bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunable multiphoton bundles emission in a Kerr-type two-photon Jaynes-Cummings model
Authors: Tang Jing , Deng Yuangang
Published: September 2024

We present a study on manipulation and enhancement of multiphoton bundles emission under a moderate atom-cavity coupling, by constructing a two-photon Jaynes-Cummings model integrated with Kerr nonlinearity in a single atom-cavity system. We show that the vacuum-Rabi splittings for the nth dressed states can be significantly enhanced by Kerr interaction. This remarkable enhancement in energy-spectrum anharmonicity with the well-resolved multiphoton resonance facilitates the generation of special nonclassical states beyond the strong-coupling limit in the experiment. In particular, both two- and three-photon blockades are observed with adjusting the amplitude of the cavity-driving or atom-pump fields. Moreover, we discover that transitions between two- and three-photon bundles can be achieved through tuning the atom-cavity detuning or Kerr nonlinearity. It further showcases the three-photon blockade is substantially strengthened when both the cavity and atomic fields are jointly driven. Our proposal unveils a pathway for realizing highly controllable nonclassical states and quantum devices with combining two-photon Jaynes-Cummings interactions and Kerr nonlinearity, which may pave the way for versatile applications in quantum information science, e.g., all-optical switches and transistors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Price of information in games of chance: A statistical physics approach
Authors: Gamberi Luca , Annibale Alessia , Vivo Pierpaolo
Published: September 2024

Information in the form of , which can be stored and transferred between users, can be viewed as an intangible commodity, which can be traded in exchange for money. Determining the fair price at which a string of data should be traded is an important and open problem in many settings. In this work we develop a statistical physics framework that allows one to determine analytically the fair price of information exchanged between players in a game of chance. For definiteness, we consider a game where N players bet on the binary outcome of a stochastic process and share the entry fees pot if successful. We assume that one player holds information about past outcomes of the game, which they may either use exclusively to improve their betting strategy or offer to sell to another player. We find a sharp transition as the number of players N is tuned across a critical value, between a phase where the transaction is always profitable for the seller and one where it may not be. In both phases, different regimes are possible, depending on the “quality” of information being put up for sale: we observe regimes, where both parties collude effectively to rig the game in their favor, regimes, where the transaction is unappealing to the data holder as it overly favors a competitor for scarce resources, and even regimes, where an exploitative data holder could be giving away bad-quality data to undercut a competitor. Our analytical framework can be generalized to more complex settings and constitutes a flexible tool to address the rich and timely problem of pricing information in games of chance.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Examining the quantum signatures of optimal excitation energy transfer
Authors: Peter Jonah S. , Holzinger Raphael , Ostermann Stefan , Yelin Susanne F.
Published: September 2024

The transport and capture of photo-induced electronic excitations is of fundamental interest to the design of energy efficient quantum technologies and to the study of potential quantum effects in biology. Using a simple quantum optical model, we examine the influence of coherence, entanglement, and cooperative dissipation on the transport and capture of excitation energy. We demonstrate that the rate of energy extraction is optimized under conditions that minimize the quantum coherence and entanglement of the system, which is a consequence of spontaneous parity time-reversal symmetry breaking. We then examine the effects of vibrational disorder and show that dephasing can be used to enhance the transport of delocalized excitations in settings relevant to biological photosynthesis. Our results highlight the rich, emergent behavior associated with the quantum-to-classical transition with relevance to the design of room-temperature quantum devices.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Constant-Depth Preparation of Matrix Product States with Adaptive Quantum Circuits
Authors: Smith Kevin C. , Khan Abid , Clark Bryan K. , Girvin S.M. , Wei Tzu-Chieh
Published: September 2024

