bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of two newMetarhizium brunneumformulations against wireworms in potato cultivation
Authors: Paluch Maximilian , Seib Tanja , Stephan Dietrich , Immenroth Eckhard , Lehmhus Jörn
Published: December 2024

In the absence of officially approved agrochemicals for the use against wireworms (Agriotesspp.) in German potato cultivation, the entomopathogenic fungus genusMetarhiziumhas been regarded as promising biocontrol agent. However, previous mycoinsecticide formulations ofM. brunneumcould not achieve consistent effectiveness in field use. Within the scope of the project AgriMet, the effectiveness of two new formulations ofM. brunneumwas evaluated over three years in the field, greenhouse and laboratory. The application of a soil granule and/or a wettable powder (dry product) ofM. brunneumduring potato planting aimed to reduce potato tuber damage by controlling wireworms. During field trials in the Lower Saxony (Germany), the combination of both formulations led to an effectiveness between 1 % and 13.6 % compared to the untreated control. The single application of the AgriMet-Granule and the AgriMet-Dry Product was less successful. The standardised greenhouse set-up in pots withA. obscurusindicated that an application rate of at least 300 kg ha-1of the AgriMet-Granule, respectively 1×1013conidia ha-1of the AgriMet-Dry Product was necessary to effectively reduce tuber damage (44-54 %), while surprisingly no larval mortality was recorded. The laboratory experiments showed, that only the AgriMet-Dry Product provided a lethal potential against wireworms, whereas the AgriMet-Granule showed deficits in terms of product quality. However, the effectiveness of the AgriMet-Dry Product againstA. obscurus,A. sputatorandA. lineatusresulted in significant differences in mortality indicating a species-specific virulence of theM. brunneumisolate used. Additional influencing factors became apparent through analysing multiple soil parameters at the respective field site such as temperature, moisture, colony-forming units ofMetarhiziumspp. and wireworm density, underlining the complexity of wireworm control using a microbial control agent. Especially the low soil temperatures during spring application pose a serious challenge to the development of an effective control strategy against wireworms.
Genetically Labeled Premyelinating Oligodendrocytes: Bridging Oligodendrogenesis and Neuronal Activity
Authors: Bhambri Aksheev , Thai Phu , Wei Songtao , Bae Han-Gyu , Barbosa Daniela , Sharma Tripti , Yu Ze , Xing Chao , Kim Jun Hee , Yu Guoqiang , Sun Lu O.
Published: December 2024

To myelinate axons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) must stop dividing and differentiate into premyelinating oligodendrocytes (preOLs). PreOLs are thought to survey and begin ensheathing nearby axons, and their maturation is often stalled at human demyelinating lesions. Lack of genetic tools to visualize and manipulate preOLs has left this critical differentiation stage woefully understudied. Here, we generated a knock-in mouse line that specifically labels preOLs across the central nervous system. Genetically labeled preOLs exhibit distinct morphology, unique transcriptomic and electrophysiological features, and do not overlap with OPCs. PreOL lineage tracing revealed that subsets of them undergo prolonged maturation and that different brain regions initiate oligodendrogenesis with the spatiotemporal specificity. Lastly, by fate mapping preOLs under sensory deprivation, we find that neuronal activity functions within a narrow time window of preOL maturation to promote their survival and successful integration. Our work provides a new tool to probe this critical cell stage during axon ensheathment, allowing for fine dissection of axon-oligodendrocyte interactions.
The Threat of Science-Related Populism to Global Public Health: Lessons from Iran
Authors: Taefehshokr Nima , Martens Brielle , Beheshti Iman , Zahedi Rene P , Los Marek J , Kindrachuk Jason , Ghavami Saeid
Published: December 2024

This manuscript explores the impact of science-related populism on public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the situation in Iran. Our analysis, utilizing publicly available data from The Economist and the World Health Organization, demonstrates the consequences of delayed vaccination campaigns. Statistical analysis shows a clear correlation between delayed vaccine introduction and increased excess mortality rates. This trend is particularly pronounced in Iran, where political resistance to Western vaccine imports and the promotion of unproven medical technologies exacerbated the health crisis. Additionally, our time-series analysis links significant surges in COVID-19 deaths to national events and government decisions that likely enhanced virus transmission, indicating direct public health repercussions from delayed pandemic responses. These results highlight the global security threat posed by science-related populism, where political agendas undermine scientific integrity and public health. The findings advocate for an urgent global commitment to uphold scientific evidence as the cornerstone of health policy, emphasizing the necessity of combating misinformation to ensure timely and effective public health measures.
Convergent representations and spatiotemporal dynamics of speech and language in brain and deep neural networks
Authors: Chen Peili , Xiang Shiji , He Linyang , Chang Edward F. , Li Yuanning
Published: December 2024

