bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryptochrome 4b protein is likely irrelevant for the radical pair based magnetoreception in the European robin
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Ameerjan Alisha Bhanu Pattani , Hungerland Jonathan , Langebrake Georg , Ravnsborg Tina , Jensen Ole N. , Schmidt Jessica , Bartoelke Rabea , Kasahara Takaoki , Satish Baladev , Schwigon Leonard , Dedek Karin , Nolte Arne , Liedvogel Miriam , Solov'yov Ilia A. , Mouritsen Henrik
Published: February 2025

Avian cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) protein is a putative magnetosensitive molecule facilitating precise long-distance navigation in migratory birds. Two splice variants of Cry4 were reported in European robin (Erithacus rubecula), namely ErCry4a and ErCry4b. It is known that ErCry4a protein exhibits electron transfer between the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor and tryptophan residues that generates magnetically sensitive radical pairs for magnetoreception. However, little is known about the ErCry4b isoform. We therefore characterized the properties of ErCry4b to see whether it fulfills prerequisites to be a radical pair magnetic sensor molecule. Our results show that ErCry4b protein does not bind FAD in vitro. Computational structure simulations revealed that the FAD non-binding in ErCry4b is likely due to protein structure dynamics. Furthermore, ErCry4b protein abundance in the robin retina, cerebellum and liver is below the detection limit of immunoprecipitation assays coupled with mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, transcript analyses show that ErCRY4b mRNA abundance is 10 times less than ErCRY4b in the retina. In conclusion, ErCry4b does not fulfill the prerequisites to be a radical pair based magnetic sensing molecule due to the lack of FAD binding, and it might not even be expressed as a functional protein in the European robin.
Fragment-Based Drug Discovery for Transthyretin Kinetic Stabilisers Using a Novel Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Method
Authors: Chen Wenjie
Published: February 2025

A Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE) fragment screening methodology was developed and applied to the human plasma protein Transthyretin (TTR), normally soluble, but could misfold and aggregate, causing amyloidosis. Termed Free Probe Peak Height Restoration (FPPHR), it monitors changes in the level of free ligand known to bind TTR (the Probe Ligand) in the presence of competing fragments. 129 fragments were screened, 12 of the 16 initial hits (12.4% hit rate) were co-crystallised with TTR, 11 were found at the binding site (92% confirmation rate). Subsequent analogue screens have identified a novel TTR-binding scaffold 4-(3H-pyrazol-4-yl)quinoline and its derived compounds were further studied by crystallography, Circular Dichroism (CD), Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and radiolabelled125I-Thyroxine displacement assay in neat plasma. Two lead molecules had similar ITC Kd and125I-Thyroxine displacement IC50values to that of Tafamidis, adding another potential pipeline for transthyretin amyloidosis. The methodology is reproducible, procedurally simple, automatable, label-free without target immobilisation, non-fluorescence based and site-specific with low false positive rate, which could be applicable to fragment screening of many drug targets.
Reciprocal roles of two trehalose transporters in aestivating cabbage stem flea beetles (Psylliodes chrysocephala)
Authors: Güney Gözde , Cedden Doga , Scholten Stefan , Rostás Michael
Published: February 2025

The cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala, CSFB) is a significant pest of winter oilseed rape crops in northern Europe. CSFB adults aestivate during the summer to protect themselves from heat and desiccation stress. Trehalose, the primary hemolymph sugar, has been linked to energy homeostasis and stress resilience, but its regulation and function during aestivation remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the roles of two trehalose transporters, Tret-1 and Tret-2, in modulating trehalose dynamics across different adult stages in CSFB. Through spatiotemporal transcript profiling, we found that Tret-1 was predominantly expressed in the fat body, where it facilitates trehalose export to the hemolymph, whereas Tret-2 expression was higher in the Malpighian tubules, mediating trehalose uptake from the hemolymph. RNA interference experiments revealed that Tret-1 is involved in transporting trehalose from the fat body into the hemolymph, while Tret-2 works reciprocally to transport trehalose from the hemolymph into the Malpighian tubules. The disruption of trehalose transportation resulted in excess glucose, glycogen, and triglyceride levels, mainly in pre-aestivation beetles. Furthermore, the knockdown of either trehalose transporter caused a compensatory increase in feeding activity in pre-aestivation beetles, while the knockdown of Tret-2 compromised resilience to heat stress. Our findings uncover the reciprocal functions of Tret-1 and Tret-2 in regulating trehalose distribution and maintaining metabolic stability during aestivation, offering insights into the physiological strategies underpinning insect survival during aestivation.
Multiplexed in vivo base editing identifies functional gene-variant-context interactions
Authors: Acosta Jonuelle , Johnson Grace A. , Gould Samuel I. , Dong Kexin , Lendner Yovel , Detres Diego , Atwa Ondine , Bulkens Jari , Gruber Samuel , Contreras Manuel E. , Wuest Alexandra N. , Narendra Varun K. , Hemann Michael , Sanchez-Rivera Francisco J.
Published: February 2025

