bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell fate specification modes shape transcriptome evolution in the highly conserved spiral cleavage
Authors: Liang Yan , Wei Jingcheng , Kang Yue , Carrillo-Baltodano Allan M. , Martín-Durán José M.
Published: December 2024

Early animal development can be remarkably variable, influenced by lineage-specific reproductive strategies and adaptations. Yet, early embryogenesis is also strikingly conserved in some groups, like Spiralia (e.g., snails, clams, and many marine worms). In this large clade, a shared cleavage program –– the so-called spiral cleavage –– and similar cell lineages are ancestral to at least seven animal phyla. Why early development is so conserved in specific groups and plastic in others is not fully understood. Here, we investigated two annelid species ––Owenia fusiformis andCapitella teleta–– with spiral cleavage but different modes of specifying their primary progenitor cells. By generating high-resolution transcriptomic time courses from the oocyte and fertilisation until gastrulation, we show transcriptional dynamics are markedly different between these species during spiral cleavage and instead reflect their distinct timings of embryonic organiser specification. However, the end of cleavage and gastrulation exhibit high transcriptomic similarity. At these stages, orthologous transcription factors share gene expression domains, suggesting this period is a previously overlooked mid-developmental transition in annelid embryogenesis. Together, our data reveal hidden developmental plasticity in the genetics underpinning spiral cleavage, indicating an evolutionary decoupling of morphological and transcriptomic conservation during early animal embryogenesis.
Visual circuitry for distance estimation inDrosophila
Authors: Shomar Joseph , Wu Elizabeth , Au Braedyn , Maier Kate , Zhou Baohua , Matos Natalia C.B. , Sager Garrett , Santana Gustavo , Tanaka Ryosuke , Gish Caitlin , Clark Damon A.
Published: December 2024

Animals must infer the three-dimensional structure of their environment from two-dimensional images on their retinas. In particular, visual cues like motion parallax and binocular disparity can be used to judge distances to objects. Studies across several animal models have found neural signals that correlate with visual distance, but the causal role of these neurons in distance estimation as well as the range of possible neural properties that can inform distance estimation have remained poorly understood. Here, we developed a novel high-throughput behavioral assay to identify neurons in theDrosophilavisual system that are involved in distance estimation during free locomotion. We found that silencing the primary motion detectors in the fly visual system eliminated their ability to perceive distance, consistent with a reliance on motion parallax to judge distance. Through a targeted silencing screen of visual neurons during behavior and throughin vivotwo-photon microscopy, we identified a visual projection neuron that encodes the parallax signal in the relative motion of foreground and background. Interestingly, it differs from previously identified parallax-tuned neurons in its lack of direction selectivity both to moving bars and to moving backgrounds. This non-canonical tuning is interpretable in the context of parallax signals that the fly would likely encounter during naturalistic walking behavior. Our results demonstrate how both direction selective and non-direction selective feature-detecting neurons can contribute to distance estimation using parallax cues, providing a framework for considering broader classes of parallax-encoding neurons in distance estimation across visual systems.
Analysis of the potential of environmentalBurkholderia sensu latoisolates to cause infection in a zebrafish embryo model
Authors: Gigan J , Boyer J , Moulin L , Vergunst AC
Published: December 2024

Burkholderia sensu lato(s.l.) regroups several genera of closely related bacterial species with remarkable diversity in metabolic features. They can be free-living or have mutualistic or pathogenic interactions with different host organisms, including insects, plants and animals.Burkholderias.l. species display numerous characteristics that can be beneficial for agronomical and biotechnological applications, including promotion of plant growth and bioremediation; however, many of the species are known human pathogens. Several recent taxonomical reclassifications of theBurkholderiagenus resulted in its separation into 7 distinct genera.Burkholderia sensu stricto(s.s.), which includes theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex and thepseudomalleigroup, regroups most of the species that have been shown to cause infection in humans and plants. Little is known about the pathogenic potential of species belonging to the other 6 genera; however there have been occasional reports of human infections.

Here, the vertebrate zebrafish embryo was used to analyse the behaviour of a panel of environmental isolates belonging to different species of theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (5),Paraburkholderia(5) andCaballeronia(1).Burkholderia cepaciaP14-NS,Burkholderia orbicolaP21-NS, andParaburkholderiasp. ABIP659 (closest toP. tropica, and further namedtropica-like) each caused a low percentage (2%) of embryo mortality. While the other strains had not killed the embryos during the 4-day time span of the experiments, overall,ParaburkholderiaandBurkholderias.s. strains persisted equally well in this vertebrate host. Unexpectedly,P. tropica-like showed the highest increase in bacterial burden during infection, and induced the strongest pro-inflammatory response, including abscess formation, and poor prognosis at the endpoint of the experiment. Our study emphasizes that in vivo infection studies are needed to gain more insight into potential pathogenicity of the differentBurkholderias.l. species.
Generation of a transgenic P. cynomolgiparasite expressingP. vivaxcircumsporozoite protein for testing pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines in non-human primates
Authors: Aleshnick Maya , Hegde Shreeya , Jennison Charlie , Mikolajczak Sebastian , Vaughan Ashley , Haumpy Derek , Straimer Judith , Wilder Brandon
Published: December 2024