Recent studies have explored the correspondence between single-modality DNN models (speech or text) and specific brain networks for speech and language. The key factors underlying these correlations and their spatiotemporal evolution within the brain language network remain unclear, particularly across different DNN modalities. To address these questions, we analyzed the representation similarity between self-supervised learning (SSL) models for speech (Wav2Vec2) and language (GPT-2), against neural responses to naturalistic speech captured via high-density electrocorticography. Our results indicated high prediction accuracy of both types of SSL models relative to neural activity before and after word onsets. It was the shared components between Wav2Vec2.0 and GPT-2 that explained the majority portion of the SSL-brain similarity. Furthermore, we observed distinct spatiotemporal dynamics: both models showed high encoding accuracy 40 milliseconds before word onset, especially in the mid-superior temporal gyrus (mid-STG), which can be explained by the shared contextual components in the SSL models; the Wav2Vec2.0 also peaked at 200 milliseconds after word onset around the posterior STG, which was mainly attributed to the acoustic-phonetic and static semantic information encoded in the SSL models. These results highlight how contextual and acoustic-phonetic cues encoded in DNNs align with spatiotemporal neural activity patterns, suggesting a significant overlap in how artificial and biological systems process linguistic information.
EXTENSIVE GENETIC INTERACTIONS (EPISTASIS) LINKED TO ALCOHOL USE DISORDER IN A HIGH-RISK POPULATION
Authors: Listopad Stanislav , Peng Qian
Published: December 2024

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is known to have a significant genetic component, yet there remains a substantial gap between its heritability and findings from genome-wide association studies. One potential factor contributing to this gap may be genetic interactions, or epistasis, a largely unexplored aspect in the context of AUD. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of epistasis in AUD susceptibility and severity among American Indians, a population that exhibits the highest rates of AUD among all ethnic groups in the U.S. We began by identifying genes previously linked to alcohol dependence and AUD, then expanded this gene set through biological networks, ultimately comprising 3,736 genes and regulatory elements. The final gene set was mapped to over 476K variants in an American Indian cohort of 742 individuals. We performed a pairwise genetic interaction association analysis on the variant set, followed by a bi-clustering procedure to group the interacting SNP pairs into interacting intervals. A total of 114 interacting pairs of genes and regulatory elements were identified to be significantly associated with AUD severity. These genes were enriched for immune system, cell adhesion, neuronal, and disease pathways. Their expressions were particularly enriched in midbrain GABAergic neurons. Our study represents the first large-scale genetic interaction study of AUD in any population. Our findings suggest that epistasis may significantly contribute to the development and progression of AUD.
Epigenetic Disordering Drives Stemness, Senescence Escape and Tumor Heterogeneity
Authors: Magnani Elena , Macchi Filippo , Randic Tijana , Chen Charlene , Madakashira Bhavani , Ranjan Shashi , Eski Sema Elif , Singh Sumeet P. , Sadler Kirsten C.
Published: December 2024

Tumor heterogeneity is the substrate for tumor evolution and the linchpin of treatment resistance. Cancer cell heterogeneity is largely attributed to distinct genetic changes within each cell population. However, the widespread epigenome repatterning that characterizes most cancers is also highly heterogenous within tumors and could generate cells with diverse identities and malignant features. We show that high levels of the epigenetic regulator and oncogene, UHRF1, in zebrafish hepatocytes rapidly induced methylome disordering, loss of heterochromatin, and DNA damage, resulting in cell cycle arrest, senescence, and acquisition of stemness. Reducing UHRF1 expression transitions these cells from senescent to proliferation-competent. The expansion of these damaged cells results in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) that have immature cancer cells intermingled with fibroblasts, immune and senescent cells expressing high UHRF1 levels, which serve as reservoirs for new cancer cells. This defines a distinct and heterogenous HCC subtype resulting from epigenetic changes, stemness and senescence escape.
Immune cell single-cell RNA sequencing analyses link an age-associated T cell subset to symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Broman Meaghan M. , Lanman Nadia A. , Vickman Renee E. , Cresswell Gregory M. , Kothandaraman Harish , Kolliegbo Andree , Paez Paez Juan Sebastian , Glaser Alexander P. , Helfand Brian T. , Henry Gervaise , Strand Douglas W. , Franco Omar E. , Crawford Susan E. , Hayward Simon W. , Ratliff Timothy L.
Published: December 2024