Human genome sequencing efforts in healthy and diseased individuals continue to identify a broad spectrum of genetic variants associated with predisposition, progression, and therapeutic outcomes for diseases like cancer. Insights derived from these studies have significant potential to guide clinical diagnoses and treatment decisions; however, the relative importance and functional impact of most genetic variants remain poorly understood. Precision genome editing technologies like base and prime editing can be used to systematically engineer and interrogate diverse types of endogenous genetic variants in their native context. We and others have recently developed and applied scalable sensor-based screening approaches to engineer and measure the phenotypes produced by thousands of endogenous mutationsin vitro. However, the impact of most genetic variants in the physiologicalin vivosetting, including contextual differences depending on the tissue or microenvironment, remains unexplored. Here, we integrate new cross-species base editing sensor libraries with syngeneic cancer mouse models to develop a multiplexedin vivoplatform for systematic functional analysis of endogenous genetic variants in primary and disseminated malignancies. We used this platform to screen 13,840 guide RNAs designed to engineer 7,783 human cancer-associated mutations mapping to 489 endogenous protein-coding genes, allowing us to construct a rich compendium of putative functional interactions between genes, mutations, and physiological contexts. Our findings suggest that the physiologicalin vivoenvironment and cellular organotropism are important contextual determinants of specific gene-variant phenotypes. We also show that many mutations and theirin vivoeffects fail to be detected with standard CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease approaches and often produce discordant phenotypes, potentially due to site-specific amino acid selection- or separation-of-function mechanisms. This versatile platform could be deployed to investigate how genetic variation impacts diversein vivophenotypes associated with cancer and other genetic diseases, as well as identify new potential therapeutic avenues to treat human disease.
Skin-related adverse events and their determinants among Diabetic patients on insulin therapy.
Authors: Mbwambo Dennis Patson , Mikomangwa Wigilya , Mnkugwe Rajabu Hussein , Mally Bertha , Kilonzi Manase , Angelus Magreth , Ramaiya Kaushik , Mayige Mary , Mutagonda Ritah , Marealle Alphonce Ignace , Kazaura Method
Published: February 2025

Background: Globally, more than 530 million people live with diabetes mellitus (DM), and the burden continues to rise. Insulin remains the cornerstone of DM management worldwide. However, literature indicates that insulin users are at risk of developing abscesses and scar formation at injection sites. These complications may compromise adherence to therapy, thereby affecting the intended therapeutic outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of abscesses and scar formation at injection sites and their determinants among diabetic patients on insulin therapy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2024. A total of 428 patients with DM on insulin therapy were enrolled from four selected hospitals in Dar es Salaam. A validated case report form (CRF) was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics and clinical data related to abscess and scar formation following insulin therapy. Data were analyzed using Stata version 15.0 software, with findings summarized as frequencies and percentages. Determinants of abscess and scar formation were assessed using modified Poisson regression, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 428 participants, 191 (44.6%) were aged over 45 years, 233 (54.4%) were female, and 185 (43.2%) had a primary education level. The prevalence of abscesses and scar formation was 95 (22.2%) and 200 (46.7%), respectively. Determinants of abscess formation included improper injection technique (aPR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.02–1.21, p = 0.009), improper injection site rotation (aPR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.13–6.45, p = 0.025), and the use of an insulin pen (aPR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.04–0.48, p = 0.002). For scar formation, determinants included improper injection site rotation (aPR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03–2.32, p = 0.037), uncontrolled blood glucose levels (aPR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.01–2.84, p = 0.049), and the use of insulin and syringes obtained from community drug outlets (aPR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.22–1.98, p = 0.035). Conclusion: The study identified a significant burden of abscess and scar formation among DM patients on insulin therapy. Key determinants included improper injection techniques, inadequate rotation of injection sites, and uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Regular training for DM patients on proper insulin injection practices is essential to minimize these complications.
Sphingolipid metabolism drives mitochondria remodeling during aging and oxidative stress
Authors: Ebert Adam C. , Hepowit Nathaniel L. , Martinez Thyandra A. , Vollmer Henrik , Singkhek Hayley L. , Frazier Kyrie D. , Kantejeva Sophia A. , Patel Maulik R. , MacGurn Jason A.
Published: February 2025

