bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Habenula Neural Biomarker Simultaneously Tracks Weekly and Daily Symptom Variations during Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy for Depression
Authors: Liu Shi , Qi Yu , Hu Shaohua , Wei Ning , Zhang Jianmin , Zhu Junming , Wu Hemmings , Hu Hailan , Yang Yuxiao , Wang Yueming
Published: July 2024

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the lateral habenula (LHb) is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) but its clinical effect has been variable, which can be improved by adaptive DBS (aDBS) guided by a neural biomarker of depression symptoms. A clinically-viable neural biomarker is desired to classify depression symptom states, track both slow and fast symptom variations during the treatment, respond to DBS parameter alterations, and be neurobiologically interpretable, which is currently lacking. Here, we conducted a study on one TRD patient who achieved remission following a 41-week LHb DBS treatment, during which we assessed slow symptom variations using weekly clinical ratings and fast variations using daily self-reports. We recorded daily LHb local field potentials (LFP) concurrently with the reports during the entire treatment process. We then used machine learning methods to identify a personalized depression neural biomarker from spectral and temporal LFP features. The identified neural biomarker classified high and low depression symptom severity states with a cross-validated accuracy of 0.97, with the most contributing spectral and temporal feature being LFP beta band power and Hurst exponent, respectively. It further simultaneously tracked both weekly (slow) and daily (fast) depression symptom variation dynamics, achieving test data explained variance of 0.74 and 0.63, respectively. It also responded to DBS frequency alterations. Finally, it can be neurobiologically interpreted as indicating changes in LHb excitatory and inhibitory balance during DBS treatment. Together, our results hold promise to identify clinically-viable neural biomarkers to facilitate future aDBS for treating TRD.
Clinician Perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools and Clinical Workflows: Potential Uses, Motivations for Adoption, and Sentiments on Impact
Authors: Ruan Elise L , Alkattan Aziz , Elhadad Noemie , Rossetti Sarah C
Published: July 2024

Successful integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare requires understanding of health professionals’ perspectives, ideally through data-driven approaches. In this study, we use a semi-structured survey and mixed methods analyses to explore clinicians’ perceptions on the utility of generative AI for all types of clinical tasks, familiarity and competency with generative AI tools, and sentiments regarding the potential impact of generative AI on healthcare. Analysis of 116 clinician responses found differing perceptions regarding the usefulness of generative AI across clinical workflows, with information gathering from external sources rated highest and communication rated lowest. Clinician-generated prompt suggestions focused most often on clinician decision making and were of mixed quality, with participants more familiar with generative AI suggesting more high-quality prompts. Sentiments regarding the impact of generative AI varied, particularly regarding trustworthiness and impact on bias. Thematic analysis of open-ended comments highlighted concerns about patient care and the role of clinicians.
Evaluating Life Simple Seven’s influence on brain health outcomes: The intersection of lifestyle and dementia
Authors: Denier-Fields Diandra N , Gangnon Ronald E , Rivera-Rivera Leonardo A , Betthauser Tobey J , Bendlin Barbara B , Johnson Sterling C , Engelman Corinne D
Published: July 2024

Background

Lifestyle factors have been studied for dementia risk, but few have comprehensively assessed both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) pathologies.

Objective

Our research aims to determine the relationships between lifestyle and various dementia pathologies, challenging conventional research paradigms.

Methods

Analyzing 1231 Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) study participants, we focused on Life Simple Seven (LS7) score calculations from questionnaire data and clinical vitals. We assessed brain health indicators including CBVD, AD, and cognition.

Results

Higher (healthier) LS7 scores were associated with better CBVD outcomes, including lower percent white matter hyperintensities and higher cerebral blood flow, and higher Preclinical Alzheimer’s Composite 3 and Delayed Recall scores. No significant associations were observed between LS7 scores and AD markers of amyloid and tau accumulation.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that the beneficial effects of LS7 on cognition are primarily through cerebrovascular pathways rather than direct influences on AD pathology.
Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer’s Prevention Prescribed by Physicians: Methods and Adaptations to COVID-19
Authors: Szabo-Reed Amanda N. , Watts Amber , Vidoni Eric D. , Mahnken Jonathan , Van Sciver Angela , Finley Katrina , Clutton Jonathan , Holden Rachel , Key Mickeal N. , Burns Jeffery M.
Published: July 2024