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is among the most common age-associated diseases in men; however, the contribution of age-related changes in immune cells to BPH is not clear. The current study determined that an age-associated CD8+T cell subset (Taa) with high Granzyme K (GZMKhi) and low Granzyme B (GZMBlow) gene expression infiltrate aged human prostates and positively correlate with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). A velocity analysis indicated that CD8+T cell differentiation is altered in large BPH prostates compared to small age-matched prostates, favoring Taa accumulation. In vitro granzyme K treatment of human BPH patient-derived large prostate fibroblasts increased secretion of pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-associated cytokines. These data suggest that granzyme K-mediated stimulation of prostate stromal fibroblast SASP cytokine and chemokine production promotes prostate immune cell recruitment and activation. Overall, these results connect symptomatic BPH with immune aging.
A microphysiological system of sterile injury demonstrates neutrophil reverse migration via macrophage-derived extracellular vesicle crosstalk
Authors: Babatunde Kehinde Adebayo , Oluwadamilola Babatunde Fatimat , Ahmed Adeel , Salgado-Pabon Wilmara , Beebe David J , Kerr Sheena C
Published: December 2024

Persistent neutrophilic inflammation can lead to tissue damage and chronic inflammation, contributing to non-healing wounds. The resolution phase of neutrophilic inflammation is critical to preventing tissue damage, as observed in diseases characterized by influx of neutrophils such as atherosclerosis and non-healing wounds. Animal models have provided insight into resolution of neutrophilic inflammation via efferocytosis and reverse migration (rM); however, species-specific differences and complexity of innate immune responses make translation to humans challenging. Thus, there is a need forin vitrosystems that can elucidate mechanisms of resolution of human neutrophilic inflammation. Here, we developed a human microphysiological system (MPS) to mimic an inflammatory sterile injury (SI) microenvironment to study the role of macrophage derived extracellular vesicles (M-EVs) in determining the resolution of inflammation via neutrophil rM. The MPS integrates a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lined lumen, injury site spheroid, human neutrophils, macrophages and macrophage derived EVs to investigate the role of M-EVs in neutrophil rMin vitro. The key features of the MPS enabled us to demonstrate that EVs derived from macrophage subsets modulate migratory behavior in primary neutrophils differently in specific inflammatory microenvironments. Importantly, we identified a new mechanism underlying neutrophil rM via M-EV, where neutrophils exposed to M2-EV-derived IL-8 migrate away from the SI site upon reaching the site, using the SI MPS. Overall, our SI MPS system demonstrates a reverse migratory pattern in human primary neutrophils, advancing the study of the resolution of inflammation via M-EVs.
GnT motifs: short nucleotide tracts of ≥8bp that can increase T:A→G:C mutation rates >1000-fold in bacteria
Authors: Horton James S. , Cherry Joshua L. , Waugh Gretel , Taylor Tiffany B.
Published: December 2024

Nucleotides across a genome do not mutate at equal frequencies. Instead, specific nucleotide positions can exhibit much higher mutation rates than the genomic average due to their immediate nucleotide neighbours. These ‘mutational hotspots’ can play a prominent role in adaptive evolution, yet we lack knowledge of which short nucleotide tracts drive hotspots. In this work, we employ a combinatorial approach of experimental evolution withPseudomonas fluorescensand bioinformatic analysis of variousSalmonellaspecies to characterise a short nucleotide motif (≥8bp) that drives T:A→G:C mutation rates >1000-fold higher than the average T→G rate in bacteria. First, we experimentally show that homopolymeric tracts (≥3) of G with a 3’ T frequently mutate so that the 3’ T is replaced with a G, resulting in an extension of the guanine tract, i.e., GGGGT → GGGGG. We then demonstrate that the potency of this T:A→G:C hotspot is dependent on the nucleotides immediately flanking the GnT motif. We find that the dinucleotide pair immediately 5’ to a G4tract and the nucleotide immediately 3’ to the T strongly affect the T:A→G:C mutation rate, which ranges from ∼5-fold higher than the typical rate to >1000-fold higher depending on the flanking elements. Therefore the T:A→G:C hotspot motif is a product of several modular nucleotide components (1-4bp in length) which each exert a significant effect on the mutation rate of the GnT motif. This work advances our ability to accurately identify the position and quantify the mutagenicity of hotspot motifs predicated on short tracts of nucleotides.
Alternative splicing controls pan-neuronal homeobox gene expression
Authors: Leyva-Díaz Eduardo , Cesar Michael , Pe Karinna , Jordá-Llorens José Ignacio , Valdivia Jessica , Hobert Oliver
Published: December 2024