Malaria, caused by infection withPlasmodiumparasites, exacts a heavy toll worldwide. There are two licensed vaccines for malaria as well as two monoclonal antibodies that have shown promising efficacy in field trials. Both vaccines and monoclonals target the major surface protein (circumsporozoite protein, CSP) ofPlasmodium falciparum. YetPfis only one of the four major species ofPlasmodiumthat infects humans.Plasmodium vivaxis the second leading cause of malaria butPvvaccine and monoclonal development lags far behindP. falciparumowing to the lack of basic preclinical tools such asin vitroculture or mouse models that replicate the key biological features ofP. vivax. Notably among these features is the ability to form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that reactivate and drive the majority ofP. vivaxmalaria burden.

Plasmodium cynomolgiis a simian parasite which is genotypically and phenotypically very close toP. vivax, can infect common research non-human primates and replicates many features ofPvincluding relapsing hypnozoites. Recently, a strain ofPchas been adapted toin vitroculture allowing parasite transgenesis. Here, we created a transgenicP. cynomolgiparasite in which the endogenousPcCSP has been replaced withPvCSP with the goal of enabling preclinical study of anti-PvCSP interventions to protect against primary and relapse infections. We show that thein vitro-generated transgenicPc[PvCSP] parasite expresses both serotypes ofPvCSP and retains full functionalityin vivoincluding the ability to transmit to laboratory-rearedAnophelesmosquitos and cause relapsing infection in rhesus macaques. To our knowledge, this is the first gene replacement in a relapsingPlasmodiumspecies. This work can directly enablein vivodevelopment of anti-PvCSP interventions and provide a blueprint for the study of relapsing malaria through reverse genetics.
Fatty acyl-CoA reductase FAR1 is essential for testicular seminolipid synthesis, spermatogenesis, and male fertility
Authors: Tamazawa Ayano , Naganuma Tatsuro , Otsuka Kento , Takahashi Tenga , Sassa Takayuki , Kihara Akio
Published: December 2024

Seminolipids are testis-specific ether glycolipids that are important for spermatogenesis. The fatty alcohol (ether-linked alkyl moiety) in ether lipids is generated from an acyl-CoA by fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR). To date, the diversity of the alkyl and acyl moieties in seminolipids, the specific stage of spermatogenesis during which seminolipids are produced, and the FAR isozyme (FAR1 or FAR2) involved in the synthesis of the alkyl moieties have remained largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated thatFar1is expressed in the mouse testis via quantitative RT-PCR analysis, whereasFar2was barely detectable.In situhybridization and quantitative RT-PCR analysis of spermatogenic cells separated via FACS revealed thatFar1is expressed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids. We generatedFar1knockout (KO) mice and found that maleFar1KO mice were infertile. In these mice, sperms were absent in the epididymides and the testes were small, with multinucleated cells and vacuoles in the seminiferous tubules. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that the vast majority of seminolipids (> 90%) in wild-type mouse testes contained C16:0 in both the alkyl and the acyl moieties. Seminolipids were present in all subclasses of spermatogenic cells in wild-type mice, but they were absent inFar1KO mice. Instead, the production of non-ether, diacyl-type sulfogalactosyl lipids (sulfogalactosyl diacylglycerols) was induced inFar1KO mice. In conclusion, the alkyl and acyl moieties of seminolipids in the testis are low in diversity, andFar1is essential for seminolipid synthesis and spermatogenesis.
Pathogens spread by high-altitude windborne mosquitoes
Authors: Bamou R , Dao A , Yaro AS , Kouam C , Ergunay K , Bourke BP , Diallo M , Sanogo ZL , Samake D , Afrane YA , Mohammed AR , Owusu-Asenso CM , Akosah-Brempong G , Pambit-Zong CM , Krajacich BJ , Faiman R , Pacheco MA , Escalante AA , Weaver SC , Nartey R , Chapman JW , Reynolds DR , Linton Y-M , Lehmann T
Published: December 2024

Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude windborne migration, but its epidemiological significance was debated. The hypothesis that high-altitude mosquitoes spread pathogens over large distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report for the first time that high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths affecting vertebrates and humans, and provide the first description of this pathogen-vector aerial network. A total of 1,017 female mosquitoes (81.4%, N=1,249) intercepted on nets suspended from helium balloons at altitudes of 120-290 m above ground over Mali and Ghana were screened for infection with arboviruses, plasmodia, and filariae, using pan-genus qPCR analyses followed by sequencing of positive samples. The mosquito fauna collected at altitude comprised 61 species, across 9 genera, dominated byCulex,Aedes,andAnopheles. Infection and infectiousness rates of high-altitude migrant mosquitoes were 7.2% and 4.4% with plasmodia, 1.6% and 0.6% with filariae, 3.5% and 1.1% with flaviviruses, respectively. Nineteen mosquito-borne pathogens were identified, including three arboviruses: dengue, West Nile and M’Poko viruses, 13 putative plasmodia species includingPlasmodium matutinumandP. relictum, three filariids, includingPelecitusspp., 27 insect-specific viruses and 5 non-mosquito-borne pathogens (e.g.,Trypanosoma theileri). Confirmed head-thorax (disseminated) infections of multiple pathogens in multiple mosquito species, eg.,Culex perexiguus,Coquilletidia metallica,Mansonia uniformis, andAnopheles squamosusprovides evidence that pathogens carried by high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are infectious and likely capable of infecting naïve hosts far from their starting location. This traffic of sylvatic pathogens may be key to their maintenance among foci as well as initiating outbreaks away from them.
Shoot nitrate status regulates Arabidopsis shoot growth and systemic transcriptional responses via shoot adenylate isopentenyltransferase 3
Authors: Monden Kota , Suzuki Takamasa , Kojima Mikiko , Takebayashi Yumiko , Sugiura Daisuke , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Hachiya Takushi
Published: December 2024

Plants systemically regulate growth and gene expression according to their internal nitrate status. Our previous study reported that shoot nitrate accumulation increases shoot expression ofADENYLATE ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 3(IPT3) and shoot levels ofN6-(Δ2-isopentenyl) adenine (iP)-type cytokinin (CK).IPT3expression is localized in the phloem, and iP-type CKs, which are synthesized by IPT3, are phloem-mobile. Hence, systemic responses to shoot nitrate status may be regulated by the shoot-expressed IPT3. To examine this, we developed a novel system to manipulate nitrate levels andIPT3expression in a shoot-specific manner and performed growth analysis, CK determination, and RNA-sequencing. Our results demonstrated that shoot nitrate accumulation increased shoot growth and shoot concentrations of iP-type CKs via shoot IPT3. Transcriptomic responses to shoot nitrate satiety were largely tuned by shoot IPT3, with opposite effects in shoots and roots. Shoot IPT3 amplified shoot responses of nitrate-inducible genes and immune response genes to shoot nitrate accumulation, while dampened root responses of nitrate transport/assimilation genes. This transcriptomic modulation via shoot IPT3 was accompanied by coherent transcriptional changes in genes encoding mobile peptides and transcriptional repressors. Here we present a novel scheme integrating shoot nitrate satiety responses with CK signaling.

Summary Statement

Our novel experimental approach, combining micrografting and transfer experiments, reveals that shoot nitrate status regulates Arabidopsis shoot growth and systemic transcriptional responses via the shoot-expressed adenylate isopentenyltransferase 3
Hippocampal sharp-wave ripples decrease during physical actions including consummatory behavior in immobile rodents
Authors: Sakairi Tomomi , Kawabata Masanori , Rios Alain , Sakai Yutaka , Isomura Yoshikazu
Published: December 2024

Hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) are intermittent, fast synchronous oscillations that play a pivotal role in memory formation. It has been well-established that SWRs occur during “consummatory behaviors”, e.g., eating or drinking a reward for correct action. However, most of typical behavioral experiments using freely moving rodents have not rigorously distinguished between the act of eating/drinking (regardless of consummation or consumption) from stopping locomotion (immobility). Therefore, in this study, we investigated the occurrence of SWRs during a reward-seeking action and subsequent consummatory reward licking in constantly immobile rats maintained under head fixation and body covering. Immobile rats performed a pedal hold-release action that was rewarded with water every other time (false and true consummation). Unexpectedly, the SWRs remarkably decreased during reward licking as well as pedal release action. Unlearned rats also showed a similar SWR decrease during water licking. Conversely, SWRs gradually increased during the pedal hold period, which was enhanced by reward expectation. A cluster of hippocampal neurons responded to cue/pedal release and reward, as previously shown. Some other clusters exhibited spike activity changes similar to the SWR occurrence, i.e., decreasing during the pedal release action and reward licking, and enhanced by reward expectation during pedal hold period. These task event-responsive neurons and SWR-like neurons displayed stronger spiking synchrony with SWRs than task-unrelated neurons. These findings suggest that the hippocampus generates SWRs, which may associate action with outcome, in “relative immobility” (action pauses) rather than specific consummation or consumption.