The health care system is insufficiently capitalizing on the benefits of physical exercise in America’s aging population. Few tools exist to help clinicians incorporate physical activity into their clinical care, while barriers limit older adults from initiating and maintaining exercise programs. The Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer’s Prevention (LEAP! Rx) Program has been designed to support providers and participants in lifestyle change. LEAP! Rx uses two forms of participant enrollment: physician referrals through electronic health records and self-referrals to test the efficacy of delivering a community-based exercise and healthy lifestyle program to older adults. After referral into the program, participants are randomized to receive the LEAP! Rx Program or are placed in a standard-of-care group to receive the program later. The LEAP! Rx program consists of a personalized and structured exercise program, lifestyle education, and mobile health monitoring. This includes a 12-week Empowerment phase with coaching and supervised exercise training, followed by a 40-week Lifestyle phase with intermittent supervised exercise and coaching. Lifestyle education includes monthly, evidence-based classes on optimal aging. The evaluation of LEAP! Rx focuses on 1) the assessment of implementation and scalability of the LEAP!Rx Program for clinicians and patients 2) the effect of the LEAP! Rx Program on cardiorespiratory fitness, 3) the impact of the LEAP! Rx Program on secondary intervention outcome measures of chronic disease risk factors, including insulin resistance, body composition, and lipids. If successful, this study’s findings could advance future healthcare practices, providing a new and practical approach to aging and chronic disease prevention.
Clinical Response to fMRI-guided Compared to Non-Image Guided rTMS in Depression and PTSD: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Oathes Desmond J. , Gonzalez Almaris Figueroa , Grier Julie , Blaine Camille , Garcia Sarai D. , Linn Kristin A.
Published: July 2024

Background

Image-guided brain stimulation is hypothesized to enhance clinical outcomes but head-to-head comparisons favoring image-guidance are so far lacking.

Methods

PTSD/MDD patients were randomized (N=51) to a two-condition sequence in a two period cross-over design. For the first condition, patients were randomized to 10-session rTMS treatment to either a subgenual cingulate (sgACC) functional connectivity cortical target (fMRI-guided) or standard scalp-based target. Additionally, patients were randomized to either watch a nature video or perform a demanding cognitive task with rTMS administration. Patients crossed over to the two conditions not received in period one. rTMS was delivered in an intermittent theta burst (iTBS) pattern with 2400 pulses per session. Among N=49 patients analyzed, 60% identified as female and average age was 34.

Results

Compared with the scalp-based target, fMRI-guided rTMS was superior in improving depression symptoms (F(1,43.92)=5.933,p=0.019) as well as PTSD hyperarousal (F(1,40.78)=5.076,p=0.030). The median level of symptom change for fMRI-guided targets exceeded 60% improvement across both scales. Symptom improvements at 6-mo follow-up were durable and both favored fMRI-guidance. For patients reporting symptoms at this timepoint, depression improved by 70% (N13); the PCL improved by 69% with Hyperarousal (N14) and Avoidance (N12) subscales improving by 78% and 79%, respectively, for the fMRI-guided target.

Conclusions

We demonstrated preliminary evidence for the clinical superiority of a new fMRI-guided target which should be followed up with larger comparative effectiveness studies that include imaging and clinical outcomes.
A resource for comparing AF-Cluster and other AlphaFold2 sampling methods
Authors: Wayment-Steele Hannah K. , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Colwell Lucy , Kern Dorothee
Published: July 2024

We are excited that Porter et al. have explored [1-3] the AF-Cluster [4] algorithm – this is critical for the field to advance. Increasingly many methods have been reported for perturbing and sampling AlphaFold2 (AF2) [5]. If multiple methods achieve similar results, that does not in itself invalidate any method, nor does it answerwhythese methods work. To help the field continue to try to answer these questions, we wish to highlight a few discrepancies between the AF-Cluster method as presented originally in our work [4] and the subsequent discussion in refs. [1-3]. We hope that this short work clarifies potential misunderstandings.
A comparison of prevalence estimates of smoking, alternative nicotine and alcohol use in Great Britain collected via telephone versus face-to-face: Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit surveys
Authors: Buss Vera Helen , Kock Loren , Tattan-Birch Harry , Jackson Sarah E. , Shahab Lion , Brown Jamie
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey mode of the Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study, a long-running repeat cross-sectional survey, had to change from face-to-face to telephone interviews. This study aimed to assess similarities and differences in sociodemographic, smoking, alternative nicotine and alcohol use estimates between the two survey modes, to understand the potential impacts of this change in methodology on prevalence estimates and trends over time.

Design

After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, we conducted parallel telephone and face-to-face household surveys in March 2022 and in January to March 2024, using a hybrid of random and quota sampling. Data from both years were aggregated.

Setting and Participants

People aged 16+ years living in private households in Great Britain.

Measurements

Sociodemographic characteristics, nicotine and alcohol use related estimates and their 95% CIs — unweighted and weighted — collected via telephone versus face-to-face in a household.