The pan-neuronally expressed and phylogenetically conserved CUT homeobox geneceh-44/CUXorchestrates pan-neuronal gene expression throughout the nervous system ofCaenorhabditis elegans.As in many other species, including humans,ceh-44/CUXis encoded by a complex locus that also codes for a Golgi-localized protein, called CASP (Cux1 alternatively spliced product) in humans and CONE-1 (“CASP of nematodes”) inC. elegans. How gene expression from this complex locus is controlled—and, inC. elegans, directed to all cells of the nervous system—has not been investigated. We show here that pan-neuronal expression of CEH-44/CUX is controlled by a pan-neuronal RNA splicing factor, UNC-75, theC. eleganshomolog of vertebrate CELF proteins. During embryogenesis, thecone-1&ceh-44locus exclusively produces the Golgi-localized CONE-1/CASP protein in all tissues, but upon the onset of postmitotic terminal differentiation of neurons, UNC-75/CELF induces the production of the alternative CEH-44/CUX CUT homeobox gene-encoding transcript exclusively in the nervous system. Hence, UNC-75/CELF-mediated alternative splicing not only directs pan-neuronal gene expression but also excludes a phylogenetically deeply conserved golgin from the nervous system, paralleling surprising spatial specificities of another golgin that we describe here as well. Our findings provide novel insights into how all cells in a nervous system acquire pan-neuronal identity features and reveal unanticipated cellular specificities in Golgi apparatus composition.
Experimental computations of atomic properties on a superconducting quantum processor
Authors: Singh Akhil Pratap , Sugisaki Kenji , Prasannaa Srinivasa , Sahoo Bijaya Kumar , Das Bhanu Pratap , Nakamura Yasunobu
Published: December 2024

We experimentally compute relativistic and correlation effects in the atomic properties by using a superconducting qubit processor. Specifically, we compute the relativistic ground-state energies and magnetic-dipole hyperfine structure constants for four Li-like atomic systems ranging from very light to moderately heavy to very heavy in terms of nuclear charge. A symmetry-conserving Bravyi-Kitaev transformation is used to reduce the original six-qubit problem to a four-qubit problem, which is experimentally contrived by reducing the hardware requirement by employing a virtual two-qubit gate. It enables the simulation of four-qubit circuits using two physical qubits with additional circuit evaluations. The ground-state wave functions, required for computing atomic properties, are obtained by using quantum state tomography. Our results show that the averaged relative errors for the ground-state energies are ≈0.3±1%. However, for the hyperfine structure constants, the mean values of the relative errors are less than 15%, with their estimated upper bound of relative errors of ≈±10% (with the exception of 7.2±47% for neutral Li7). Notably, our results for the hyperfine structure constants exhibit higher sensitivity to errors as compared to energies; a trend which we also confirm through additional numerical simulations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Influence of point defects on laser-induced excitation in silicon
Authors: Otobe Tomohito , Gushiken Eiyu
Published: December 2024

We studied the influence of defect states on the laser excitation process in silicon using time-dependent density functional theory. We assumed two types of point defects: interstitial oxygen and silicon vacancies. We found that the photoabsorption efficiency increased with defect density in both cases owing to the color center. These defects distorted the crystal structure, thereby relaxing the selection rules and changing the indirect gap to direct. At low laser intensities, the defect states dominated the absorption process. However, as the laser intensity increased, the excitation efficiency approached that of crystalline silicon. In addition, we observed that the excitation efficiency did not scale linearly with the pulse length. Notably, in the case of Si vacancies, saturable absorption reduced photoabsorption significantly. Our results suggest that the existence of a defect induces the even-order high-harmonics generation. The enhancement of even-order high-harmonics generation by the silicon vacancy is larger than the interstitial oxygen.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Two-pion emission decays of negative parity singly heavy baryons
Authors: Ponkhuha Nongnapat , Arifi Ahmad Jafar , Samart Daris
Published: December 2024

We investigate two-pion emission decays of singly charmed and bottom baryons, focusing on ΛQ*(1P) and ΞQ*(1P) states with JP=1/2− and 3/2−, which belong to the flavor triplet 3¯F. Our study includes both sequential decays through intermediate states in the flavor sextet 6F and direct three-body decay, with coupling constants estimated using the chiral quark model and chiral-partner scheme. Examining recent Belle measurements for Λc(2625)+, we confirm its assignment as a λ-mode excitation with JP=3/2−. We then give predictions for other cases, including the ΞQ* decays. The observed asymmetry in the ππ mass distribution highlights the role of the direct process, reflecting the chiral-partner structure. However, the direct process is less significant in three-body decays unless S-wave resonances are suppressed. Further experiments are needed to test our predictions and get more insights into the structure of heavy baryons.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Unified interpretation of the muon
g−2
anomaly, the 95 GeV diphoton, and
bb¯
excesses in the general next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model
Authors: Cao Junjie , Jia Xinglong , Lian Jingwei
Published: December 2024