One of the hallmarks of aging is a decline in the function of mitochondria, which is often accompanied by altered morphology and dynamics. In some cases, these changes may reflect macromolecular damage to mitochondria that occurs with aging and stress, while in other cases they may be part of a programmed, adaptive response. In this study, we report that mitochondria undergo dramatic morphological changes in chronologically aged yeast cells. These changes are characterized by a large, rounded morphology, decreased co-localization of outer membrane and matrix markers, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Notably, these transitions are prevented by pharmacological or genetic interventions that perturb sphingolipid biosynthesis, indicating that sphingolipids are required for these mitochondrial transitions in aging cells. Consistent with these findings, we observe that overexpression of inositol phospholipid phospholipase (Isc1) prevents these alterations to mitochondria morphology in aging cells. We also report that mitochondria exhibit similar sphingolipid-dependent morphological transitions following acute exposure to oxidative stress. These findings suggest that sphingolipid metabolism contributes to mitochondrial remodeling in aging cells and during oxidative stress, perhaps as a result of damaged sphingolipids that localize to mitochondrial membranes. These findings underscore the complex relationship between mitochondria function and sphingolipid metabolism, particularly in the context of aging and stress.
Control of stress-activated Cdc42 dynamics by the MAP kinase Sty1-NDR kinase Orb6 regulatory axis
Authors: Doyle Laura , Chen Jun-Song , Gould Kathleen , McCollum Dannel , Verde Fulvia
Published: February 2025

Cdc42 is a Rho-family GTPase that controls cell polarization from yeast to human cells. In fission yeast, under normal growth conditions, Cdc42-GTP oscillates between cell tips to promote polarized growth. However, when exposed to environmental stressors, Cdc42 adopts an exploratory pattern of Cdc42 activation along the cell membrane. This pattern also occurs when the NDR kinase Orb6 is downregulated. Here, we describe the molecular mechanism behind the emergence of exploratory Cdc42 dynamics and identify a new substrate of Orb6 kinase, the Cdc42 GAP Rga3. Additionally, we show that MAP kinase Sty1, known for linking stress signals to the Cdc42 polarity module, negatively regulates Orb6 kinase. During nutritional stress, activation of Sty1 and inactivation of Orb6 are associated with chronological lifespan extension. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism controlling cell morphology during stress, with important implications for cell survival.
Glycopolymer transferases promote peptidoglycan hydrolysis in Bacillus subtilis.
Authors: Cohen Jennifer D
Published: February 2025

Most bacteria are encased in a rigid cell wall peptidoglycan (PG) meshwork. Cell growth requires the activities of both PG synthases and PG hydrolases that cleave bonds within the meshwork enabling its expansion. PG hydrolase activity must be carefully regulated to prevent excessive damage to this protective layer leading to catastrophic lysis. Here, I provide evidence for a novel type of regulation mediated by lipid-linked glycopolymer precursors. The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis encodes two functionally redundant PG hydrolases, LytE and CwlO, that are required for growth. Here, I demonstrate that loss of LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) enzymes, which enzymatically transfer lipid-linked glycopolymers onto PG, leads to a requirement for lytE for growth. Genetic analysis suggests that this requirement is mediated by the accumulation of these membrane-anchored precursors, where they may interfere with PG hydrolase activity. These results are consistent with models in which polymer transfer influences the position or timing of PG hydrolysis.
The transcription factor SRF regulates MERVL retrotransposons and gene expression during zygotic genome activation
Authors: Hermant Clara , Mourra-Díaz Carlos Michel , Oomen Marlies E. , Altamirano-Pacheco Luis , Pal Mrinmoy , Nakatani Tsunetoshi , Torres-Padilla Maria-Elena
Published: February 2025

The regulatory circuitry of cell-specific transcriptional programs is thought to be influenced by transposable elements (TEs), whereby TEs serve as raw material for the diversification and genome-wide distribution of genetic elements that containcis-regulatory activity. However, the transcriptional activators of TEs in relevant physiological contexts are largely unknown. Here, we undertook an evolutionary approach to identify regulators of two main families of MERVL, a major regulator of transcription during early mouse development. Using a combination of phyloregulatory, transcriptomic, and loss-of-function approaches, we demonstrate that SRF is a novel regulator of MERVL and embryonic transcription during zygotic genome activation. By resolving the phylogenetic history of two major MERVL families, we delineate the evolutionary acquisition of SRF and DUX binding sites and show that the acquisition of the SRF site precedes that of DUX. SRF contributes to embryonic transcription through the regulation of MERVLs, which in turn serve as promoters for host genes. Our work identifies new transcriptional regulators and TEs that shape the gene expression programs in early embryos and highlights the process of TE domestication via the sequential acquisition of transcription factor binding sites and coevolution with the host.
Slepian eigenvalues for near-field communication
Authors: Creagh Stephen C. , Gradoni Gabriele
Published: February 2025

