda Zeenat
Published: February 2024

Purpose

In the prior literature, the motivation to adopt wearable fitness technology (WFT) has been linked with either intrinsic or extrinsic. However, how the subcategories of extrinsic motivations (identified, introjected and external) affect the consumers’ WFT adoption decision remains sparse. Furthermore, do regulatory focus (prevention vs promotion) and gender differences the effects of different motivations on WFT adoption is almost unknown in the health-care marketing literature. This study aims to fill the above-mentioned gap and to unfold the WFT adoption beyond the traditional motivation by incorporating the organismic integration theory (part of self-determined theory) and regulatory focus theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a questionnaire-based survey. Using the “AMOS” survey, questionnaire responses of 641 respondents were analyzed and validated by using structural equation modeling. All the variables were adopted from the literature.

Findings

The results show that intrinsic, identified and external motivations have the greatest impact on consumers’ decisions, while introjected motivation was not significant directly. The moderation effects of regulatory focus are significant in such a way that prevention focus influences the introjected motivation and promotion focus affects the external motivation and WFT adoption decision. Furthermore, the findings on gender moderation suggest that women are more intrinsically motivated, and men are more externally motivated for WFT adoption.

Practical implications

The new insights and contributions of this study provide a better understanding of WFT adoption and help sellers develop more effective marketing strategies.

Originality/value

This study incorporates subcategories of extrinsic motivations to provide a deeper understanding of consumers’ behavior. Furthermore, this study applies a unique framework of organismic integration theory to consumers’ WFT adoption. It is also among very few research that investigate regulatory focus and gender impact on consumers’ WFT adoption.
The effects of promoter share pledging on stock price crash risk and financial performance: empirical evidence from India
Authors: Kalia Ankita
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Despite the widespread prevalence of share pledging by Indian promoters, this area remains out of the researchers’ purview. This study aims to bridge this research gap by delineating the impact of promoter share pledging on future stock price crash risk and financial performance in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 257 companies listed on the Standard and Poor’s Bombay Stock Exchange 500 (S&P BSE 500) Index has been analysed using panel (fixed-effects) data regression methodology over 2011–2020. Further, alternative proxies for crash risk and financial performance are adopted to ensure that the study’s initial findings are robust. Finally, the instrumental variable with the two-stage least squares (IV-2SLS) method has also been employed to alleviate endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The results suggest a significantly positive relationship between promoter share pledging and future stock price crash risk in India. Conversely, this association is significantly negative for future financial performance. Moreover, the results hold, even after including alternative proxies of stock price crash risk and financial performance and addressing endogeneity concerns.

Originality/value

Owing to the sizeable equity shareholdings of the promoters, share pledging has remained a lucrative source of finance in India. Despite the popularity, the findings of this study question the relevance of share pledging by Indian promoters considering its impact on aggravating future stock price crash risk and deteriorating future financial performance.
Burgeoning of co-living and co-working space for the Indian millennial – a quiver or a hunt for novel strategies!
Authors: Roy Premasish , Nair Deepa , Yadav Rikhi
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purposes of this paper are to examine the factors persuasive in building competitive advantage strategies for the co-living and co-working service operators and study the sustainability of the business model for co-living and co-working space.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, a structured literature review of journals, articles, reports, conference proceedings, websites published in recent times and e-newspapers has been conducted. The first step of the research included identifying the relevant literature. For this step, multiple keywords were used in searching for literature on Google.com, Google Scholar, Proquest, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, Elsevier. Upon literature identification, the procured reports were divided into the following three parts: co-living reports, co-working report and others. More than 250 content reports were analyzed, and finally, 105 relevant literature reports from various sources were recorded for further analysis. Focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews were also conducted.

Findings

This study concluded after analyzing the literature, focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews that co-working and co-living space would be sustainable business if proper competitive strategies were leveraged, in accordance with the increase in demand over time. This study also serves as a wakeup call for the operators in the co-living and co-working sphere to work on their competitive advantages and differentiate themselves to tap business opportunities. The sustainability of the model by identifying the factors was also emphasized in this study. Further studies of co-living and co-working models should be conducted in the Indian context to analyze the multifarious potential that this new trend of shared accommodation can open up.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on content analysis, focus group discussion and semi-structured interview analysis. More content and literature were found to be evidenced mostly in Western literature. This is a limitation to the study. This study also had a limitation in including bigger sample of focus groups discussion and interviews; however, the analysis effectively set out a landscape of co-living and co-working space in India.

Originality/value

It is an original research work based on an existing concept and services. As co-living and co-working service operators are cropping up in major cities, enticing the target potential with a platter of services primarily linked with many of the beneficial factors, the researchers in this work attempt to examine the factors persuasive in building the competitive advantage strategies for the co-living and co-working space and the sustainability of these two business models. A ripe market with multifarious possibilities waiting to be tapped with the right plan of action is the need of the hour.
Can didactic audiovisual translation enhance intercultural learning through CALL? Validity and reliability of a students’ questionnaire
Authors: Rodríguez-Arancón Pilar , Bobadilla-Pérez María , Fernández-Costales Alberto
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to delve into the interplay between didactic audiovisual translation (DAT) and computer-assisted language learning (CALL), exploring their combined impact on the development of intercultural competence (IC) among learners of English as a foreign language (EFL).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quasi-experimental approach with a quantitative research design, the study analyses the outcomes of a questionnaire answered by 147 students across 15 language centres in Spanish Universities. These participants actively engaged in completing the lesson plans of the Traducción audiovisual como recurso didáctico en el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras project, a Spanish-Government funded research initiative aimed at assessing the effects of DAT on language learning.