We investigate three intriguing anomalies within the framework of the general next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. These anomalies include a significant deviation of the experimental results for the muon anomalous magnetic moment from its standard model prediction, with a confidence level of 5.1σ; a joint observation by the CMS and ATLAS Collaborations of a diphoton excess with a local significance of 3.1σ in the invariant mass distribution around 95.4 GeV; and a reported excess in the bb¯ production at the Large Electron-Positron Collider with a local significance of 2.3σ. Through analytical and numerical analyses, we provide unified interpretations across an extensive parameter space that remain consistent with current experimental restrictions from data on the Higgs boson at 125 GeV, B-physics measurements, and dark matter observables, as well as existing searches for supersymmetry and extra Higgs bosons. We attribute the muon anomaly to loops involving muon-smuon-neutralino and muon-sneutrino-chargino interactions, while attributing the diphoton and bb¯ excesses to the resonant production of a singlet-dominated scalar. These proposed solutions are poised for experimental tests at the high-luminosity LHC and future linear colliders.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nonadiabatic quantum Vlasov equation in spinor QED
Authors: Li Z. L. , Li Y. J.
Published: December 2024

The nonadiabatic quantum Vlasov equation in spinor QED is derived, and its relation to the well-known adiabatic one is established by three different methods. One is by deriving an explicit analytical expression. The second is by utilizing the Dirac equation in the length gauge, and the last is by introducing a weak and slowly varying counterfield. The relations obtained using the first two methods are instantaneous. Moreover, a comparative analysis of the nonadiabatic quantum Vlasov equations in both spinor and scalar QED is performed by investigating the time evolution of the distribution functions for a given momentum and the asymptotic momentum distributions of particles created by an electric field with and without an additional counterfield. It is found that after the external field is turned off, the oscillation periods of the distribution functions in both spinor and scalar QED equal pi divided by the positive eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian. The asymptotic momentum distributions in spinor and scalar QED show a novel out-of-phase behavior that cannot be explained by the conventional Stokes phenomenon. These results will further deepen our understanding of quantum Vlasov equations and their applications in vacuum pair production.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Multivalued Wess-Zumino-Novikov functional and chiral anomaly in hydrodynamics
Authors: Wiegmann P. B.
Published: December 2024

We present a hydrodynamic framework derived from the action of a perfect fluid, modified by the hydrodynamic analog of Novikov’s multivalued functional. This modification introduces spin degrees of freedom into the fluid. The structure closely resembles the Abelian version of the Wess-Zumino functional, commonly applied in field theories with chiral anomalies. The deformation incorporates transport properties of Weyl fermions and, in the case of a charged fluid, exhibits the chiral anomaly. It is also consistent with Onsager’s semiclassical quantization of circulation. Additionally, we discuss the hydrodynamic analog of instantons and related topological invariants.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Efficient coupling of light to an atomic tweezer array in a cavity
Authors: Solomons Yakov , Shani Inbar , Firstenberg Ofer , Davidson Nir , Shahmoon Ephraim
Published: December 2024

We consider the coupling of light, via an optical cavity, to two-dimensional atomic arrays whose lattice spacing exceeds the wavelength of the light. Such “superwavelength” spacing is typical of optical tweezer arrays. While subwavelength arrays exhibit strong atom-photon coupling, characterized by high optical reflectivity in free space, the coupling efficiency of superwavelength arrays is reduced due to collective scattering losses to high diffraction orders. We show how a moderate-finesse cavity can overcome these losses. As the scattering losses peak at certain discrete values of the lattice spacing, the spacing can be optimized to achieve efficient atom-photon coupling in the cavity. Our cavity-QED theory properly accounts for collective dipolar interactions mediated by the lossy, non-cavity-confined photon modes and for finite-size effects of both the array and the light field. These findings pave the way to harnessing the versatility of tweezer arrays for efficient atom-photon interfaces in applications of quantum computing, networking, and nonlinear optics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
How celebrity attachment influences event participation intentions: from the customer-relationship theory and attachment theory approaches
Authors: Tran Phuong Kim Thi , Ho-Mai Nhi Thao , Nguyen Nhi Uyen Thi , Mai Uyen Phuong Thi , Nguyen Nhi Uyen Ngoc , Bui Duong Hai Thi , Le Huy Van , Tran Vinh Trung
Published: December 2024

Purpose

From the customer-relationship theory and attachment theory approaches, this study proposes a serial mediation model to examine how celebrity attachment influences event attendees' intentions in the celebrity endorsement process in the context of events.