Adaptive quantum circuits, which combine local unitary gates, midcircuit measurements, and feedforward operations, have recently emerged as a promising avenue for efficient state preparation, particularly on near-term quantum devices limited to shallow-depth circuits. Matrix product states (MPS) comprise a significant class of many-body entangled states, efficiently describing the ground states of one-dimensional gapped local Hamiltonians and finding applications in a number of recent quantum algorithms. Recently, it has been shown that the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki state—a paradigmatic example of an MPS—can be exactly prepared with an adaptive quantum circuit of constant depth, an impossible feat with local unitary gates alone due to its nonzero correlation length [Smith , PRX Quantum 4, 020315 (2023)]. In this work, we broaden the scope of this approach and demonstrate that a diverse class of MPS can be exactly prepared using constant-depth adaptive quantum circuits, outperforming theoretically optimal preparation with unitary circuits. We show that this class includes short- and long-ranged entangled MPS, symmetry-protected topological (SPT) and symmetry-broken states, MPS with finite Abelian, non-Abelian, and continuous symmetries, resource states for MBQC, and families of states with tunable correlation length. Moreover, we illustrate the utility of our framework for designing constant-depth sampling protocols, such as for random MPS or for generating MPS in a particular SPT phase. We present sufficient conditions for particular MPS to be preparable in constant time, with global on-site symmetry playing a pivotal role. Altogether, this work demonstrates the immense promise of adaptive quantum circuits for efficiently preparing many-body entangled states and provides explicit algorithms that outperform known protocols to prepare an essential class of states.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Sidestepping the heat waves and cold snaps: how does extreme climate influence agricultural labor reallocation in China
Authors: Wei Xiahai , Zeng Chenyu , Wang Yao
Published: September 2024

Purpose

In the process of making agricultural production decisions in rural households, severe weather conditions, either extreme cold or heat, may squeeze the labor input in the agricultural sector, leading to a reallocation of labor between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. By applying a dataset with a wide latitude range, this study empirically confirms the influence of extreme temperatures on the agricultural labor reallocation, reveal the mechanism of farmers’ adaptive behavioral decision and therefore enriches the research on the impact of climate change on rural labor markets and livelihood strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes data from Chinese meteorological stations and two waves of China Household Income Project to examine the impact and behavioral mechanism of extreme temperatures on rural labor reallocation.

Findings

(1) Extremely high and low temperatures had led to a reallocation of labor force from agricultural activities to non-farm employment, with a more pronounced effect from extreme high temperature events. (2) Extreme temperatures influence famers’ decision in abandoning farmland and reducing investment in agricultural machinery, thus creating an interconnected impact on labor mobility. (3) The reallocation effect of rural labor induced by extreme temperatures is particularly evident for males, persons that perceives economic hardship or labor in economically active areas.

Originality/value

By applying a dataset with a wide latitude range, this study empirically confirms the influence of extreme temperatures on the agricultural labor reallocation, and reveals the mechanism of farmers’ adaptive behavioral decision and therefore enriches the research on the impact of climate change on rural labor markets and livelihood strategies.
Critical success factors in the maintenance strategies of public healthcare facilities
Authors: Lebea Malwela Joseph , Agumba Justus Ngala , Adebowale Oluseyi Julius
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for people of all ages underscores the vital role of public healthcare facilities (PHFs) in delivering essential healthcare services. However, these facilities often suffer from inadequate maintenance, exacerbated by the insufficient implementation of maintenance strategies. Recognizing the importance of PHFs in enhancing healthcare services, this paper investigates the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in the maintenance strategies of PHFs in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Through semi-structured interviews with nineteen purposively selected maintenance personnel from the Limpopo Department of Health (DoH), this study identified and analyzed the CSFs to enhance maintenance operations in PHFs. Thematic content analysis was employed to derive key insights from the collected data.

Findings

The study's findings highlight adequate maintenance planning and effective leadership as the two overarching CSFs in the maintenance of PHFs. These factors play a pivotal role in addressing challenges that hinder the current maintenance team from meeting maintenance requirements to the satisfaction of both staff and patients within PHFs.

Originality/value

The study offers valuable insights for policymakers to improve the effectiveness of maintenance operations in PHFs. By addressing the identified CSFs, policymakers can enhance maintenance operations in PHFs, positively impacting healthcare service delivery and the well-being of both staff and patients.
Understanding the nexus between community engagement, and sustainable development goals in the context of renewable energy off-grid projects
Authors: Rai Alka , Maheshwari Sunil
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Taking instances from extant findings from the literature, the study aims to examine the community perception toward renewable energy (RE) off-grid (mini-grid/microgrid) intervention, the underlying rationales for engagement of communities in RE off-grid projects, the different alternatives/models to engage communities in various phases of RE off-grid project deployment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has followed the structured literature review to explore the identified research question of the study.

Findings

Based on findings from the review, the framework for effective community engagement in RE mini-grid projects is suggested. Furthermore, the study also draws suggestions and implications for future research and practice.

Practical implications

Based on such understanding the present study offers the framework which suggests the steps for the engagement of the communities in the off-grid projects. The key steps are managing the perception of the community (including generation of awareness among the community), planning for the benefits of the community, linkage the sustainable development goals (SDG), planning for the inclusion of the community and measuring performance (in the line of social and economic criteria and SDG).