Findings

In the unweighted analyses, the telephone sample included slightly younger and less socioeconomically advantaged groups than the face-to-face sample. After the samples were weighted, estimates of sociodemographic characteristics and nicotine and alcohol use were generally consistent across methodologies, including daily cigarette smoking (face-to-face: 11.1% [10.1-12.1] vs. telephone: 10.6% [9.5-11.7]), non-daily cigarette smoking (face-to-face: 2.7% [2.2-3.3] vs. telephone: 3.4% [2.8-4.1]), and e-cigarette use among people who smoke (face-to-face: 27.0% [23.5-30.5] vs. telephone: 29.3% [25.4-33.3]). However — compared with telephone participants — a lower proportion of face-to-face participants reported currently using e-cigarettes (face-to-face: 6.4% [5.6-7.1] vs. telephone: 10.4% [9.3-11.5]), and a higher proportion reported never drinking alcohol (face-to-face: 31.1% [29.7-32.5] vs. telephone: 25.0% [23.5-26.5]) and never having 6 or more standard drinks on one occasion (face-to-face: 46.6% [44.7-48.5] vs. telephone: 40.2% [38.4-42.1]). More participants provided “don’t know” or “refused” responses in the telephone compared with the face-to-face interview, including in response to questions about tobacco use, e-cigarette device type, and the number of standard drinks on a typical day.

Conclusions

Face-to-face and telephone surveys generally yield similar estimates of nicotine and alcohol use. However, there may be some underreporting of vaping and drinking in a face-to-face survey conducted in the home compared with telephone.
Intracellular accumulation of free cholesterol in macrophages triggers a PARP1 response to DNA damage and PARP1 impairs lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response
Authors: Ting Kenneth K.Y. , Ibrahim Hisham , Cybulsky Myron I.
Published: July 2024

The formation of macrophage (Mφ) foam cells is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, yet how the process of lipid loading can modulate Mφ inflammatory responses by rewiring their intracellular metabolic circuits is not well understood. Our previous studies have shown that the accumulation of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) or free cholesterol in Mφs impaired their inflammatory response by suppressing HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis and upregulating NRF2 antioxidative response. However, it remains unclear if other metabolic processes are also contributory. In this study, we found that the accumulation of free cholesterol, but not oxLDL, in primary murine thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal Mφs (PMφs) enhanced a PARP1-dependent response associated with repair of DNA damage, which was characterized by poly ADP-ribosylation of proteins, phosphorylation of histone 2A.X and consumption of NAD+. Both oxLDL and cholesterol enhanced the PARP1 response after LPS stimulation. Treatment of PMφs with mitoTEMPO, a specific mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) scavenger, alleviated mtROS during cholesterol loading, blocked the PARP1 response and partially restored LPS-induced inflammatory gene expression. In contrast to inhibition of PARP1 enzymatic activity, knockdown of PARP1 expression in RAW264.7 Mφs with siRNA elevated LPS-induced inflammatory gene expression. Overall, our study suggests that cholesterol accumulation triggers a PARP1 response to DNA damage in Mφs and that PARP1 inhibits LPS-mediated inflammation through a non-enzymatic function.
Zebrafish Foxl2l functions in proliferating germ cells for female meiotic entry
Authors: Yang Ching-Hsin , Wang Yan-wei , Hsu Chen-wei , Pan You-Jiun , Chung Bon-chu
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Zebrafish sex differentiation is a complicated process and the detailed mechanism has not been fully understood. Here we characterized a transcription factor, Foxl2l, that participates in female oogenesis. We show that it is expressed specifically in proliferating germ cells in juvenile gonads and mature ovaries. We have used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate zebrafish deficient infoxl2lexpression. Zebrafish withfoxl2l-/-are all males, and this female-to-male sex reversal cannot be reversed bytp53mutation, indicating this sex reversal is unrelated to cell death. We have generated transgenic fish expressing GFP under the control offoxl2lpromoter to track the development offoxl2l+-germ cells, which failed to enter meiosis and were accumulated as cystic cells. Our RNA-seq analysis also showed the reduced expression of genes in meiosis and oogenesis among other affected pathways. All together, we show that zebrafish Foxl2l is a nuclear factor controlling the expression of meiotic and oogenic genes, and its deficiency leads to defective meiotic entry and the accumulation of premeiotic germ cells.

Highlights

Zebrafishfoxl2lis expressed only in proliferating germ cells in juvenile gonads and mature ovaries.

Foxl2l is a nuclear factor that promotes expression of genes involved in meiosis and oogenesis.

Zebrafish depleted offoxl2llack meiotic oocytes in juveniles and become all males in adults.