Design/methodology/approach

Paper-based and online surveys were used to collect data from 759 Vietnamese respondents, aged 15 and above, who followed domestic or international celebrities and were interested in various events taking place in Vietnam. A serial multiple mediation model was evaluated through covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results confirmed the cognitive, affective and hybrid cognitive-affective pathways among antecedents, celebrity attachment and event participation intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies need to validate these findings across diverse cultural settings and larger participant pools to enhance their applicability. Exploring celebrity endorsement for events from an international follower perspective could offer valuable insights. Future research should consider these factors when interpreting results. It may benefit from conducting longitudinal or mixed-method studies to improve generalizability. Additional moderating variables are necessary, as research on the celebrity endorsement process for events evolves.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on celebrity endorsement within event marketing, emphasizing the customer-brand relationship and attachment theory. It extends existing research that primarily examines how celebrity attachment influences event attendees' intentions in the celebrity endorsement process by validating a serial mediation model.
Exploring the intersection of management control systems and gender equality: an integrative literature review
Authors: Hosoda Masahiro , Toyosaki Hitomi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how management control systems (MCSs) can contribute to achieving gender equality.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers undertook an integrative review of the literature, focusing on the characteristics of MCSs for the development of female managers as well as highlighting the deployment of MCSs by them. Nineteen (19) articles were selected from a database in terms of specified criteria, following which they were analysed in terms of the identified MCSs.

Findings

The study found interrelations between MCSs and the internal as well as external factors that promote the realisation of gender equality while highlighting the characteristics of the utilisation of MCSs by female managers. Future research agendas related to these two aspects are also suggested.

Originality/value

Theoretically, the study is significant because it offers new insights for analysing gender and gender equality issues in MCSs research, thus opening up fresh dimensions for future research. In terms of praxis, the study promotes gender symmetry in companies by addressing gender equality from the perspective of MCSs. The research also charts a novel course for promoting gender equality in the workplace regarding how female managers use MCSs.
Cross-level interaction mechanism for high growth among digital start–ups: an fsQCA analysis
Authors: Li Honglei , Wang Hongyu , Yang Ziyu , Guo Changwei
Published: December 2024

Purpose

In the field of digital entrepreneurship, achieving high growth in digital start-ups is crucial. This paper aims to explore how causal conditions at the individual, organizational and environmental levels interact in the growth process of digital start-ups. Furthermore, it uses a configurational approach to conduct a holistic analysis of the cross-level interaction mechanisms that enable digital start-ups to achieve high growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a holistic perspective, the data collection included 57 representative cases of digital start-ups in China in the past decade (2014–2023). A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis was conducted to explore the cross-level interaction mechanism of the three-dimensional causal conditions of the environment, organization and individual entrepreneurs on high growth among digital start-ups.

Findings

This study found three models for digital start-ups to achieve high growth. These models − the resource network orchestration model, the innovation resource development model and the entrepreneurial spirit coherence model, respectively, reflect the multiple paths of high growth achieved by various digital start-ups based on their entrepreneurial environment, organizational capability and the personality of the founder. This reflects that digital start-ups face different conditions and entrepreneurial situations, with differing cross-level interaction mechanisms for achieving high growth.

Practical implications

First, digital start-ups should focus on strengthening their digital resource integration capabilities to lay the foundation for their subsequent high-growth path selection. Second, entrepreneurs need to adopt a holistic perspective to change or strengthen the causal conditions required to achieve high growth. Third, emphasis should be placed on the coherence between the entrepreneur’s need for achievement and the internal entrepreneurial culture.

Originality/value

First, this study contributes to the literature on high growth among digital start-ups by introducing a cross-level interaction mechanism comprising environmental, organizational and entrepreneurial causal conditions. Second, it reveals that individual factors at the environmental, organizational and entrepreneurial levels are not necessary conditions for high entrepreneurial growth and that digital resource integration capabilities play a more universal role in achieving high digital start-up growth. Finally, the study provides a cross-level holistic explanation of how digital start-ups can achieve high growth and reveals various configuration models conducive to high growth, thus offering practical insights for businesses.
Are female entrepreneurs ambidextrous leaders? A qualitative study through the lens of social role theory
Authors: Oluwafemi Tolulope Busola
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how female leaders demonstrate ambidextrous leadership behaviors amid perceived role incongruity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an exploratory, qualitative approach. Data is collected via interviews with 14 female business owners and analyzed thematically.

Findings

As entrepreneurs, the female leaders draw on both communal and agentic traits; they also demonstrate both opening and closing leadership behaviors and can switch between leadership behaviors and traits as may be required by the situation. Experiences of gender-specific challenges were less visible for this group, and the female leaders consider all actions taken to ensure business venture success as superseding role expectations of any kind.