We generalize an approximation of eigenvalues associated with projection onto a rectangular patch of phase space so that it applies to patches with curved boundaries. This more general case is relevant to characterizing degrees of freedom and communication rates in multiple-input–multiple-output arrays and allows previous results derived under far-field assumptions to be applied to near-field scenarios. The underlying approximation is found by our relating these eigenvalues to tunneling probabilities in an associated quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian, which is generalized here to cope with deformed geometries by a semiclassical transformation of the problem to the traditionally studied rectangular one.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Two-pion exchange for coupled-channel scattering of two heavy mesons
Authors: Chacko J. T. , Baru V. , Hanhart C. , Krug S. L.
Published: February 2025

To improve the theoretical understanding of multiquark states like Zb(10610) and Zb(10650), we calculate the heavy-meson heavy-(anti)meson scattering potential up to next-to-leading order, O(Q2), within chiral effective field theory (χEFT) employing a power counting scheme that explicitly keeps track with the large momentum scale

Q

∼

2

μ

δ

(where δ=mV−mP is the vector-pseudoscalar mass difference and μ their reduced mass) introduced by the coupled channel dynamics. We provide expressions for the two-pion exchange (TPE) terms up to O(Q2) and their partial-wave decomposition. We show that these potentials are well approximated by contact terms at O(Q2), with minor residual nonanalytic TPE contributions, supporting χEFT convergence in the theoretical predictions for Zb(10610) and Zb(10650), as well as their spin partners. These findings are also relevant for D(*)D(*) scattering, especially for the Tcc state, for both physical and lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) data with moderately larger pion masses. We further demonstrate that the differences between isovector and isoscalar potentials for heavy mesons are naturally explained by the TPE contributions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Addendum to “Testing meson portal dark sector solutions to the MiniBooNE anomaly at CCM”
Authors: Aguilar-Arevalo A. A. , Biedron S. , Boissevain J. , Borrego M. , Bugel L. , Chavez-Estrada M. , Conrad J. M. , Cooper R. L. , Diaz A. , Distel J. R. , D’Olivo J. C. , Dunton E. , Dutta B. , Fields D. , Gochanour J. R. , Gold M. , Guardincerri E. , Huang E. C. , Kamp N. , Kim D. , Knickerbocker K. , Louis W. C. , Lyles J. T. M. , Mahapatra R. , Maludze S. , Mirabal J. , Newmark D. , deNiverville P. , Pandey V. , Poulson D. , Ray H. , Renner E. , Schaub T. J. , Schneider A. , Shaevitz M. H. , Smith D. , Sondheim W. , Szelc A. M. , Taylor C. , Thompson A. , Thompson W. H. , Tripathi M. , Thornton R. T. , Van Berg R. , Van de Water R. G. ,   CCM Collaboration
Published: February 2025

In Aguilar-Arevalo [], we explored various effective field theories that could explain the MiniBooNE excess involving long-lived particles produced from charged meson decays and the sensitivity of the Coherent CAPTAIN Mills experiment to these models. In this addendum, we extend the analysis to project sensitivity of upcoming MicroBooNE data to the long-lived particle models considered in the previous work. We find that a dedicated MicroBooNE analysis of the single photon final state with longer exposure and improved signal efficiency will be sensitive to these new physics explanations of the MiniBooNE excess, and could rule them out with a null observation at the 95% confidence level.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dynamics of active poroelastic filaments in Stokes flow
Authors: Altunkeyik Berk , Rahmat Amin , Montenegro-Johnson Tom
Published: February 2025

Active particles are self-propelled microswimmers with potential applications in biomedicine and microfluidics. With recent advances in manufacturing technology, it is now possible to experimentally realize soft and flexible artificial microswimmers, which afford more complex dynamics and offer exciting new routes for trajectory control versus traditional rigid designs. Inspired by landmark work simulating the dynamics of flexible active filaments, we present a simple method to study the dynamics of active poroelastic microbots of general shape. Focusing on filament designs, we predict that sufficiently flexible “Janus pusher” filaments may exhibit oscillating dynamics as they swim forward and that under certain conditions, “Saturn” filaments may perform locomotion on spiral trajectories and exhibit “run-and-tumble” dynamics reminiscent of bacterial motion. Finally, we consider a simple extension of our framework that qualitatively incorporates stimuli-responsive hydrogel behavior, which we demonstrate may be used to steer Janus rods. Our results suggest that flexibility and responsivity may play a key role in expanding the functionality of active particles in intelligent artificial microswimming studies.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Possible Implications of QCD Axion Dark Matter Constraints from Helioscopes and Haloscopes for the String Theory Landscape
Authors: Gendler Naomi , Marsh David J. E.
Published: February 2025