Significance Statement

To clarify the characteristics of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs), we analyzed the SWRs occurring during operant task performance in immobile rats under both head fixation and body covering. First, we found that SWRs decreased when they licked and drank water, conflicting with the theory that SWRs occur in consummatory behavior. Second, hippocampal neurons showed different task-related activities, particularly those that resembled SWR occurrences or conveyed specific signals on task events. Third, these task-related neurons displayed strong synchronous discharges during SWRs in task-engaged periods. These findings may explain the neuronal mechanisms underlying the association between an action and its outcome.
Continuous cavity QED with an atomic beam
Authors: Famà Francesca , Zhou Sheng , Heizenreder Benedikt , Tang Mikkel , Bennetts Shayne , Jäger Simon B. , Schäffer Stefan A. , Schreck Florian
Published: December 2024

Atoms coupled to cavities provide an exciting playground for the study of fundamental interactions of atoms mediated through a common channel. Many of the applications of cavity QED and cold-atom experiments more broadly, suffer from limitations caused by the transient nature of an atomic loading cycle. The development of continuous operation schemes is necessary to push these systems to the next level of performance. Here we present a machine designed to produce a continuous flux of collimated atoms that traverse an optical cavity. The atom-light interaction is enhanced by a fast-decaying cavity optimal for studying phenomena where atomic properties dominate. We demonstrate the transition to a collective strong-coupling regime heralded by a normal-mode splitting. We observe a second phase with a binary normal-mode splitting born from an offset in the mean velocity of the atoms. Inverting the atomic ensemble in the collective strong-coupling regime, we measure continuous optical gain. This work sets the stage for studying threshold conditions for continuous collective phenomena, such as continuous superradiant lasing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
YBa1−xSrxCuFeO5
layered perovskites: An attempt to explore the magnetic order beyond the paramagnetic-collinear-spiral triple point
Authors: Porée V. , Gawryluk D. J. , Shang T. , Rodríguez-Velamazań J. A. , Casati N. , Sheptyakov D. , Torrelles X. , Medarde M.
Published: December 2024

Layered perovskites of general formula AA'CuFeO5 are characterized by the presence of spiral magnetic phases whose ordering temperatures Tspiral can be tuned far beyond room temperature by introducing modest amounts of Cu/Fe chemical disorder in the crystal structure. This rare property makes these materials prominent candidates to host multiferroicity and magnetoelectric coupling at temperatures suitable for applications. Moreover, it has been proposed that the highest Tspiral value that can be reached in this structural family (∼400 K) corresponds to a paramagnetic-collinear-spiral triple point with potential to show exotic physics. Since generating high amounts of Cu/Fe disorder is experimentally difficult, the phase diagram region beyond the triple point has been barely explored. To fill this gap we investigate here eleven YBa1−xSrxCuFeO5 solid solutions (0≤x≤1 ), where we replace Ba with Sr with the aim of enhancing the impact of the experimentally available Cu/Fe disorder. Using a combination of bulk magnetization measurements, synchrotron x-ray and neutron powder diffraction we show that the spiral state with ks=(12,12,12±q) is destabilized beyond a critical Sr content, being replaced by a fully antiferromagnetic state with ordering temperature Tcoll2≥Tspiral and propagation vector kc2=(12,12,0). Interestingly, both Tspiral and Tcoll2 increase with x with comparable rates. This suggests a common, disorder-driven origin for both magnetic phases, consistent with theoretical predictions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
First-order perturbative estimate of the
d+t+γ→α+n
reaction rate
Authors: Timofeyuk N. K.
Published: December 2024

A new type of photoinduced nuclear reactions is considered when a photon is absorbed by a continuum state and accompanied by nuclear rearrangement. An important example of such reactions is d+t+γ→α+n which, in the regions of space containing a hot d−t mixture and a very large number of low-energy photons, can dominate the d+t→α+n fusion reaction, leading to an additional high-energy release. The present estimates of the environmental conditions where this might happen are made based on first-order perturbation theory with several values of the infrared cutoff. It is shown that with a cutoff of 1 eV, which corresponds to infrared light, the photon capture is several times larger than the d−t fusion rate in the big bang nucleosynthesis in the early universe, makes a noticeable contribution to energy release in tokamaks, and dominates by a few orders of magnitude in laser-direct-driven inertial confinement fusion. No effect on these three environments can be seen if the infrared cutoff is 1 keV. However, with this cutoff the photon absorption in a d−t mixture could become noticeable in future laser facilities at power intensities above 1018Watt/cm2. With further increase of the intensity towards 1027Watt/cm2 photon capture will dominate even if the first-order perturbation theory breaks down at very large values of the infrared cutoff, around 1 MeV. The development of a nonperturbative approach to d+t+γ→α+n reaction is crucial to capture correctly the physics of low-energy photoabsorption with high-energy release.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Regularizing infrared divergences in de Sitter spacetime: Loops, dimensional regularization, and cutoffs
Authors: Huenupi Javier , Hughes Ellie , Palma Gonzalo A. , Sypsas Spyros
Published: December 2024