Research limitations/implications

The research design may limit the extent to which the findings can be generalized.

Practical implications

The study provides insights on issues such as gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and uncovers ways to support female leaders or encourage young girls to embrace leadership opportunities and business ownership. Current and future female leaders may also find this study useful to boost self-efficacy and navigate gender-specific leadership challenges.

Originality/value

This study shows that female entrepreneurs are ambidextrous leaders and gender-related challenges are less visible for female entrepreneurs/business owners. It highlights that consideration for business success is more important to female entrepreneurs than concerns about role incongruity. Also, the study shows that female entrepreneurs need to balance communal traits and agentic traits as well as opening and closing leadership behaviors to successfully lead their business ventures.
The double-edged sword effect of artificial intelligence awareness among hotel employees
Authors: Liu Shengmin , Cheng Pengfan
Published: December 2024

Purpose

With its continuous development and application in the hotel industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually replacing many jobs traditionally performed by humans. This research aims to understand how this threat and opportunity of substitution affects hotel employees’ behavioral decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a structural equation model, ordinary least squares and bootstrapping method to analyze the data collected with a field study and a scenario experiment from star-hotels in Shanghai, Paris and Seoul.

Findings

The results discovered that employees’ AI awareness has a positive relationship with their work engagement and AI boycott through two paths. The promoting path involves recovery level, while the hindering path includes job insecurity. In addition, the estimates showed that AI awareness has a great indirect effect on work engagement or AI boycott when innovativeness as a job requirement is high.

Practical implications

The findings offer insights to help hotels optimize the relationship between AI and hotel human workers while providing valuable implications for addressing behavioral dilemmas faced by hotel employees in the era of AI.

Originality/value

By integrating the behavioral decision-making literature with the conservation of resources theory, the study focuses on the dual mechanisms – challenging and hindering – through which AI awareness influences hotel employees’ coping strategies.
Managing institutional multiplicity: a case of a bilateral development agency’s regional office
Authors: Fushimi Katsutoshi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Drawing on institutionalism supplemented by a micro-political perspective, this study explores how a bilateral development agency’s (BDA’s) regional office manages institutional multiplicity, a situation where organisations are embedded into the institutional environments of their headquarters and multiple host countries.

Design/methodology/approach

I remotely conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 staff members of a BDA’s regional office in South-East Europe. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the interview data.

Findings

Two themes are developed. One is an institutional decomposition strategy. The subject office decomposes institutional multiplicity into more manageable multiple institutional dualities by deploying local representatives to host countries. The other is the division of duties to demonstrate legitimacy. The division designates who in the office demonstrate legitimacy in which institutional environment. These proactive actions by the office (i.e., the decomposition and the division) question the institutionalist assertion that external institutional conditions determine organisational behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may not directly apply to other public sector organisations because BDAs’ overseas offices are “donors” for their host countries. In addition, themes developed in the context of South-East Europe may not be generalisable to other regions.

Practical implications

BDA staff members should understand that institutional decomposition through the deployment of local representatives is a rational strategy to deal with complex conditions of institutional multiplicity. They should also understand that experienced local representatives are required to achieve this strategy.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to examine how a public sector organisation’s regional office manages complex institutional multiplicity from a micro-macro combined perspective.
Transforming the public service via digital leadership in Uganda
Authors: Kyambade Mahadih , Namatovu Afulah
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the competencies required for digital leaders and understand how public tertiary and higher education institutions are conceiving the concept through their curriculum and instruction.

Design/methodology/approach

Five in-depth qualitative interviews that used grounded theory were employed, and a constant comparison approach to data analysis was used.

Findings

There was consensus among the majority of interviewees for the competencies required for digital leaders but differing opinions on the methods to provide instruction.

Practical implications

This study suggests that technical skills are less relevant than an open mindset, willingness to try and ability to employ new ways of thinking into a workforce culture. Data also revealed that the particular leadership style used should be based on the context of the organization and the boundaries that exist within the culture.

Originality/value

This study adds valuable insights into the concept of digital leadership and how public tertiary and higher education institutions are providing instruction on the topic.
Integrated reporting in China: a mission approach
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Omran Mohamed , How Shi-Min
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Drawing on a mission approach, this study investigates the application of integrated reporting (IR). It also explores its role in shaping organisations' internal processes in Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).

Design/methodology/approach

We employed a case study method and collected data by conducting semi-structured interviews with CGN managers and analysing their reports and appropriate documents.