Mutation offoxl2lleads to the accumulation of premeiotic germ cells.
Jukes-Cantor Correction for Phylogenetic Tree Reconstruction
Authors: Gabriel Emunefe Friday , Jeff Ugbene Ifeanyichukwu
Published: July 2024

Phylogenetic tree reconstruction relies on accurate estimation of evolutionary distances between sequences. However, the observed Hamming distance between sequences can be misleading due to saturation, where multiple substitutions at the same site obscure the true evolutionary history. The Jukes-Cantor correction method addresses this by accounting for multiple substitutions, providing a more accurate representation of evolutionary distance. This study investigates the application of the Jukes-Cantor correction to the Hamming distance of genetic sequences in a case study, highlighting its impact on phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Our results demonstrate that the Jukes-Cantor correction significantly improves the accuracy of phylogenetic inference, particularly for sequences with substantial evolutionary divergence. However, the model’s reliance on simplifying assumptions, such as equal substitution rates and lack of base composition bias, limits its applicability to sequences with moderate levels of divergence. This study stands as a bedrock for further research into more complex models that can account for model violations and provide more accurate estimations of evolutionary distances for highly divergent sequences.
Genome-based discovery of pachysiphine synthases inTabernaemontana elegans
Authors: Lezin Enzo , Durand Mickael , Birer Williams Caroline , Lopez Vazquez Ana Luisa , Perrot Thomas , Gautron Nicolas , Pétrignet Julien , Cuello Clément , Jansen Hans J. , Magot Florent , Szwarc Sarah , Le Pogam Pierre , Beniddir Mehdi A. , Koudounas Konstantinos , Oudin Audrey , St-Pierre Benoit , Giglioli-Guivarc’h Nathalie , Sun Chao , Papon Nicolas , Krogh Jensen Michael , Dirks Ron P. , O’Connor Sarah E. , Besseau Sébastien , Courdavault Vincent
Published: July 2024

Plant specialized metabolism represents an inexhaustible source of active molecules, some of which have been used in human health for decades. Among these, monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) include a wide range of valuable compounds with anticancer, antihypertensive, or neuroactive properties. This is particularly the case for the pachysiphine derivatives which show interesting antitumor and anti-alzheimer activities but accumulate at very low levels in severalTabernaemontanaspecies. Unfortunately, genome data inTabernaemontanaceaeare lacking and knowledge on the biogenesis of pachysiphine-related MIAsin plantaremains scarce, limiting the prospects for biotechnological supply of many pachysiphine-derived biopharmaceuticals. Here, we report a raw version of the toad tree (Tabernaemontana elegans) genome sequence. These new genomic resources led to the identification and characterization of a couple of genes encoding cytochrome P450 with pachysiphine synthase activity. Our phylogenomic and docking analyses highlights the different evolutionary processes that have been recruited to epoxidize the pachysiphine precursor tabersonine at a specific position and in a dedicated orientation, thus enriching our understanding of the diversification and speciation of the MIA metabolism in plants. These gene discoveries also allowed us to engineer the synthesis of MIAs in yeast through the combinatorial association of metabolic enzymes resulting in the tailor-made synthesis of non-natural MIAs. Overall, this work represents a step forward for the future supply of pachysiphine-derived drugs by microbial cell factories.

Significance Statement

While pachysiphine is a monoterpene indole alkaloid of high interest and the precursor of an anti-Alzheimer compound, its biosynthesis involving the epoxidation of tabersonine remains uncharacterized. By sequencing and assembling the genome ofTabernaemontana elegans, we identified two P450s exhibiting a pachysiphine synthase activity that we modelized to explore the evolutionary scenario leading to the acquisition of this expoxidase activity; and used to engineer yeast cell factories for securing pachysiphine supply and producing new-to-nature alkaloids.
Lasso peptides sviceucin and siamycin I have anti-virulence activity and restore vancomycin effectiveness in vancomycin-resistantEnterococcussp. andStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Boudrioua Abdelhakim , Baëtz Benjamin , Desmadril Solenn , Goulard Christophe , Groo Anne-Claire , Lombard Carine , Gueulle Sabrina , Marugan Marie , Malzert-Freon Aurélie , Hartke Axel , Li Yanyan , Giraud Caroline
Published: July 2024

Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human health and new drugs are urgently needed. Ideally, these drugs should have several cellular targets in pathogens, decreasing the risk of resistance development. We show here that two natural ribosomally-synthesized lasso peptides (LP), sviceucin and siamycin I, (i) abolish bacterial virulence of pathogenic enterococci, (ii) restore vancomycin clinical susceptibility of vancomycin-resistant (VR) enterococciin vitroand in a surrogate animal model, and (iii) re-sensitize VRStaphylococcus aureus. Mode of action (MoA) analyses showed that they do so by inhibiting the histidine kinases (HKs) FsrC and VanS controlling these phenotypes. Strains resistant to the vancomycin/LP combination were difficult to obtain, and were still fully susceptible to the anti-virulence effect of the LPs, highlighting the advantage of multiple targets. Together with the highly sought-after MoA as HK inhibitors, such properties make these lasso peptides promising candidates for the development of next generation antibiotics.
Discovery of chemical marker formaidong(roots ofOphiopogon japonicusandLiriope spicata): a feature-based molecular networking approach
Authors: Lei F.Y. , Saldanha L.L. , Weckerle C. , Bigler L.
Published: July 2024

Background

Dried tuberous roots ofOphiopogon japonicusandLiriope spicataare collectively used asmaidongmedicine in China for the same clinical efficacy-nourishyinand generate fluids, moisten lung and clear heart fire. Extensive cultivation of these species has necessitated the need for stringent quality control measures. To guide quality control efforts effectively, a comprehensive understanding of metabolomic profiles ofmaidongis essential.