Originality/value

This study finds the gap in the literature on the nexus of community, off-grid energy projects and SDG. Following the findings from the scholars in this field, a few gaps in the policy and practice have been highlighted which could be useful for practitioners and policymakers in this area.
Well-being and quality of life in migrants involved in the emergency transit mechanism in Niger: a mixed-method pilot research
Authors: Fiscone Chiara , Vigliaroni Marzia , Veronese Guido
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Sub-Saharan forced migration in recent decades has reached alarming levels, significantly increasing the risk to develop mental health vulnerabilities due to traumatic events and postmigration stressors. Research gaps persist within this population, necessitating culturally sensitive studies within a socioecological framework. This pilot exploratory mixed-method study aims to investigate the quality of life and subjective well-being among African displaced individuals in Niger.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 119 African displaced adults (M = 26; SD = ±7.8) were administered WHOQOL-BREF to assess the quality of life (objective well-being) and Perma profiler and SWLS to assess subjective well-being, and 20 (M = 30.8; SD = ±7.4) of the previously assessed participants were in-depth interviewed to record their life stories, and transcripts were analyzed throughout thematic content analysis.

Findings

Quantitative results showed that all domains of quality of life, subjective well-being and life satisfaction scored below the African normative population levels. Particularly, environment, positive emotions and accomplishments in life were consistently below the normative mean score. The most affected dimension was life satisfaction. Qualitative findings revealed three main themes: potentially stressful or traumatic events that occurred to migrants and refugees, well-being as a continuum and the multiple meanings of forced migration, explaining the multiple burdens and resources that displaced people, affecting their subjective and objective well-being.

Originality/value

This study contributes to addressing mental health gaps among sub-Saharan forced migrants through a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering insights into their experiences within the context of forced migration and resettlement.
Connecting event impact perceptions to sponsor-related behaviours among residents in the host city
Authors: Olsen Torill , Tsuji Yosuke , Sato Shintaro
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study examines the relationships among residents' event impact perceptions, attitude towards events, attitude towards sponsors and sponsor-related behavioural intentions (i.e. purchase intention and word-of-mouth).

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on the Naha Marathon in Okinawa, Japan, as a research context, data were collected from residents of Okinawa who were familiar with the Naha Marathon and its sponsors (N = 322). Structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypotheses, developed based on theories of social exchange, image transfer and planned behaviour.

Findings

The findings revealed that residents’ perceptions of social event impacts, rather than economic and environmental impacts, were associated with attitudes towards the event. Such an effect was indirectly associated with purchase intentions and word-of-mouth intentions via attitude towards the sponsors.

Originality/value

The current research contributes to the literature on sport sponsorship, especially in participation-based sports, by exploring how event sponsors can enjoy fruitful returns on investment. The findings can extend our understanding by highlighting the importance of positive community engagement for sponsors. Sponsors who aim to enhance consumer behaviour should prioritize strategies aligning with the positive social impacts of events.
Do platform recommendations in the fund market work? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Hao Shuaikang , Peng Lifang , Tang Xinyin , Huang Ling
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study introduces a new type of platform recommendation about mutual funds and draws on the signaling theory to conduct a quasi-experimental design to investigate how the platform recommendation influences investors’ investment decisions. Moreover, the authors examine the combined effect of star ratings and the platform recommendation on fund flow and test the investment value of recommended funds.

Design/methodology/approach

This study implements a quasi-experimental design based on 1,295 mutual funds traded on Alipay’s online platform to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical results show that the recommended funds received higher fund flows from investors when the platform recommendation was established. Moreover, a substitution effect between tag recommendation and star ratings on fund flow was identified. We also uncovered that investing in platform-recommended funds can yield significant and higher fund returns for investors than those without platform recommendations.

Originality/value

Our findings shed new insights into the role of platform recommendations in helping fund investors make investment decisions and contribute to the business of online mutual fund transactions by investigating the effect of platform recommendations on fund flow and performance.
Creativity afforded by enterprise social media: a communication visibility perspective
Authors: Fu Jindi , Sun Yuan , Zhang Justin Zuopeng , Mouakket Samar , Chen Peng
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Due to the rapid growth of digital economy, improving employees’ creativity is becoming essential to optimizing the development of organizations. This study investigates how enterprise social media can enhance employee creativity and develops an integrated model based on communication visibility and social capital theories.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage questionnaire was conducted on full-time employees with enterprise social media experience. The first round of this study distributed 1,048 questionnaires and collected 639 valid sample data. A month later, the second survey was sent to the first valid respondents, with 421 valid sample data collected within a week.