Laboratory experiments have the capacity to detect the QCD axion in the next decade, and precisely measure its mass, if it composes the majority of the dark matter. In type IIB string theory on Calabi-Yau threefolds in the geometric regime, the QCD axion mass, ma, is strongly correlated with the topological Hodge number h1,1. We compute ma in a scan of 185965 compactifications of type IIB string theory on toric hypersurface Calabi-Yau threefolds. We compute the range of h1,1 probed by different experiments under the condition that the QCD axion can provide the observed dark matter density with minimal fine-tuning. Taking the experiments DMRadio, ADMX, MADMAX, and BREAD as indicative on different mass ranges, the h1,1 distributions peak near h1,1=24.9, 65.4, 196.8, and 310.9, respectively. We furthermore conclude that, without severe fine-tuning, detection of the QCD axion as dark matter disfavors 80% of models with h1,1=491, which is thought to have the most known Calabi-Yau threefolds. Measurement of the solar axion mass with IAXO is the dominant probe of all models with h1,1≳250. This Letter demonstrates the immense importance of axion detection in experimentally constraining the string landscape.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Minimizing Selection Bias in Inclusive Jets in Heavy-Ion Collisions with Energy Correlators
Authors: Andres Carlota , Holguin Jack , Elayavalli Raghav Kunnawalkam , Viinikainen Jussi
Published: February 2025

The first-ever measurement of energy correlators within inclusive jets produced in heavy-ion collisions, revealed by the CMS Collaboration, shows a clear enhancement at large angles relative to the proton-proton (p-p) baseline. However, interpreting this enhancement is complicated due to selection bias from energy loss, which also distorts the energy correlator heavy-ion to p-p ratio in the hadronization region, hindering our understanding of parton/hadron dynamics in a colored medium. In this Letter, we introduce a new ratio of energy correlator observables that removes the leading effects of selection bias from the two-point energy correlator spectrum (E2C). and simulations show that the impact of selection bias in the E2C is reduced by an order of magnitude, while sensitivity to any other medium modifications is retained. This quantity can be obtained directly from the experimental measurements presented by CMS, as illustrated in an accompanying note [C. Andres and J. Holguin, ].

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Renormalized Classical Spin Liquid on the Ruby Lattice
Authors: Wang Zhenjiu , Pollet Lode
Published: February 2025

The recent experimental detection of the onset of a dynamically prepared, gapped Z2 quantum spin liquid on the ruby lattice brought the physics of frustrated magnetism and lattice gauge theory to Rydberg tweezer arrays [Semeghini , Probing topological spin liquids on a programmable quantum simulator, ]. The thermodynamic properties of such models remain inadequately addressed, yet knowledge thereof is indispensable if one wants to prepare large, robust, and long-lived quantum spin liquids. Using large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations we find in the model a renormalized classical spin liquid with constant entropy density S/N approaching ln(2)/6 in the thermodynamic limit for all moderate and large values of the detuning δ and starting from T/Ω∼0.5 (in units of the Rabi frequency Ω) down to the lowest temperatures we could simulate, T/Ω∼0.01. With van der Waals interactions, constant entropy plateaus are still found but its value shifts with δ. We comment on the implications of the adiabatic approximation to the dynamical ramps for the electric degrees of freedom, which leads to a reinterpretation of the experimental observations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Collective oscillations of Bose-Einstein condensates in a synthetic magnetic field
Authors: He Huaxin , Pang Fengtao , Zhang Yongping , Qu Chunlei
Published: February 2025

We study the collective oscillations of spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of position-dependent detuning. Specifically, we explore the quadrupole modes of the system using both numerical and analytical approaches based on the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and hydrodynamic theory. Due to spin-orbit coupling and the synthetic magnetic field, the xy scissors mode couples with a superposition of the three diagonal quadrupole modes (x2,y2, and z2), resulting in the characteristic beating effect. The remaining two scissors modes, xz and yz, are coupled, giving rise to a Lissajous-like pattern that is highly sensitive to the excitation method and orientation of the synthetic magnetic field. Furthermore, we find that anisotropic interactions as well as the direction of the synthetic magnetic field, can significantly influence the oscillation amplitude and frequency of the quadrupole modes. These findings highlight the potential of Bose-Einstein condensates under synthetic magnetic fields for quantum sensing applications, such as magnetic field gradient measurements, and provide a promising foundation for future experimental research and technological development.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Enhanced natural parameterized quantum circuit
Authors: Chen Yuquan , Hou Yanjun , Wang Zeyuan , Wang Tianyun , Wu Ze , Li Zhaokai , Peng Xinhua
Published: February 2025