Methods

Metabolomic profiling was conducted using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a timsTOF Pro hybrid quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer employing trapped ion mobility spectrometry. Data interpretation was enhanced through feature-based molecular networking (FBMN), uni- and multivariate data analysis (MVDA), andin silicoannotation.

Results

The present study showcases a holistic overview of the metabolomic diversity and variation amongmaidongderived from different origins. Steroidal saponins and homoisoflavonoids were recognized as predominant chemical classes.Ophiopogon japonicuspredominantly exhibited a variety of homoisoflavonoids, whereasLiriope spicatawas characterized by a diversity of steroidal saponins. Characteristic metabolites amongmaidongderived from four origins were highlighted. Annotations of 58 metabolites revealed significant inter-species discrimination, with 6 and 36 metabolites critical for regional differentiation inLiriope spicataandOphiopogon japonicus, respectively.

Conclusion

The current approach effectively discriminatedmaidongfrom different origins, and facilitated the selection of chemical markers for quality assessment. This approach supports the advancement of quality control strategies for botanical medicines, particularly those derived from multiple origins, ensuring a more rigorous chemical marker selection for botanical medicines.
The effect of norepinephrine on ovarian dysfunction by mediating ferroptosis in mice model
Authors: Hong Hanqing , Xiao Chengqi , Weng lichun , Wang Qian , Lai Dongmei
Published: July 2024

Studies shows that stress is associated with ovarian dysfunction. Norepinephrine (NE), a classic stress hormone in the stress response, is less recognized for its role in ovarian function. A NE-treated mouse model is induced by intraperitoneal injection of NE for 4 weeks. Compared with the normal control, we find that NE-treated mice show disturbances in the estrous cycle, decreased levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2), and increased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, the number of primordial follicles, primary follicles, secondary follicles, and antral follicles decreased, while the number of atretic follicles increased in NE-treated mice, indicating NE-induced ovarian dysfunction. RNA sequencing further reveals that genes associated with ferroptosis are significantly enriched in NE-treated ovarian tissues. Concurrently, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferrous ion, and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, while the expression level of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) decreased.

To elucidate the mechanism of NE-induced ferroptosis in ovaries and the potential reversal by Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant, we conduct both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, we observe that the granulosa cell line KGN, when treated with NE, shows decreased cell viability, reduced expression of GPX4, elevated ferrous ion and ROS content, and increased MDA levels. However, these NE-induced changes are rescued by the addition of CoQ10. In the mouse model, we find that NE-treated mice supplemented with CoQ10 increased GPX4 levels and decreased the contents of iron, ROS, and MDA compared with the NE group. Moreover, the differential expression of genes associated with ferroptosis induced by NE is ameliorated by CoQ10 in NE-treated mice. Additionally, CoQ10 improved ovarian function, as evidenced by increased ovarian weight, more regular estrous cycles, and an increase in follicles at various stages of growth in NE-treated mice. In conclusion, NE induces ovarian dysfunction by triggering ferroptosis in ovarian tissues, and CoQ10 represents a promising approach for protecting reproductive function by inhibiting ferroptosis.
Unsupervised learning as a computational principle works in visual learning of natural scenes, but not of artificial stimuli
Authors: Watanabe Takeo , Sasaki Yuka , Ogawa Daiki , Shibata Kazuhisa
Published: July 2024

The question of whether we learn exposed visual features remains a subject of controversy. A prevalent computational model suggests that visual features frequently exposed to observers in natural environments are likely to be learned. However, this unsupervised learning model appears to be contradicted by the significant body of experimental results with human participants that indicates visual perceptual learning (VPL) of visible task-irrelevant features does not occur with frequent exposure. Here, we demonstrate a resolution to this controversy with a new finding: Exposure to a dominant global orientation as task-irrelevant leads to VPL of the orientation, particularly when the orientation is derived from natural scene images, whereas VPL did not occur with artificial images even with matched distributions of local orientations and spatial frequencies to natural scene images. Further investigation revealed that this disparity arises from the presence of higher-order statistics derived from natural scene images—global structures such as correlations between different local orientation and spatial frequency channels. Moreover, behavioral and neuroimaging results indicate that the dominant orientation from these higher-order statistics undergoes less attentional suppression than that from artificial images, which may facilitate VPL. Our results contribute to resolving the controversy by affirming the validity of unsupervised learning models for natural scenes but not for artificial stimuli. They challenge the assumption that VPL occurring in everyday life can be predicted by laws governing VPL for conventionally used artificial stimuli.
Exciton interacting with a moiré lattice: Polarons, strings, and optical probing of spin correlations
Authors: Julku Aleksi , Ding Shanshan , Bruun Georg M.
Published: July 2024