Findings

Results show that visibility has a positive influence on employee creativity, in which expertise recognition and network recognition play a mediating role. The findings also indicate that bridging social capital positively moderates the effect of visibility on expertise recognition, and bonding social capital positively moderates the effect of visibility on network recognition.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a better understanding of the benefits of enterprise social media by uncovering the mechanism and theoretical boundary of the effect of visibility on employee creativity.
Toward a sustainable future: integrating circular economy in the digitally advanced supply chain
Authors: Karuppiah Koppiahraj , Virmani Naveen , Sindhwani Rahul
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Stringent environmental regulations and the need for a robust supply chain (SC) network have necessitated organizations to adopt circular economy (CE) practices. With proven impact of CE practices on SC activities, digital technologies are prompting organizations to digitalize SC networks. Yet, the correlation between SC digitalization and CE practices has been less examined. This study aims to identify and evaluate, the critical success factors (CSFs) necessitating SC digitalization and strategies helping in SC digitalization.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was performed to identify CSFs and strategies for SC 4.0 (SC4.0), and for finalization, experts’ input was obtained with the Delphi approach. An integrated Fermatean fuzzy set – analytic hierarchy process – decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory – combined compromise solution technique was used to evaluate CSFs and strategies.

Findings

Smart work environment, performance monitoring and data reliability and relevance were identified as the top three important CSFs for SC digitalization. Enhancement of analytical capability, data-driven process optimization and development of an integrated digital platform were identified as potential SC4.0 transition strategies.

Practical implications

This study helps SC practitioners better understand the CSFs and strategies for the SC4.0 transition. Furthermore, this study explores the integration of CE principles within these digital strategies, emphasizing how sustainability practices can be embedded in the SC4.0 framework to foster a more resilient and environmentally conscious electronics SC in India.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is the first to analyze CSFs for SC4.0 in the Indian electronics industry.
Non-financial reporting by utilities: a structured literature review
Authors: Testa Maria
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to carry out a comprehensive overview of the academic debate on utilities’ non-financial reporting by highlighting the main issues and the emerging gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured literature review, this study identifies the state of the art, maps the evolution of non-financial reporting in utility companies and reveals unexplored issues and aspects.

Findings

A critical analysis of the existing academic debate shows the development of utilities’ non-financial reporting literature and the focus of this debate. It provides insight into how utilities pay attention to non-financial reporting, what role this plays in corporate actions and relationships with stakeholders and what research gaps need further investigation.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides some useful recommendations to practitioners and regulators to be more conscious of the weaknesses and criticalities of utilities’ non-financial reporting and to address them when building such reporting. However, this study considered only articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Originality/value

A comprehensive literature review in the utilities’ non-financial reporting area is timely, given the increase in this type of reporting. The study has an original focus and develops an analytical framework highlighting the peculiarities of utilities.
Environmental leadership and green intellectual capital: the roles of green human resource management and environmental climate
Authors: Wei Shuochen , Wang Lifang , Jiang Wenbo , Feng Taiwen
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Based on upper echelons theory and social contagion theory, we investigate how environmental leadership affects GIC via green human resource management (GHRM) and examine the moderating role of environmental climate.

Design/methodology/approach

We conduct hierarchical regression and use the bootstrap method to analyze the two-waved data from 317 Chinese manufacturers in order to verify the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that GHRM mediates the impacts of environmental leadership on green human capital, structural capital and relational capital. In addition, environmental climate strengthens the positive impact of environmental leadership on GHRM.

Originality/value

Our study enriches the literature on GIC by uncovering the “black box” between environmental leadership and GIC, providing a logical framework opposite to mainstream GIC research, and expanding the boundary condition for GIC accumulation. This study provides more logical paths for enterprises and governments to increase the accumulation of GIC and promote green intellectual economy development.
The impact of street-based transitional edges on the urban social environment: systematic review from the last decade
Authors: He Xiao , Kozlowski Marek , Ujang Norsidah , Ma Yue
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of urban streets as transitional edges in coordinating socio-spatial interactions within the urban environment. It will focus on how streets can revitalize their surrounding environments and shape sustainable urban living through their characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, this study systematically reviewed 67 international research articles published from 2013 to 2023. It delved into the functionalities of urban streets as transitional edges under various social and physical interactions, covering the multidimensional impacts of streets at the social, spatial and individual levels.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the physical and social dimensions of streets, through their characteristics as transitional edges, not only complement each other but also effectively promote social space interactions and sustainable urban development. As a key public space at the interface of social and physical realms, streets influence residents' daily lives and balance the socio-spatial environment.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study deepens the understanding of urban streets as transitional edges, it faces limitations due to the scarcity of literature related to transitional edges, which may affect the depth and breadth of the research. Future studies are required to further verify theoretical findings through field research and case studies and to explore practical applications of street design to enhance data comprehensiveness and availability.