The classical-quantum interface for loading classical data into quantum systems is an indispensable component of quantum information processing, and the parameterized quantum circuit (PQC) represents significant methodology in this area. However, a challenge in designing parameterized quantum circuits that can fully utilize limited qubit resources while accurately representing classical data remains. To address this issue, we propose the enhanced natural parameterized quantum circuit (ENPQC), which achieves the maximum parameter capacity of quantum systems and preserves the local structure of the original dataset. To make the encoding circuits more experiment friendly, we further provide two near-optimal circuits that achieve near-maximum capacity and are comparable in complexity to the existing PQCs. We numerically show that the ENPQC overwhelms other encoding methods for multiple datasets, demonstrating its potential for machine learning tasks. Furthermore, we experimentally validate our scheme by demonstrating a three-class classification task on an NMR platform, which achieves over 97% accuracy. This work provides a powerful tool for the classical-quantum interface, paving the way for quantum big data processing during the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Optimal control for hover pendulum motion of unmanned helicopter
Authors: Hongyan Zhang , Xiaoyong Guo
Published: February 2025

Purpose

During the authors’ practical experiments about designing hover controller for unmanned helicopter, they find pendulum motion exists, thus destroying their expected control performance, such as perfect tracking, target detection, accurate attacking etc., so they turn to study how to suppress pendulum motion through designing one additional controller to guarantee pendulum motion sufficiently small. More specifically, the detailed mechanism of hover pendulum motion is analyzed to yield one accurate nonlinear dynamical equation, corresponding to hover pendulum motion. To apply the existed linear optimal control strategy directly, the necessary linearization process is needed to derive one approximated linear state equation, including the explicit form of control input. After describing their idea about pendulum control structure from the point of practice, linear optimal control strategy is proposed to design the ideal controller without external noise. Then its improved robust controller is also given through solving their difference game problem or min-max problem. From their obtained closed forms of the pendulum controller, they are all one linear state feedback form, being convenient to implement in practical engineering. Finally, to achieve the mission of theory for application, they use their established practical platform to do some simulations, so proving the theoretical results. The purpose of this paper aims to design one optimal controller to suppress hover pendulum motion for unmanned helicopter.

Design/methodology/approach

First, considered the practical hover motion of unmanned helicopter, its detailed mechanism is analyzed to get one linear state equation after the authors’ complex mathematical derivation. Second, their idea of control structure and control design is applied to design one linear state feedback controller through the derived optimal control strategy. Third, one practical platform is established to prove their control idea.

Findings

From the authors’ introduction and knowledge, control exists everywhere. As unmanned helicopter has become increasingly important as one tactical weapon, so they think how to design controller for hover pendulum motion, while suppressing the hover pendulum. Specifically, they give the detailed theoretic derivation and practical platform.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors’ knowledge, pendulum motion control is to stop the swing as soon as possible and suppress the oscillatory motion of pendulum angle. Then, based on that linear state equation for hover pendulum motion, linear optimal control strategy is applied to achieve above two dual missions, i.e. controlling the motion or pendulum suspension point and eliminating or suppressing the pendulum phenomenon.
Analysis of changes in European air traffic flow after the 2022 armed conflict in Ukraine
Authors: Drupka Grzegorz , Rogalski Tomasz , Wałek Łukasz
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to present the scale of the impact of the war in Ukraine on air traffic within neighbouring countries. When assessing the scale of the impact of the war, the airspace and aerodromes of European countries whose borders are shared with countries involved in the armed conflict were analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

The change in the number of aircraft operations, expressed as a percentage share of flights over the years 2016–2022, was used as an assessment criterion. The average delays were also rated. During the analysis of changes, the alleged reasons for delays resulting from the comprehensive reorganization of air traffic were shown.

Findings

The data comparison method is presented as a convenient way of analysing the data, allowing to present the result as changes in air traffic, also showing significant delays and their cause.

Research limitations/implications

The gradual restoration of air connections after the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to precisely assess changes in traffic. Therefore, using a wider range of years allowed to obtain the result – which was to determine information about the increase in the number of flights and aerodrome traffic compared to previous years.

Originality/value

This paper presents data on the impact of war on air traffic in a comparative manner. The result contributes to future research on air traffic management practices to efficiently and harmoniously deploy flights in case of adverse events, thus minimizing delays and traffic disorder.
Consumer response to OTT subscription promotions in Taiwan: a prospective theoretical perspective
Authors: Chen Yan-Kwang , Han Hsin-Yun , Hsiao Wei-Hung
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This article investigates the impact of consumers’ promotion strategies on the effectiveness of promotional campaigns for subscribing to Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming services, from a prospective theoretical perspective. Additionally, it explores the moderating effects of platform type and subscriber type on promotion strategies in the context of OTT streaming services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an experimental design to separately examine the promotion strategies of subscribers. The first part investigates the effect of promotion strategies on promotional effectiveness, regardless of platform and subscriber types, while the second part considers the moderating effects of both platform type and subscriber type on promotional effectiveness.

Findings

The analysis reveals that renewed subscribers exhibit a positive attitude toward incremental promotions and have stronger intentions to subscribe and recommend. Nonrenewed subscribers, in contrast, prefer discount promotions, demonstrating a positive attitude toward them and expressing higher intentions to subscribe and recommend.