The ability to create and stack different atomically thin transition metal dichacogenide (TMD) layers on top of each other has opened up a rich playground for exploring new and interesting two-dimensional (2D) quantum phases. As a consequence of this remarkable development, there is presently a need for new sensors to probe these 2D layers, since conventional techniques for bulk materials such as x-ray and neutron scattering are inefficient. Here, we develop a general theory for how an exciton in a TMD monolayer couples to spin and charge correlations in an adjacent moiré lattice created by a TMD bilayer. Virtual tunneling of charge carriers, assumed for concreteness to be holes, between the moiré lattice and the monolayer combined with the presence of bound hole-exciton states, i.e., trions, give rise to an effective interaction between the moiré holes and the exciton. In addition to the Umklapp scattering, we show that this interaction is spin-dependent and therefore couples the exciton to the spin correlations of the moiré holes, which may be in- as well as out-of-plane. We then use our theory to examine two specific examples where the moiré holes form in-plane ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic order. In both cases, the exciton creates spin waves in the moiré lattice, which we analyze by using a self-consistent Born approximation that includes such processes to infinite order. We show that the competition between magnetic order and exciton motion leads to the formation of a well-defined quasiparticle consisting of the exciton surrounded by a cloud of magnetic frustration in the moiré lattice sites below. For the antiferromagnet, we furthermore demonstrate the presence of the elusive geometric string excitations and discuss how they can be observed via their smoking gun energy dependence on the spin-spin coupling, which can be tuned by varying the twist angle of the moiré bilayer. All these phenomena have clear signatures in the exciton spectrum, and as such our results illustrate that excitons are promising quantum probes providing optical access to the spin correlations of new phases predicted to exist in TMD materials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Silent white light: Reduction of the second-order intensity correlation coefficient
Authors: Hansmann Kai Niklas , Dommermuth Franziska , Elsäßer Wolfgang , Walser Reinhold
Published: July 2024

We investigate the intrawaveguide statistics manipulation of broadband light by combining semiconductor quantum dot physics with quantum optics. By cooling a quantum dot superluminescent diode to the liquid nitrogen temperature of 77 K, Blazek [] have demonstrated a temperature-dependent reduction of the second-order intensity correlation coefficient from 2 for thermal amplified spontaneous emission light to g(2)(0,T=190K)≈1.33. Here, we model the broadband photon statistics assuming amplified spontaneous emission radiation in a pumped, saturable quantum dot gain medium. We demonstrate that, by an intensity increase due to the quantum dot occupation dynamics via the temperature-tuned quasi-Fermi levels, together with the saturation nonlinearity, a statistics manipulation from thermal Bose-Einstein statistics towards Poissonian statistics can be realized, thus producing “silent white light” with a reduced second-order correlation coefficient. Such intensity-noise-reduced broadband radiation is relevant for many applications such as optical coherence tomography, optical communication, or optical tweezers.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
De-emulsifying barriers to the circular economy-a fertilizer industry perspective
Authors: Katiyar Abhinav , Gedam Vidyadhar V.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The fertilizer industry (FI) is well known for its high energy needs, reliance on limited natural resources, and negative environmental impacts (EIs). The consumption of 14.2 billion tons (BT) of materials and the extraction of 1,580 tons of resources per acre are solely attributed to the FI. Because of FI's resource and energy-intensive nature, it becomes crucial for FI to adopt a Circular Economy (CE) to improve efficiency, energy, and resource reuse. However, FI needs to strengthen its progress toward CE adoption. The proposed study comprehends and examines the barriers that inhibit the adoption of CE in FI.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 15 barriers obstructing the CE in FI are identified and categorized into seven different categories. The barriers were identified by performing a comprehensive literature review and expert input. The study employs the DEMATEL approach to analyze the barriers and establish a causal relationship between them.

Findings

The study reveals that the most significant challenge to implementing CE in FI is governmental restrictions, which are followed by a lack of awareness and understanding and a need for a steady supply of bulk materials. The results comprehensively comprehend the pivotal factors that jeopardize the CE in FI and furnish a robust foundation for the methodology and tactics to surmount the barriers to CE adoption.

Originality/value

The literature review encompasses the barriers to the transition to CE and offers management and policy perspectives that help the FI's policy and decision-makers surmount these barriers with future research endeavors.
Exploring professional perspectives on integrating generative artificial intelligence into corporate learning and development: an organizational change perspective
Authors: Alhusban Mohammad Issa , Alshurafat Hashem , Khatatbeh Ibrahim N.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the integration of generative artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, into workplace L&D practices, exploring the associated advantages and challenges such integration from an organizational change perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with twelve learning and development (L&D) experts.