Correlation functions of light scalar fields in de Sitter spacetime, computed via standard perturbation theory, often exhibit secular growth characterized by time-dependent divergent terms in the form of powers of lna(t), where a(t) is the scale factor describing cosmic expansion. It is widely believed that loop corrections further enhance this secular growth. We argue that this is not necessarily the case: Loop corrections can be systematically handled using standard perturbative techniques, such as dimensional regularization, without introducing new lna(t) terms. We focus on a canonical massless scalar field φ with self-interactions described by a potential V(φ), and analyze correlation functions represented by diagrams with a single vertex and an arbitrary number of loops. In this framework, infrared divergences can be systematically eliminated with counterterms at each order in perturbation theory, leading to loop-corrected correlation functions that are indistinguishable from their tree-level forms, with no secular growth from loops. Furthermore, adopting a Wilsonian perspective, we explore the role of cutoffs in computing loop corrections within effective field theory and identify the effective potential Veff(φ), which guarantees cutoff-independent observables. We conclude that when infrared comoving cutoffs are used to regularize loop integrals, time-dependent Wilsonian coefficients are necessary to maintain cutoff-free correlation functions. Neglecting this time dependence results in secular growth from loops.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Higher-derivative corrections to the Kerr quasinormal mode spectrum
Authors: Cano Pablo A. , Capuano Lodovico , Franchini Nicola , Maenaut Simon , Völkel Sebastian H.
Published: December 2024

We provide the most complete analysis so far of quasinormal modes of rotating black holes in a general higher-derivative extension of Einstein’s theory. By finding the corrections to the Teukolsky equation and expressing them in a simple form, we are able to apply a generalized continued fraction method that allows us to find the quasinormal mode frequencies including overtones. We obtain the leading-order corrections to the Kerr quasinormal mode frequencies of all the (l,m,n) modes with l=2, 3, 4, −l≤m≤l and n=0, 1, 2 and express them as a function of the black hole spin χ using polynomial fits. We estimate that our results remain accurate up to spins between χ∼0.7 and χ∼0.95, depending on the mode. We report that overtones are overall more sensitive to corrections, which is expected from recent literature on this topic. We also discuss the limit of validity of the linear corrections to the quasinormal mode frequencies by estimating the size of nonlinear effects in the higher-derivative couplings. All our results are publicly available in an online repository.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Third law of black hole mechanics for supersymmetric black holes and a quasilocal mass-charge inequality
Authors: Reall Harvey S.
Published: December 2024

It has recently been proved that a third law of black hole mechanics does not hold for Einstein-Maxwell theory coupled to a massless charged scalar field: there exist solutions that describe gravitational collapse to form an exactly extremal Reissner-Nordström black hole in finite time. In this paper it is proved that such solutions do not exist in theories with matter fields satisfying a local mass-charge inequality. In such a theory, if a 2-surface has the same metric, extrinsic curvature, and Maxwell field as a cross section of an extremal Reissner-Nordström horizon then this surface cannot have a compact interior and so cannot be a horizon cross section of a black hole formed in gravitational collapse. This result is proved using spinorial techniques, which are also used to prove a mass-charge inequality for a modified version of the Dougan-Mason quasilocal mass.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Functional information geometry of Euclidean quantum fields
Authors: Floerchinger Stefan
Published: December 2024

Information geometry provides differential geometric concepts like a Riemannian metric, connections and covariant derivatives on spaces of probability distributions. We discuss here how these concepts extend in a functional sense to quantum field theories in the Euclidean domain which can also be seen as statistical field theories. The geometry has a dual affine structure corresponding to source fields or expectation value fields seen as coordinates. In the latter version the coordinates label the macrostates of the classical field theory. A key concept is a new generating functional, which is a functional generalization of the Kullback-Leibler divergence. From its functional derivatives one can obtain connected as well as one-particle irreducible correlation functions. It also encodes directly the geometric structure, i.e. the functional Fisher information metric and the two dual connections, and it determines asymptotic probabilities for field configurations through Sanov’s theorem. Based on the two dual connections one can construct covariant functional derivatives which allow one to calculate connected and one-particle irreducible correlation functions in general functional coordinate systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Coon unitarity via partial waves
Authors: Rigatos Konstantinos C. , Wang Bo
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we study tree-level four-point scattering amplitudes and present a novel approach to partial-wave unitarity that bypasses a lot of technical difficulties of previous approaches. In passing, we explicitly demonstrate that our approach provides a very suggestive form for the partial-wave coefficients in a natural way which is our main result. We use the Coon amplitude to exemplify this method and show how it makes important properties such as partial-wave unitarity manifest. A secondary by-product of our analysis is simple form for the partial-wave coefficients of the Coon amplitude as a single sum.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Phonon Inverse Faraday Effect from Electron-Phonon Coupling
Authors: Shabala Natalia , Geilhufe R. Matthias
Published: December 2024