Findings

The current study confirms the reliability of the instrument developed to measure students’ perceived improvement. Beyond validating the research tool, the findings of the current study confirm the significant improvement in intercultural learning achieved through DAT, effectively enhancing students’ motivation to engage in language learning.

Research limitations/implications

The current research solely examines students enrolled in higher education language centres. This paper closes with a CALL for additional research, including participants from other educational stages, such as primary or secondary education. In the broader context of CALL research, this study serves as a valuable contribution by exploring the potential of DAT in fostering IC in EFL settings.

Originality/value

This research confirms the potential of DAT and CALL to promote students’ learning process, as the combination of these approaches not only yields linguistic benefits but also intercultural learning.
The role of relational mechanisms in the executive coaching process on client outcomes in distance coaching relationships
Authors: Weinberg Frankie J. , Hausfeld Mary M.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

We examine the relationships between clients’ level of coaching readiness and trust in their executive coach and increases to both personal learning improved work performance. Distance relationships, the setting for this study, epitomize the norms of the New World of Work (NWoW), but also provide particular challenges for building trust and recognizing similarities between client and coach.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates distance coaching relationships in matched-pairs, longitudinal investigation of formal executive coaching.

Findings

Results support the proposed moderated mediation path. Findings reveal that both coaches’ perceptions of client readiness for coaching and client trust in coach each predict both client personal skill development and performance improvement.

Research limitations/implications

While important toward gaining a better understanding of the relational functioning of distance coaching relationships, inclusion of only distance relationships may truncate the generalizability of our findings.

Practical implications

The study’s findings have practical implications for organizations that invest in executive coaching with regard to the importance of evaluating the candidates' readiness for coaching before the assignment, trust-building throughout distance coaching relationships and perceptions of similarity on client coaching outcomes.

Originality/value

Distance relationships, the setting for this study, provide particular challenges for building trust and recognizing similarities between client and coach and the current investigation points to the relevance of these relational mechanisms to client outcomes. In so doing, this study explores how perceptions of deep-level similarity between a coach and client may serve as moderators of these relationships.
Twitter sentiment analysis and bitcoin price forecasting: implications for financial risk management
Authors: Saleem Tauqeer , Yaqub Ussama , Zaman Salma
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The present study distinguishes itself by pioneering an innovative framework that integrates key elements of prospect theory and the fundamental principles of electronic word of mouth (EWOM) to forecast Bitcoin/USD price fluctuations using Twitter sentiment analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

We utilized Twitter data as our primary data source. We meticulously collected a dataset consisting of over 3 million tweets spanning a nine-year period, from 2013 to 2022, covering a total of 3,215 days with an average daily tweet count of 1,000. The tweets were identified by utilizing the “bitcoin” and/or “btc” keywords through the snscrape python library. Diverging from conventional approaches, we introduce four distinct variables, encompassing normalized positive and negative sentiment scores as well as sentiment variance. These refinements markedly enhance sentiment analysis within the sphere of financial risk management.

Findings

Our findings highlight the substantial impact of negative sentiments in driving Bitcoin price declines, in contrast to the role of positive sentiments in facilitating price upswings. These results underscore the critical importance of continuous, real-time monitoring of negative sentiment shifts within the cryptocurrency market.

Practical implications

Our study holds substantial significance for both risk managers and investors, providing a crucial tool for well-informed decision-making in the cryptocurrency market. The implications drawn from our study hold notable relevance for financial risk management.

Originality/value

We present an innovative framework combining prospect theory and core principles of EWOM to predict Bitcoin price fluctuations through analysis of Twitter sentiment. Unlike conventional methods, we incorporate distinct positive and negative sentiment scores instead of relying solely on a single compound score. Notably, our pioneering sentiment analysis framework dissects sentiment into separate positive and negative components, advancing our comprehension of market sentiment dynamics. Furthermore, it equips financial institutions and investors with a more detailed and actionable insight into the risks associated not only with Bitcoin but also with other assets influenced by sentiment-driven market dynamics.
QFD-based hybrid neutrosophic MCDM approach with Six Sigma evaluation for sustainable product design in Industry 4.0
Authors: Kar Anwesa , Rai Rajiv Nandan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The concept of sustainable product design (SPD) is gaining significant attention in recent research. However, due to inherent uncertainties associated with new product development and incorporation of multiple qualitative and quantitative criteria; SPD is a complex and challenging task. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel approach by integrating quality function deployment (QFD), multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique and Six Sigma evaluation for facilitating SPD in the context of Industry 4.0.

Design/methodology/approach

The customer requirements are evaluated through the neutrosophic-decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-analytic network process (DEMATEL-ANP)-based approach followed by utilizing QFD matrix to estimate the weights of the engineering characteristics (EC). The Six Sigma method is then employed to evaluate the alternatives’ design based on the ECs’ values.

Findings

The effectiveness of the suggested approach is illustrated through an example. The result indicates that utilization of the neutrosophic MCDM technique with integration of Six Sigma methodology provides a simple, effective and computationally inexpensive method for SPD.

Practical implications

The proposed approach is helpful in upstream evaluation of the product design with limited experimental/numerical data, maintaining a strong competitive position in the market and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This work provides a novel approach to objectively quantify performance of SPD under the paradigm of Industry 4.0 using the integration of QFD-based hybrid MCDM with Six Sigma method.