Findings

This study indicates that ChatGPT can positively impact L&D by streamlining processes and potentially enhancing employee performance, engagement and satisfaction. However, to mitigate employee resistance, organizations must clearly communicate the necessity and rationale behind the change, involve employees in the implementation process and address trust issues. Key challenges such as overreliance on ChatGPT, AI skill shortages and technology issues like privacy breaches and misinformation must be managed through strong governance frameworks, including policies, guidelines and regular audits.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s scope is confined to semi-structured interviews with L&D experts, potentially limiting its generalizability. Further research could explore the long-term effects and broader implications of ChatGPT integration in different organizational contexts.

Practical implications

By framing GenAI integration within the context of organizational change, this study offers insights into managing the transition effectively by providing guidance for managers on effectively integrating ChatGPT into L&D practices, emphasizing the importance of mitigating potential negative consequences while maximizing benefits.

Social implications

Integrating ChatGPT into organizational L&D has the potential to reshape how employees acquire new skills and knowledge, potentially influencing organizational culture and dynamics. However, careful consideration is required to ensure that the integration process aligns with ethical and social norms, minimizing adverse impacts.

Originality/value

This research contributes foundational insights into the integration of ChatGPT in corporate L&D by researching and understanding the opinions of corporate professionals. It serves as a starting point for organizations to identify challenges in adopting GenAI.
Causal relationship between project financing and overruns in major dam projects in Africa
Authors: Olatunji Oluwole Alfred , Rotimi James Olabode Bamidele , Rotimi Funmilayo Ebun , Silva Chathurani C.W.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Cost and schedule overruns are rife in dam projects. Normative evidence espouses overruns as though they are inimical to development and prosperity aspirations of stakeholders. This study examines the causal relationship between project financing and overruns.

Design/methodology/approach

Causative data were extracted from completion reports of 28 major dam projects in Africa. Each of the projects was financed jointly by up to 10 international development lenders. Relationships between causes of overruns and project outcomes were analysed.

Findings

Analyses elicit indicators of remarkable correlations between finance procedures and project outcomes. Lenders’ disposition to risk attenuation was the main debacles to project success. Interests had mounted, whilst release of fund was erratic and ill-timed. Finance objectives and mechanisms were grossly inadequate for projects’ intense bifurcations. Projects had slowed or stalled because lenders’ risks attenuation processes were purposed to favour lenders’ objectives, and not projects’ interests. In addition, findings also show project owners’ own funds and the number of lenders to a single project correlate with overruns.

Practical implications

Findings imply commercial complexities around major projects. They also show transactions are shaped by subtle (mis)trust behaviours in project finance procedures. Thus, scholarly solutions to project performance issues should consider behavioural issues of stakeholding parties more broadly, beyond contractors and project owners. Project finance ecosystems are vulnerable to major actors’ self-interests, opportunism and predatory conducts. Borrowers would manage this by developing and improving their capacity to build resilience and trust. Evidence shows intense borrower nations in Africa have limited capacity and acuity for these.

Originality/value

This study contextualises megaprojects in complexity rather than cost. Its additionality is in how finance steers absolute control of project environment away from project owners and how finance administration triggers risks and overrun.
Air pollution and firm performance: the role of innovation and happiness
Authors: Kalash Ismail
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The detrimental effects of air pollution on the continuity of corporations attract more and more attention in the economic and financial studies. Prior literature investigates the impact of air pollution on corporate financial performance. This study aims to extend this research area by exploring the role of corporate innovation and happiness as factors that mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and moderate the relationship between air pollution and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses two-step system generalized method of moments models to analyze the data of 200 firms listed on Istanbul Stock Exchange over the period 2009–2022.

Findings

The results show that firms located in regions with higher air pollution are more likely to invest in innovation. In addition, firms that are more exposed to air pollution and have investments in research and development (R&D) have less ability to improve their financial performance compared to firms that have no investments in R&D. In a similar vein, although R&D has positive effect on financial performance, this effect diminishes in the presence of higher air pollution. The results also show that happiness has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between air pollution and financial performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this study related to the role of corporate innovation in determining the effect of air pollution on financial performance indicate that the costs of investment in R&D weaken the firm’s ability to mitigate the adverse impact of air pollution on financial performance, which provides important signals to policymakers to concentrate more on supporting investment in corporate innovation by providing the necessary facilities for firms to improve their innovative performance and decrease the costs of investment in innovation.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, this research is the first to explore the influence of happiness on the air pollution–financial performance relationship. In addition, this study differs from most prior ones by examining how responding to air pollution through investment in innovation can moderate the association between air pollution and financial performance.
Entrepreneurial and international? The role of entrepreneurial orientation in the Brazilian franchises’ internationalization process
Authors: Dermonde Matheus , Fischer Bruno Brandão , Moraes Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de
Published: July 2024

Purpose

We investigate the relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and the internationalization pathways of Brazilian franchises. Our aim is to unravel the patterns of firm-level entrepreneurial characteristics vis-à-vis their corresponding processes of internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach

We extracted and curated data from the directories of the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF). Additionally, we scrutinized the International Intensity, International Complexity and EO degree of 27 Brazilian franchises engaged in international activities. Associations between these dimensions were assessed through fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

Our findings suggest that franchisees can enhance their international activities by adopting various configurations of EO attributes. This discovery illuminates the intricacies of EO and its association with firms’ operations and performance. Accordingly, we empirically demonstrate that EO is not a monolithic element. Instead, it should be perceived as a multifaceted and dynamic construct.