Originality/value

This study applies prospect theory to OTT promotion strategies, uncovers the psychological drivers behind promotion effectiveness and examines the moderating role of subscriber type and platform type, thereby providing actionable insights to improve consumers’ attitudes and behavioral intentions.
Music streaming app service quality (MSASQ) scale: service quality dimensions for music streaming apps
Authors: Singharia Komal , Gupta Garima
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The global music industry has witnessed a tumultuous development in recent years with the emergence of music streaming services (MSSs) which played a pivotal role in rescuing the industry from persistent losses caused by piracy. MSSs are predominantly accessed via mobile applications making it imperative for the music streaming service providers (MSSPs) to focus on enhancing their app-based service quality. Furthermore, the sphere of music streaming has received only limited attention in research thus far, and to address this research void, this study contributes to the existing body of literature by introducing a scale to measure the service quality of music streaming apps, i.e. the MSASQ scale.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach encompassing both qualitative as well as quantitative research techniques involving two-stage data collection was adopted. Items for the scale were collected via secondary (reports, articles, customer reviews, etc.) as well as primary sources (focus groups and interviews). The scale was tested on a sample of 1,129 Music Streaming App (MSA) users for reliability and validity.

Findings

A multidimensional MSASQ scale with 36 items measuring nine dimensions (hedonic quality, efficiency, user interface content, customer support, personalisation, ease of use, privacy/security and quality of ad exposure) was developed and validated.

Originality/value

The research endeavours to explore new perspectives on service quality within the music streaming industry, particularly in relation to the freemium model.
Inbound open innovation in construction firms: intellectual capital antecedents and performance consequences
Authors: Nduro Edmund , Duodu Bismark
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The present study explored the interrelationships between intellectual capital (IC) dimensions, inbound open innovation (IOI) and construction firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was chosen for this study. Data were collected from 130 construction firms in Ghana using survey questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The results indicate that while human capital and structural capital both have direct effects on IOI, relational capital does not. IOI positively influences firm performance (FP) linearly but shows a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship with FP at higher levels of IOI. IOI has a partial mediating effect in the relationships between human or structural capital and FP but does not show any mediation between relational capital and FP.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to explore the influence of inbound open innovation on the performance of project-based firms, such as construction, as well as the role of inbound open innovation as a mediator between firms’ intellectual capital and performance in the general management and the construction management literature.
The impact of audit quality on the CO2 emissions: empirical evidence from European companies
Authors: Akermi Abir , Ben Amar Anis
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of audit quality on CO2 disclosure in European companies. This article aims to understand how attributes of audit quality, such as auditor effort, auditor permanence and auditor independence, influence the disclosure of CO2 emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple regression analysis on panel data was used. In addition, we applied the fixed effect approach as the optimal and most appropriate model for our main regression. In addition, to control the potential endogeneity problem and to analyse the study data in depth, we used the two-stage Heckman model, the two-stage least squares (2SLS) model, and the generalised method of moments (GMM).

Findings

The results clearly show that all the explanatory variables in the study model have a significant influence on CO2 disclosure. Furthermore, the results show a positive effect of auditor effort on the level of CO2 disclosure. However, auditor tenure and auditor independence negatively affect CO2 disclosure.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of the role of different audit quality proxies on corporate CO2 disclosure, which has been mainly neglected by previous studies and has not yet been examined by previous researchers. Thus, in order to provide an in-depth understanding of this emerging and unprecedented idea, this study fills this research gap and makes a practical and theoretical contribution to the existing literature on corporate governance and environmental disclosure.
Unfolding knowledge sabotage: the roles of knowledge-sharing climate, trustful climate and dark triad
Authors: Islam Talat , Ali Hafiz Fawad , Abdullah Haldy
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Knowledge sabotage is an emerging challenge for today’s managers because every second individual is found to be involved in such behaviors. Therefore, to understand the antecedents and consequences of knowledge sabotage, this study aims to investigate the trustful climate toward knowledge-sharing climate through knowledge sabotage. It further investigates the conditional role of destructive personality types in the relationship between trustful climate and knowledge sabotage.

Design/methodology/approach

In this quantitative study, the data from 307 employees and their immediate supervisors working in the IT sector of Pakistan were collected on convenience basis. Furthermore, structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression techniques were applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings revealed that individuals’ perception of a trustful climate positively contributes to knowledge-sharing climate, and knowledge sabotage intervenes this relationship. Furthermore, the dark triad (psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism) was noted to moderate the association between trustful climate and knowledge sabotage such that the dark triad strengthens this negative association.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests using peer/colleagues’ rated scales to measure destructive personality. However, the findings suggest managers involve employees in the decision-making process and work on their skills to develop their trust in organizations and involve knowledge sharing. Conversely, managers are suggested to arrange training/workshops for individuals to understand and overcome their negative personality traits.