Originality/value

The originality of this article lies in defining urban streets as dynamic transitional edge spaces, redefining their dual role in urban design to connect physical forms and social functions. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study provides theoretical support for urban planning and design practices, emphasizing their application value in promoting urban social interaction and sustainable development.
Resource review to rightsize the library collection
Authors: Rokusek Steve , Bernier Susan , Brown Jeremy Michael
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This article details the process used at the Florida Gulf Coast University library to plan and implement a collection deaccessioning project as part of a larger building master plan.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a brief literature review, a historic usage analysis of the collection and the multi-phase deaccessioning project. The phases included a standard inclusion query, manual list inspection and department feedback. Discard rate was measured at each phase.

Findings

Different challenges were found at each phase. Although teaching faculty were skeptical, the authors involved them early to their benefit. Each collection presented interesting challenges; notable was that although the reference collection was almost completely deaccessioned, the retained items presented unique accessibility challenges. The main stacks required a new deaccessioning workflow due to the volume of materials. The findings include final retention rates per call number range. Although the authors were able to meet the plan’s goal, they discovered the need for further collection curation: there is no substitute for traversing the stacks in person.

Practical implications

We present a successful methodology with a high efficacy, high community engagement and low controversy, which can function as a model at other regional academic institutions.

Originality/value

This paper is a comprehensive review of one successful rightsizing effort set in the context of a new strategic plan and can function as a model at other regional academic institutions.
Sustainable resource management and community corporate social performance: strategic implications of corruption control in MNEs
Authors: Orudzheva Leyla , Salimath Manjula S. , Pavur Robert
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The consequences of corporate corruption control (CCC) have either been investigated outside the firm (e.g. foreign direct investment inflows) or inside the firm (e.g. profitability). Yet prior research addresses these implications separately, treating them as distinct phenomena, ignoring questions at their intersection. However, corruption control can be leveraged to benefit both organizations (internally) and environments (externally). In line with open systems theory, this study aims to explore a ripple effect of corruption control not only inside organizations (efficiency through adoption of sustainable resource management practices) but also outside [community-centered corporate social performance (CSP)].

Design/methodology/approach

Using a longitudinal sample of multinational enterprises from Forbes list of “The World’s Largest Public Companies,” the authors use a cross-lagged panel design to provide clarity regarding causal effects.

Findings

Results confirm causal directionality and support the positive effect of corruption control on resource management and community CSP, contributing toward understanding implications at the organization–environment interface.

Originality/value

The authors examine both internal and external implications of CCC. The use of a cross-lagged design that is relatively novel to the management field allows to check for casual effects between CSP elements that were previously assumed to have reciprocal casual effects.
Exploring organizational competencies to implement IT systems using Wardley mapping: a case study
Authors: Bagchi Soumendra Narain , Sharma Rajeev
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the application of Wardley mapping on developing and implementing an information technology (IT) strategy in a small-scale business. This case study illustrates the potency of multitier analysis using Wardley mapping technique to explore capability gaps and areas to focus on before undertaking IT projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a single case of enterprise resource planning implementation and subsequent abandonment in a small-scale manufacturing company.

Findings

This study demonstrates that multitier analysis using Wardley mapping enables a comprehensive examination of organizational capabilities, including a granular analysis of issues that must be managed for successful implementation of an IT project.

Research limitations/implications

While the findings of a single case study offer limited generalizability, this study sets out the approach that can be extended in more complex settings.

Practical implications

The approach to understanding the organizational capabilities required to execute IT projects, or any change management project, offers significant benefits to managers and leaders.

Originality/value

The authors make two distinct contributions: The Wardley mapping technique has emerged as a new tool for understanding business models, particularly in government projects notable in the UK. This study extends its application to the small-scale manufacturing sector. The second contribution is elaborating on multitier analysis, which allows a granular analysis of issues that can impair the IT project implementation, including an assessment of the organizational capabilities required to deliver a successful project.
The contribution of information and communication technologies on performance management and measurement in healthcare: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Di Falco Christian , Noto Guido , Marisca Carmelo , Barresi Gustavo
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This article aims to provide the current state of the art of the literature on the contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the measurement and management of performance in the healthcare sector. In particular, the work aims to identify current and emerging ICTs and how these relate to the performance measurement and management (PMM) cycle of healthcare organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the research objective, we adopted a systematic literature review. In particular, we used the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) methodology to select articles related to the investigated topic. Based on an initial screening of 560 items retrieved from Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge, we identified and analyzed 58 articles dealing with ICTs and PMM in the healthcare sector. The last update of the dataset refers to February 2024.