The phonon inverse Faraday effect describes the emergence of a dc magnetization due to circularly polarized phonons. In this work we present a microscopic formalism for the phonon inverse Faraday effect. The formalism is based on time-dependent second order perturbation theory and electron phonon coupling. While our final equation is general and material independent, we provide estimates for the effective magnetic field expected for the ferroelectric soft mode in the oxide perovskite SrTiO3. Our estimates are consistent with recent experiments showing a huge magnetization after a coherent excitation of circularly polarized phonons with THz laser light. Hence, the theoretical approach presented here is promising for shedding light into the microscopic mechanism of angular momentum transfer between ionic and electronic angular momentum, which is expected to play a central role in the phononic manipulation of magnetism.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Probabilistic channel simulation using coherence
Authors: Zhao Benchi , Ito Kosuke , Fujii Keisuke
Published: December 2024

Channel simulation using coherence, which refers to realizing a target channel with coherent states and free operations, is a fundamental problem in the quantum resource theory of coherence. The limitations of the accuracy of deterministic channel simulation motivate us to consider the more general probabilistic framework. In this paper, we develop the framework for probabilistic channel simulation using coherence with free operations. When the chosen set of free operations is the maximally incoherent operations, we provide an efficiently computable semidefinite program (SDP) to calculate the maximal success probability and derive the analytic expression of success probability for some special cases. When the chosen set of free operations is the dephasing-covariant incoherent operations (DIO), we show that if the target channel is not a resource nonactivating channel then one cannot simulate it exactly both deterministically and probabilistically. The SDP for maximal success probability of simulating a channel by DIO is also given correspondingly.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gas-phase thorium molecules from laser ablation
Authors: Fischer Paul , Stricker Jonas , Düllmann Christoph E. , Renisch Dennis , Schweikhard Lutz , Tantardini Christian
Published: December 2024

Laser ablation is performed on an oxidized, roughly 35-year-old Th232 foil. The produced anionic and cationic molecules are investigated utilizing precision mass measurements by a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Molecules with up to three thorium atoms are identified. This includes oxides ThnOx+ containing up to 2n−1 oxygen atoms and further species incorporating carbon or nitrogen. In addition, signals of U+, UO+, and the compound species ThUO2+ are found. Photoexcitation reveals selected molecules' dissociation patterns. The experimental findings are compared to density functional theory calculations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Navigating the innovation dilemma: the paradox of leader’s self-confidence in conflict management
Authors: Dhillon Padmavathy , Srivastava Bharatendu Nath , Joshi Chetan
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the circumstances where the positive influences of leader’s self-confidence are weakened in situations of conflict management (CM) arising due to innovation implementation. Specifically, this study tests the moderating influence of financial slack, internal opposition posturing and performance feedback on the relationship between self-confidence and conflict management styles (CMS). The findings are not complete.

Design/methodology/approach

This experimental study was conducted in two stages: In Stage 1, the authors studied moderating effects of financial slack (sound/unsound) and internal opposition posture (encouraging/ discouraging) on the relationship between leader’s self-confidence and CMS, namely, dominating, integrating and avoiding. In Stage 2, the authors studied the moderating effect of performance feedback (success/failure) on the relationship between leader’s self-confidence and three CMS. Data were collected from 268 senior-level Indian managers in Stage 1, out of which 235 managers also responded in Stage 2. These participants assumed the positions of chief executive officers (CEOs) within major Indian manufacturer specializing in electrical components, enabling us to empirically test the proposed model. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis of 10 semistructured interviews with Indian CEOs were conducted to enrich the discussion of the results.

Findings

Leader’s self-confidence determined the three CMS with highly self-confident leaders displaying irrational behavior in persisting with innovation through dominating style. Internal opposition posture and performance feedback exerted main effects on dominating style.

Research limitations/implications

This study supports behavioral decision theory of firm and escalation of commitment theory.

Practical implications

This study underscores the need for personality and self-awareness training amongst senior managers to mitigate irrational behavior due to excessive self-confidence and enhanced effective CM.

Originality/value

This study identifies a crucial boundary condition where high self-confidence in innovation implementation may lead to irrational behavior and ineffective CM.
Perceived performance in coworking spaces: the effect of face-to-face and online social interactions
Authors: Labrado-Antolín Maribel , Delgado-Piña Isabel , Fernández-Menández José , Rodríguez-Ruiz Óscar
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact of face-to-face and online social interactions on coworkers’ perception of performance in coworking spaces (CWS) compared to working from home (WFH). CWS are work environments where different actors compete and collaborate. The impact of such interactions on performance remains unclear. Building on the conceptual framework of “coopetition” (Bengtsson et al., 2016) and the theory of hyperpersonal interactions (Walther, 1996), this research attempts to bring light into the discussion.

Design/methodology/approach

The study hypothesizes that frequent face-to-face community events negatively affect coworker performance compared to WFH. Conversely, digital platforms connecting CWS users are expected to enhance performance. The authors use a data set of 135 CWS users. Linear regression models are fitted using self-rated performance in the CWS compared to performance when WFH as dependent variable.