Originality/value

This study aimed to examine the internationalization process of franchises through the EO lens, a perspective that has not been explored in the existing literature. This unique approach offers novel insights about the internationalization processes of this particular business model. Furthermore, our research delves into the intricate relationship between firm-level EO and the trajectories of firm-level internationalization.
How do recommendations influence patient satisfaction? Evidence from an online health community
Authors: Wang Hao , Liu Shan , Gao Baojun , Aziz Arslan
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether seeking recommendations for doctors from offline word-of-mouth or online reviews influences patient satisfaction after treatment, and how the source of recommendation affects this effect.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a unique dataset of more than three million reviews from a popular Chinese online health community, this study used the coarsened exact matching method and built fixed-effect models to conduct empirical analysis.

Findings

The results suggest that selecting doctors according to recommendations can improve patient satisfaction and mitigate their dissatisfaction when encountering service failures. However, online recommendations were found to be less effective than offline sources in improving patient satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study provides important insights into patient satisfaction and doctor-patient relationships by revealing the antecedents of satisfaction and the potential for improving this relationship. It also contributes to the understanding of how recommendations in the healthcare context can improve patient satisfaction and alleviate the negative impact of service failures.
Toward a more pre-emptive approach to managing work emotions and emotional labor
Authors: Lee Sean T.H.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To propound a broadened perspective on emotional labor management by exploring mitigatory approaches that could be pre-emptively deployed prior to actual episodic experiences of emotional dissonance and their associated negative consequences (e.g. burnout). At present, the management of emotional labor appears to skew toward reactive measures, such as deploying employee assistance programs (EAPs) to assist overwhelmed employees in coping better with their emotional demands, reducing job-related emotional demands or a combination of both.

Design/methodology/approach

Intricate processes of emotion emergence and established literature on emotion regulation are considered. By conceptualizing emotion emergence as a process entailing situation, attention, appraisal and response, current efforts can be seen as primarily acting upon the late stages of this process. General emotion regulation strategies that act upon more upstream processes are then considered and applied to the specific context of emotional labor.

Findings

Pre-emptive steps could be taken from the early stages of job selection as well as personnel selection and assessment through systematic and concerted efforts in identifying job-related emotional demands (e.g. specific display rules, frequency and intensity). Formal job descriptions could then reflect these demands to better facilitate self-selection processes. Additionally, considering these identified parameters as personnel selection and assessment criteria could further enhance person-job fit in terms of emotional congruency. For current hires, pre-emptive steps could also be taken to subliminally modulate their emotional emergence trajectory toward more job-congruent emotions. Collectively, these steps may facilitate the pre-emptive reduction of emotionally dissonant work episodes and bear substantive potential to be deployed synergistically with current, more reactive measures.

Originality/value

This paper offers a broadened perspective on emotional labor management. Through considering intricate processes of emotion emergence and established literature on emotion regulation, a pre-emptive perspective toward managing work emotions and emotional labor is propounded. It is believed that the synergistic incorporation of these pre-emptive management approaches with current strategies (e.g. reducing emotional demands, EAPs, etc.) would holistically allow for greater amelioration of this debilitating issue. Finally, it is hoped that this paper could serve as a primer for future research and discourses to be conducted, such that our arsenal available for combating emotional labor could be substantively expanded to holistically target all stages of the emotion emergence process.
Decision on the introduction of blockchain technology in green supply chains considering altruistic preferences
Authors: Zhao Wenxian
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the blockchain introduction and altruistic preference decisions of the supplier in agricultural food supply chains and discuss how the supplier decisions are influenced by blockchain technology and altruistic preference levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The author considers a single period two-level supply chain model to describe the supplier’s decisions. The supplier, as the leader of the game, decides whether to introduce blockchain technology and his own level of altruistic preferences. Consumers have environmental awareness and heterogeneity in green trust. Supply chain members determine their own product pricing and green effort level under Stackelberg game.

Findings

The results reveal the negative impact of unit verification cost in the technology introduction process on the supply chain. In addition, the supplier can adjust their profits by adjusting their altruistic preferences after introducing blockchain to offset the impact of blockchain through the influence of altruistic preferences as discussed by the author.

Originality/value

This paper investigates how the profits and green efforts of supply chain members are influenced by blockchain technology and altruistic preferences.