Findings

Although we attempted to address a relevant topic for both research and practice, we noticed that a relatively small sample of articles directly addressed it. Through this literature review, in addition to providing descriptive statistics of research on ICTs and PMM in healthcare, we identified six theoretical clusters of scientific streams focusing on the topic and eleven categories of ICTs effectively tackled by the literature. We then provided a holistic framework to link technologies to the different PMM phases and functions.

Practical implications

Nowadays, the availability of ICTs to support healthcare organizations’ processes and services is extensive. In this context, managers at various organizational levels need to understand and evaluate how each ICT can support different activities to benefit most from their adoption. The findings of this study can offer valuable insights to top and line managers of healthcare organizations for planning their investments in both existing and emerging ICTs to support the various stages of development and functions of PMM.

Originality/value

Most of the current literature focusing on ICTs in the healthcare sector refers to the contribution that technology provides to clinical processes and services, devoting limited attention to the impact of ICTs on administrative processes, such as PMM. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this represents the first literature review on the contribution of ICTs to PMM in the healthcare sector. The review, differently from other research focused on specific ICTs and/or specific PMM functions, provides a holistic perspective to understand how these technologies may support healthcare organizations and systems in measuring and managing their performance.
Imaging of train noise with heavy traffic events recorded by distributed acoustic sensing
Authors: Zhang Hanyu , Xing Lei , Zheng Xingpeng , Xu Tuanwei , Deng Dimin , Sun Mingbo , Liu Huaishan , Wu Shiguo
Published: September 2024

Train noise is a kind of green, non‐destructive and strong‐energy artificial seismic sources, which is widely used in railway safety monitoring, near‐surface imaging and urban underground space exploration. Distributed acoustic sensing is a new seismic acquisition technology, which has the advantages of dense sampling, simple deployment and strong anti‐electromagnetic interference ability. In recent years, distributed acoustic sensing has been gradually applied in the fields of urban traffic microseism monitoring, crack detection and underground space imaging. However, previous studies mainly focused on microseism interferometry using train event coda noise, and there is limited research on the workflow of interferometry imaging using distributed acoustic sensing–based heavy train events noise (with short coda windows), which produces an abundant of near‐source interference. Aiming at proving the effectiveness of this idea, we investigated a process workflow to get underground shear‐velocity structure based on distributed acoustic sensing recorded heavy traffic noise near Qinhuangdao train station. A weighted sliding absolute average method is used to weaken the strong amplitude to the coda wave level and reduce the near‐source influence. We demonstrated that the cross‐coherence interferometry method, after spectral whitening, has the best effect on sidelobe suppression in the virtual source surface wave shot gathers, through a comparative analysis of cross‐correlation and cross‐coherence results. For obtaining concentrated energy and strong continuity in phase velocity spectra, we selected the time windows with high spatial coherence and signal‐to‐noise ratio not less than 1.2 for stacking from 720 time windows in F–K domain. When dividing subarrays to extract pseudo‐two‐dimensional profile, we set the overlap rate between adjacent time windows to 80% to increase stacking times, enhancing the precision of phase velocity spectra and reducing the errors of picking dispersion curve. Our results show that heavy traffic train events noise (non‐pure coda) can be used to detect underground velocity structure with clear dispersion and high inversion reliability. This research provides a new processing flow for distributed acoustic sensing train noise imaging and can be applied in future urban underground space exploration.
CHINA, EMPIRE AND WORLD ANTHROPOLOGY: A reply to Hamilton & Chang, AT 27(6)
Authors: Fiskesjö Magnus
Published: September 2024