Findings

This study’s analysis shows that the frequency of face-to-face events is negatively associated with perceived performance at CWS compared to performance at WFH. Furthermore, CWS digital platforms do not show a significant relationship with performance in CWS compared to WFH.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature on “coopetition” with specific reference to the case of CWS. It broadens the activity school perspective highlighting that coworking offline and online interactions have different performance implications. The paper also contributes to the theory of hyperpersonal interactions by studying the role of online communication. Findings help CWS managers to make informed decisions about the perceived outcomes of the services they provide. The analysis reveals the need to reconsider the frequency of face-to-face social events to avoid dysfunctional effects.
Assessing path accuracy in industrial robots via ballbar technology
Authors: Bilancia Pietro , Ferrarini Sergio , Berni Riccardo , Pellicciari Marcello
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present a methodology for evaluating the path accuracy of industrial robots using the telescoping ballbar measurement technology. The goal is to improve accuracy assessments in precision-driven manufacturing processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A single telescoping ballbar is used to assess the circle contouring performance of a KUKA KR210 R2700 prime robot. Experiments involve system setup, data collection and analysis in Matlab to derive performance metrics such as radial deviation, circularity and path accuracy error. This study investigates the impact of varying the operational conditions, including speed, payload and robot configuration, on these indexes through statistical analysis, and examines the relationship between joint errors and path deviations.

Findings

The results indicate that the robot behavior is influenced by the operating conditions, with notable error spikes at joint reversal positions due to factors such as joint backlash and transmission errors. This study evaluates various performance indexes from different standards, ISO 230 and ISO 9283, and identifies key operating parameters influencing each index. The findings suggest effective strategies for error compensation and performance enhancement.

Originality/value

This paper offers a novel approach to path accuracy verification and error source identification in industrial robots. It proposes methods to rapidly assess the correlation between performance and operating conditions, offering insights for better calibration and control strategies, especially in high-precision tasks.
The capacity of the halal brand logo to fortify the brand commitment of Muslim travellers
Authors: Mursid Ali , Pujiastuti Yanti , Rinwantin Rinwantin , Wibowo Radna Andi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The diverse impacts of brand logos on customer behaviour have garnered significant attention from scholars. However, the specific influences of halal brand logos remain mostly unexplored. This study aims to investigate the impact of halal brand logos on brand love, trust, self-brand connection and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a survey to choose a sample of Indonesian Muslim customers who consumed halal brand foods, as indicated by the presence of the halal logo, throughout their travels in the years 2022–2023. The study was conducted using proportional random sampling among Muslim travellers in six provinces: Central Java, Yogyakarta, West Java, Jakarta, Banten and East Java. A total of 464 respondents participated in the poll. The analysis data used both confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings demonstrated a strong and statistically significant impact of the halal brand logo on both brand love and brand trust. Likewise, brand love and brand trust have a strong and meaningful impact on the emotional connection with the brand. Ultimately, emotional attachment and personal identification with a brand have a strong and meaningful impact on the level of commitment towards that brand. However, the level of trust in a brand does not have a major beneficial effect on brand commitment.

Practical implications

Clarifying the theory of customer–brand relationships, the results of this study suggest that halal food producers should pursue halal certification to succeed in their business, as the halal brand logo has a crucial effect on customers’ brand commitment. Halal food providers should immediately adopt the halal logo or certification to enhance customer brand love, trust, self-brand connection and commitment.

Originality/value

This study gives new insight to explain the effect of the halal brand logo on Muslim customer behaviour based on customer–brand relationships and thus contributes to the marketing literature.
Unraveling Dutch disease: remittances and exchange rate dynamics pre and post-GFC trends in 199 countries
Authors: Sadiq Ramla , Nosheen Safia , Yasser Farah
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study's main objective is to assess remittances' effect on real exchange rate movements pre- and post-GFC.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample for this study includes 199 countries and independent territories for the period between 1999 and 2019. Furthermore, this period is divided into pre-GFC (inclusive) from 1999 to 2009 and post-GFC from 2010 to 2019. This paper uses a one-step GMM estimation on linear dynamic panel data.

Findings

The significant results from this study show that the exchange rate of remittances depreciates in every country, especially in low-middle-income countries. It has been found that, in high-income countries, the first lag of remittances has a significantly negative impact.

Research limitations/implications

This study examines macroeconomic variables and remittance impacts, revealing clear trends in consumption patterns and exchange rates. Families use remittances for savings and investments, depreciating exchange rates. This suggests Dutch disease in economies, especially after GFC.

Practical implications

Policy implications involve increasing exporter costs through variable taxes or retention, depreciating exchange rates and encouraging recovery from the Dutch disease. This promotes commodity trade and long-term economic benefits, while self-balancing protects against currency value depreciation.