Findings

Our findings reveal that the CGN is motivated by its mission and vision to adopt IR rather than by other common motivations, such as legitimacy, strategy and stakeholder pressure. IR practice contributes to implementing its mission and vision through direct and indirect methods, covering the changes in design archetypes and subsystems that meet the nature of reorientation changes that belong to first-order transition.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends empirical evidence of IR at the firm level in China and provides in-depth insights into how IR is implemented in Chinese SOEs. Our findings may be helpful for policymakers to review and develop policies. For instance, the government might consider integrating IR frameworks into current reporting and mandate listed companies to adopt IR. However, our data are from one company, the only Mainland Chinese Company recognised by the IIRC database.

Originality/value

This study provides an innovative approach to analysing IR and offers managers insight into how IR practice benefits the mission’s implications.
Attention to Israel’s war on Gaza and stock price behavior: evidence from the Tel Aviv market
Authors: Ahmed Walid M.A. , Sleem Mohamed A.E.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Public interest in global events has become a robust driver of investor behavior and market dynamics. This paper assesses the potential influence of attention to the 2023 Israel–Palestine war on the Tel Aviv stock market performance. Our investigation includes both the aggregate market and major sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Leveraging the Google Trends service, we track search interest for a rich list of 20 terms closely linked to the ongoing conflict. Subsequently, we employ principal component analysis to construct a proxy indicator for war-related attention. To examine the potential influence of this attention on stock price returns and volatility, we adopt an EGARCH-X(p, q) framework, incorporating proxy factors to mitigate potential model under-specification issues.

Findings

The results suggest that increased attention to Israel’s invasion of Gaza is associated with negative returns and heightened volatility across most sectors. Additionally, the finance and technology sectors appear to be the most vulnerable, whereas the industrials and real estate sectors show comparatively lower levels of impact.

Practical implications

Given the observed negative effects of public attention to geopolitical conflicts on stock price dynamics, investors should consider incorporating geopolitical risk assessments into their investment strategies. Understanding how the Israel–Palestine conflict affects market behavior can help investors and fund managers make more informed decisions, including diversifying their asset portfolios to reduce risk or adjusting their positions in sectors most susceptible to such events.

Originality/value

To our best knowledge, this paper presents the first attempt to leverage the ongoing Israel–Palestine war as a compelling example to assess how public awareness of, and reactions to, interstate conflicts impinge on financial market returns and volatility.
Knowledge-oriented leadership and business performance: the mediating role of intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage in the knowledge-intensive service industry
Authors: Ghlichlee Behrooz , Bayat Fatemeh , Hatami Amir
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) and business performance (BP) in a knowledge-intensive industry and further investigate, heretofore neglected, a mediating effect of intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage in the relationship between KOL and BP.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was adopted to conduct the present study. Data were collected from the full-service branches of private banks in Tehran, Iran. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to ascertain the validity and reliability of the observed items, and a structural equation model was employed for testing the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings revealed that both intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage fully mediate the influence of KOL on branch performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in the banking sector in Iran. Therefore, our conclusions may not be applicable to other countries. Future studies should be carried out with samples from other contexts. Moreover, as the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships could not be inferred directly.

Practical implications

In this study, we found that knowledge-oriented leaders should increase their investment in intellectual capital to gain competitive advantage and improve branch performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to advanced research on KOL by trying to explain how intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage can influence the relationship between KOL and BP in a knowledge-intensive service industry.
Reflections and recommendations on respectful co-production of social marketing research with Indigenous people
Authors: Cateriano-Arévalo Erik , Soria Gonzáles (Pene Beso) Jorge , Soria Gonzales (Xawan Nita) Richard , Paiva Pinedo (Sanken Bea) Néstor , Gordon Ross , Pesantes Maria Amalia , Schuster Lisa
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Respectful co-production is one of the principles of ethical Indigenous research. However, this participatory approach has yet to be thoroughly discussed in social marketing. This study aims to provide reflections and recommendations for respectful co-production of research with Indigenous people in social marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws upon case study reflections and lessons learned from a research program respectfully co-produced with members of the Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous group of the Peruvian Amazon called the Comando Matico. The authors focus on the challenges and strategies for respectful co-production during different stages of the research process, including consultation, fieldwork and co-authoring articles. The authors foreground how their Comando Matico co researchers infused the research process with Shipibo knowledge.

Findings

The authors reflect on three recommendations concerning 1) respectful co-production, 2) power dynamics and 3) facilitating co-authorship. Social marketers interested in respectful co production of research with Indigenous people may need to adopt a flexible and practical approach that considers the characteristics of the context and Indigenous co-researchers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the discussion about the importance of respectful co-production of research with Indigenous people to ensure it accounts for their needs and wants.