This comment critically examines the legacy of Chinese anthropologist Fei Xiaotong and its implications for understanding China's approach to non‐Chinese peoples on the territory that became modern China. The author argues that Fei's concept of ‘pluralistic unity’ has been misinterpreted and actually represents a continuation of China's imperial ideology of absorbing conquered populations. The piece links this ideology to current Chinese policies, particularly the treatment of Uyghurs and other non‐Chinese peoples. It contends that the Chinese Communist Party abandoned its original anti‐imperialist stance in favour of continuing imperial practices, resulting in the transformation of multiple nations into nominal ‘minorities’ and then their erasure under the guise of national unity. The author calls for a reassessment of China's anthropology through the lens of colonialism, racism and imperialism, arguing that China's imperial legacy must be critically examined to understand its current policies and actions. The article situates this discussion within the broader context of emerging literature on Chinese settler colonialism. It emphasizes the need for a comparative approach in studying China's past and present imperialism.
Labour's Economic Strategy: A Response to Rachel Reeves's Mais Lecture
Authors: Davies Aled
Published: September 2024

In her 2024 Mais lecture, soon‐to‐be chancellor Rachel Reeves made the case for prioritising national economic security over the pursuit of ‘hyperglobalisation’. She put national economic productivity improvements at the heart of Labour's political‐economic strategy, reflecting the emergence of a dual consensus on economic government that has developed independently of the Labour Party in recent years. Reeves has recognised that this offers space for the pursuit of a moderate social democratic agenda, but the political challenge for the Labour government will be to maintain public support until its gradualist growth policies begin to take effect.
Sexism, Culture, and Firm Value: Evidence from the Harvey Weinstein Scandal and the #MeToo Movement
Authors: LINS KARL V. , ROTH LUKAS , SERVAES HENRI , TAMAYO ANE
Published: September 2024

During the revelation of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the reemergence of the #MeToo movement, firms with a nonsexist corporate culture, proxied by having women among the five highest‐paid executives, earn excess returns of 1.3% relative to firms without female top executives. These returns are driven by changes in investor preferences toward firms with a nonsexist culture. Institutional ownership increases in firms with a nonsexist culture after the Weinstein/#MeToo events, particularly for investors with larger holdings and investors with a lower ESG focus ex ante. Firms without female top executives improve gender diversity after these events, particularly in more sexist states and in industries with few women executives. Our evidence attests to the value of having a nonsexist corporate culture and indicates that changes in societal norms toward women are permeating into capital markets and corporations.
Taphonomic impact of vertebrate scavengers on degradation and dispersal of remains, southeastern British Columbia
Authors: Forbes Shari L. , Huculak Meaghan , Watson Christopher J.
Published: September 2024

Vertebrate scavengers represent important taphonomic agents that can act on a body, particularly when in an outdoor environment. Understanding the effects of these agents will direct how and where to search for human remains and influence the likelihood of discovery in a particular region. The current study aimed to identify the taphonomic impact of scavenger guilds in the peri‐urban and rural regions of southeastern British Columbia. Vertebrate scavenger activity on pig carcasses was recorded remotely using trail cameras and analyzed to determine temporal scavenging profiles. Both the peri‐urban and rural environments produced comparable scavenger guilds, namely: turkey vultures, American crows/northern ravens (classified as “corvids”), American black bears, and coyotes. Although the two locations had different study lengths due to variable degrees of scavenging, for the period that was common to both locations (summer to early fall), the black bear was the most frequent scavenger followed by coyote. However, the dispersal of remains by the mammalian scavengers was distinctly different between sites. Only 12%–33% of skeletal elements were recovered at the rural sites compared to 80%–90% recovered at the peri‐urban sites, even though the latter sites had a longer study timeframe. The extended timeframe of the peri‐urban sites confirmed that certain scavengers (e.g., turkey vultures and black bears) are only seasonally active in this region. These findings demonstrate the variability of scavenger behavior and the need to assign caution and local ecological knowledge when predicting scavenger trends. Such taphonomic information is relevant for human remains searches in regions with comparable scavenger guilds.
Moving beyond mean heart dose: The importance of cardiac substructures in radiation therapy toxicity
Authors: Bowen Jones Sarah , Marchant Tom , Saunderson Chris , McWilliam Alan , Banfill Kathryn
Published: September 2024