Originality/value

This concepts originality lies in the focus on the impact of remittances on exchange rates and sectoral imbalances in various income-level countries over a significant period. The proposed policy implications aim to address the potential negative consequences of remittances on the economy, making it a valuable contribution to the existing research in this field.
Combination of KPIs and CEO’s messages: effective employee communication targeted at increasing the share of female managers
Authors: Kadomura Azusa , Sekiguchi Akiyuki , Kato Takumi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a source of competitiveness that enhances a company’s reputation, promotes innovation and contributes to consumer purchasing behavior. Companies increase the number of women managers to strengthen CSR. However, the global average share of women managers is 28.2%, and in Japan, it remains low at 12.9%. One reason this situation has not improved is that existing research has focused on the effects and reasons for the share of female managers, and surprisingly, there is little knowledge about implementation. This study aims to fills that gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the research question, “Will adding a message from the CEO to a key performance indicator (KPI) that increases the share of female managers improve employee attitudes?” The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial in an online survey environment among 800 full-time employees of Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. in Japan.

Findings

The result showed that simply presenting the KPI, “share of female managers,” was unlikely to impact employee attitudes positively. It was also desirable to convey the CEO’s message to customers.

Practical implications

Executives should adopt a corporate narrative strategy when communicating KPIs to their organizations. Adding the CEO’s words conveys the true meaning behind the numbers, elicits empathy and positively impacts employees’ attitudes.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to apply corporate narrative strategy findings to the effects of internal marketing on the share of female managers.
Innovative entrepreneurship “En pointe”
Authors: Barsoum Miray Rashad
Published: December 2024

Research methodology

The research for the Slimnastics School of Ballet case study used methodological triangulation, incorporating primary and secondary data sources as well as content analysis to ensure comprehensive coverage and validity. Primary data were collected through qualitative field interviews with the organization’s founder (Passant Esmail), key staff members and clients. Secondary data involved a review of relevant literature as well as content analysis of organizational documents, industry reports, financial records and relevant news articles. This triangulation of methods allowed for a robust analysis of the business model and strategic decisions within the cultural entrepreneurship context.

Case overview/synopsis

This case explores the entrepreneurial journey of Passant Esmail, founder of Slimnastics School of Ballet, and her innovative approach to building a successful business in a competitive market. Esmail differentiated Slimnastics by offering inclusive ballet education that catered to a diverse range of students, focusing on affordability, community engagement and high-quality instruction. As Slimnastics expanded, Esmail faced challenges in sustaining growth and maintaining competitive advantage. The case examines how Esmail’s innovative strategies shaped the success of Slimnastics and prompts discussion on how the new management can build on her legacy using the Blue Ocean Strategy and the Four Actions Framework.

Complexity academic level

Suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this case is ideal for courses in entrepreneurship, innovation and gender studies, providing insights into the dynamics of building and sustaining ventures in culturally rich and competitive sectors.
Advanced phasing techniques in congenital skin diseases
Authors: Natsuga Ken
Published: December 2024

Phasing, the process of determining which alleles at different loci on homologous chromosomes belong together on the same chromosome, is crucial in the diagnosis and management of autosomal recessive diseases. Advances in long‐read sequencing technologies have significantly enhanced our ability to accurately determine haplotypes. This review discusses the application of low‐coverage long‐read sequencing, nanopore Cas9‐guided long‐read sequencing, and adaptive sampling in phasing, highlighting their utility in complex clinical scenarios. Through clinical vignettes, we explore the importance of phasing in gene therapy design for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and the role of revertant mosaicism in therapeutic epidermal autografts. Despite its promise, phasing with long‐read sequencing faces challenges, including low efficiency in enriching target regions and the inherent error rate of nanopore sequencing. Future developments in long‐read sequencing technologies will be critical in overcoming these limitations and expanding the applicability of phasing across various clinical settings.
Diagnosing the Barriers Faced by Rural Communities in Building Disaster and Climate Resilience in Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyahunda Louis
Published: December 2024

This study is poised to explore the barriers faced by rural communities in building disaster and climate resilience. The study was conducted against the backdrop that the frequency and intensity of climate change and its associated extreme weather events and hazards necessitate resilience building for at‐risk communities to protect the lives, livelihoods, economic, social and environmental assets. As rural communities endeavour to build resilience against climate change and disasters, they are confronted by a plethora of barriers that make disaster and climate resilience aspirations untenable. The study adopted the qualitative research approach within the exploratory research design. Community members, disaster risk reduction and climate change practitioners and traditional leaders were purposively sampled to share their insights on the subject matter. A total of 32 respondents participated in the study. Focus group discussions and semi‐structured interviews were used as data collection methods. Soaring poverty levels, weak and uncoordinated local institutions, recurring exposure to natural hazards and extreme weather events, limited community participation and inequalities emerged as barriers to disaster and climate resilience building in Zimbabwe's rural communities. The study provides nuanced empirical perspectives on barriers to disaster and climate resilience building to propose ways of dealing with them. The study sets pathways for policy reform at national and subnational levels and paradigm shifts where collective or individual efforts, changed ways of thinking, reprioritisation of resources, institutional support and political will can assist at‐risk communities overcome the identified barriers.