Originality/value

Contributing to the novel literature on the most extreme form of counterproductive behavior in the field of knowledge management (i.e. knowledge sabotage), this study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first of its kind that empirically investigates the conditional role of destructive personalities toward knowledge sabotage in the presence of trustful climate.
Conceptualising (corporate) governance in state-owned enterprises: a research agenda
Authors: Adebayo Adeyemi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to formulate a research agenda by developing a conceptual framework for studying and mitigating corporate governance issues in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), considering pertinent management theories and theories of the firm as described in the contemporary academic discourse on SOEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors commenced broadly with the traditional narrative review method to understand the field of corporate governance in SOEs in line with subject matter knowledge. The authors carefully identified studies on corporate governance of SOEs and read them, noting and following relevant citations. The authors then proceed with a more methodical (qualitative) systematic literature review (QSLR) process, selecting more explicit articles and taking advantage of the complementarity of narrative and QSLR methods.

Findings

The review identifies seven pertinent theories in the organisational field of SOEs and describes five of the seven theories that must be conceptualised in examining corporate governance issues in SOEs. Following the description of the theories, this paper suggests a novel strategy for minimising corporate governance issues in SOEs by bringing together corporate governance problems in SOEs and offering insights into how the management theories and the theories of the firm may be applied in studying and mitigating corporate governance problems in SOEs, considering their practices and characteristics.

Practical implications

This review paper responds to calls for further research into public entrepreneurship and elaborates theories applicable to studying corporate governance in SOEs. This involves navigating through SOEs literature, focusing on theories and how they might be conceptualised to explore corporate governance issues in SOEs. This represents the largest research convergence on SOEs, given that various corporate governance challenges typically face SOEs worldwide.

Originality/value

The review offers guidance on applying theories to understand corporate governance challenges in SOEs, particularly using the identified theories in specific corporate governance problem areas. This study appears to be one of the only ones on this topic. Thus, the propositions put forth suggest that the conceptualisation of corporate governance in SOEs in this paper adds value for academics, practitioners and policymaker observers.
Remote onboarding of new employees: a four­-component perspective of welcoming
Authors: Weilage Christopher
Published: February 2025

Purpose

As technology usage rises and organizations increasingly adopt remote work, remote onboarding has emerged as a critical area requiring deeper exploration. This study aims to explore the affective commitment and engagement of employees who underwent remote onboarding in various industries across Germany. By addressing this gap, the research proposes an enhanced onboarding framework tailored to remote settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was designed as exploratory qualitative research from interviews with five participants employed across Germany. The research framework is the onboarding model by Cesário and Chambel (2019), and the model was applied to remote onboarding.

Findings

This study reveals a critical gap in existing onboarding frameworks: the absence of a dedicated IT welcome as a core component of remote onboarding. Participant narratives highlighted challenges with IT-based issues, stemming from IT department contact and access, as impacting commitment and engagement.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field of remote onboarding by introducing a novel perspective that extends Cesário and Chambel’s (2019) three-component onboarding model. Unlike traditional onboarding studies that emphasize social and organizational integration, this study highlights IT department value to new hire engagement and commitment in digital work environments.
Unveiling opportunities and obstacles in emerging markets: analysis of women’s home-based enterprises using Delphi-DEMATEL approach
Authors: Sabary Gul Shah , Ključnikov Aleksandr , Asad Arif Ibne , Kloudová Jitka , Ferraris Alberto
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Female entrepreneurship remains a critical issue around the globe, particularly in developing economies where they confront various challenges during self-employment. This paper aims to investigate essential opportunities and challenges for Afghan women’s home-based enterprises (WHBEs) that may impact the decision of female entrepreneurs to establish a venture.

Design/methodology/approach

The study interviewed women home-based enterprise owners through a predesigned questionnaire to identify the main opportunities and challenges. The Delphi and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach is employed to analyze casual relationships of the main obstacles confronting WHBEs.

Findings

The findings indicate that women home-based enterprise owners utilize substantial opportunities, such as family support and balancing home and business tasks. Challenges include cause and effect groups, while lack of access to finance, insecurity, social restrictions and limited access to digital platforms belong to the cause group. Notably, limited markets, lack of professional knowledge and legal limits have links with the effect group. However, among the identified challenges, legal restrictions remain the highest obstacle, while the lack of access to finance is the lowest challenge in women’s home-based enterprise context.

Research limitations/implications

The cultural and legal barriers that still exist in Afghanistan have made it difficult for researchers to contact female entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

This study fills the gap in investigating casual relationships in an under-researched stream of disadvantaged entrepreneurship, i.e. the WHBE context of female entrepreneurship. It generates value for researchers interested in female entrepreneurship and international organizations that empower women and promote gender equality in developing economies.