Normal tissue tolerance dose limits to the heart have been established to reduce the risk of radiation‐induced cardiac disease (RICD). Dose constraints have been developed based on either the mean dose delivered to the whole heart (MHD) or the dose delivered to a specific volume, for example, volume of heart receiving equal to or greater than 30 Gy (V30). There is increasing evidence that the impact of thoracic radiation on cardiac morbidity and mortality has been underestimated. Consequently, there is a need to reduce the dose delivered to the heart in radical radiotherapy treatment planning. The pathophysiology of RICD may relate to dose to specific cardiac substructures (CS) rather than the traditionally observed MHD for common toxicities. The MHD or V30 Gy threshold dose rarely represents the true dose delivered to individual CS. Studies have shown the dose to specific areas may be more strongly correlated with overall survival (OS). With advances in modern radiotherapy techniques, it is vital that we develop robust, evidence‐based dose limits for CS, to fully understand and reduce the risk of RICD, particularly in high‐risk populations with cardiac risk factors. The following review will summarise the existing evidence of dose limits to CS, explain how dose limits may vary according to different disease sites or radiation techniques and propose how radiotherapy plans can be optimised to reduce the dose to these CS in clinical practice.
Credit information sharing and investment efficiency: Cross‐country evidence
Authors: Hou Fangfang , Mengistu Muhabie Mekonnen , Ng Jeffrey , Zhang Janus Jian
Published: September 2024

Credit information sharing allows creditors to obtain borrowers' relevant credit information, and it can improve borrowers' investment outcomes that are funded by debt. Using reforms to European countries' public credit registries (PCRs) to capture mandated information sharing among creditors, we examine the impact of such sharing on firms' investment efficiency. We find that information sharing enhances firms' investment efficiency, which we measure by their investment‐q sensitivity. This finding is consistent with credit information sharing enabling creditors to better screen borrowers to mitigate adverse selection and enhancing borrower discipline to avoid a bad credit record, which leads to the borrower making more efficient investments. We also document that the information sharing effect is more pronounced when firms rely more on debt financing, when the shared credit information is more accessible, when firms' information environment is more opaque, and when there is a greater information monopoly in the banking system. We offer supplementary evidence that the effect is also more salient when PCRs have characteristics that suggest more effective credit information sharing. Overall, our paper offers new insight into whether and how information sharing in credit markets enhances firms' investment efficiency. More broadly, it highlights how making more borrower information available to creditors can have important economic spillover effects on firm outcomes.
Age and duration of obesity modulate the inflammatory response and expression of neuroprotective factors in mammalian female brain
Authors: Eroglu Binnur , Isales Carlos , Eroglu Ali
Published: September 2024

Obesity has become a global epidemic and is associated with comorbidities, including diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, among others. While appreciable insight has been gained into the mechanisms of obesity‐associated comorbidities, effects of age, and duration of obesity on the female brain remain obscure. To address this gap, adolescent and mature adult female mice were subjected to a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 13 or 26 weeks, whereas age‐matched controls were fed a standard diet. Subsequently, the expression of inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic/neuroprotective factors, and markers of microgliosis and astrogliosis were analyzed in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex, along with inflammation in visceral adipose tissue. HFD led to a typical obese phenotype in all groups independent of age and duration of HFD. However, the intermediate duration of obesity induced a limited inflammatory response in adolescent females' hypothalamus while the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and visceral adipose tissue remained unaffected. In contrast, the prolonged duration of obesity resulted in inflammation in all three brain regions and visceral adipose tissue along with upregulation of microgliosis/astrogliosis and suppression of neurotrophic/neuroprotective factors in all brain regions, denoting the duration of obesity as a critical risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Importantly, when female mice were older (i.e., mature adult), even the intermediate duration of obesity induced similar adverse effects in all brain regions. Taken together, our findings suggest that (1) both age and duration of obesity have a significant impact on obesity‐associated comorbidities and (2) early interventions to end obesity are critical to preserving brain health.
Palaeoendemic invertebrates weakly reflect palaeoendemic plants across a 52‐year‐old fire boundary
Authors: Henry Shasta C. , Kirkpatrick Jamie B. , McQuillan Peter B.
Published: September 2024

If palaeoendemic invertebrates depend on palaeoendemic plants, and the latter are threatened by an increase in fire incidence, there is a possibility of an extinction cascade. We test whether there is co‐occurrence of palaeoendemic plants and invertebrates in the proximity of a 52‐year‐old fire boundary in subalpine Tasmania, Australia. We used 2 × 2 m quadrats to record the incidence and cover of vascular plants and trapped invertebrates at each of these 33 sites in six time periods using an alpine Malaise trap and a CD sticky trap. The number of co‐occurrences of palaeoendemic plant taxa with palaeoendemic invertebrate taxa was greater than expected by chance (p = 0.020), but many palaeoendemic invertebrates co‐occurred with non‐palaeoendemic plants. Some of the palaeoendemic invertebrate taxa that were associated with palaeoendemic plants were monophagous, while others were associated with environmental conditions created by a long absence of fire. Many may be threatened if increasing fire incidence destroys vegetation dominated by palaeoendemic plants.