bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell type mapping of mild malformations of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia in epilepsy using single-nucleus multiomics
Authors: Galvão Isabella C. , Lemoine Manuela , Kandratavicius Ludmyla , Yasuda Clarissa L. , Alvim Marina K. M. , Ghizoni Enrico , Blümcke Ingmar , Cendes Fernando , Rogerio Fabio , Lopes-Cendes Iscia , Veiga Diogo F. T.
Published: December 2024

Objective

Mild malformations of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia in epilepsy (MOGHE) are brain lesions associated with focal epilepsy and characterized by increased oligodendroglial density, heterotopic neurons, and hypomyelination in the white matter. While previous studies have implicated somatic mutations in theSLC35A2gene, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying MOGHE pathogenesis remain elusive. To address this gap, this study aimed to systematically characterize the cell type composition and molecular alterations of MOGHE lesions at cellular resolution using single-nucleus multiomics profiling.

Methods

We performed single-nucleus multiomics sequencing to obtain paired gene expression and chromatin accessibility profiles of > 31,000 nuclei from gray matter and white matter regions of MOGHE lesions, and compared the results with publicly available neurotypical control datasets.

Results

The analysis of gray and white matter regions from two MOGHE patients revealed significant cellular composition alterations, including an oligodendrocyte expansion and heterotopic neurons within the subcortical white matter. We identified a distinct population of MOGHE-associated oligodendrocytes characterized by expressing genes related to immune response, myelination disruption, and epilepsy-related pathways. These oligodendrocytes shared a common transcriptional signature with oligodendrocytes in other neurological conditions involving white matter abnormalities. Further analysis of heterotopic neurons in MOGHE revealed the upregulation of genes associated with neuronal migration and the Wnt signaling pathway, suggesting a mechanism underlying their atypical localization.

Significance

This high-resolution cell type mapping of MOGHE lesions in clinical samples unveils neuronal and glial populations affected by the disease, and provides novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of MOGHE.

Key Points

We provide a multimodal cellular atlas of the human cortical and subcortical regions affected in MOGHE

MOGHE-associated oligodendrocytes exhibit immune response and myelination dysfunction

Neuronal migration and Wnt signaling are upregulated in heterotopic neurons
Metabolic modeling of a plant-pathogen interaction quantifies the metabolic bottlenecks underlying bacterial wilt
Authors: Gerlin Léo , Genin Stéphane , Baroukh Caroline
Published: December 2024

During plant infection, complex metabolic interactions take place between the plant and the pathogen, among which occurs a true battle for resources. On one side, the pathogen harvests nutrients at the expense of the plant to sustain its growth and virulence. On the other side, the plant tries to prevent pathogen multiplication by competing for nutrients or using anti-microbial compounds. Plants and pathogens have thus contrary objectives in an intertwined system that is particularly difficult to untangle experimentally. To help decipher this interaction, we used genome-scale metabolic modeling by combining a multi-organ model of a plant, a model of a pathogen, quantitative data and a mathematical approach using sequential flux balance analyses (FBAs). We applied this modelling strategy to the interaction between the pathogenic bacteriumRalstonia pseudosolanacearumand its natural host the tomato plant. This allowed, for the first time, quantitative modeling of the fluxes of matter occurring during plant infection. The model showed that, for the pathosystem studied, i) the plant’s photosynthetic capacity is a more stringent environmental condition than minerals for bacterial proliferation ii) reduction of the plant transpiration is what limits and then stops plant growth and later pathogen growth, iii) hijacking stem resources can boost bacterial growth but is accessory, and iv) pathogen-excreted putrescine is predicted to be directly reused for plant biomass. This study provides the first holistic and quantitative view of a plant-pathogen interaction, and highlighted the criticality of water flow when the bacteria responsible of the infection is a fast-growing, xylem-colonizing one.

Significance statement

When a plant is infected by a pathogen, a true battle for resources occurs between the two organisms. On one side, the pathogen harvests nutrients at the expense of the plant to sustain its growth and virulence. On the other side, the plant tries to prevent pathogen multiplication by competing for nutrients or using anti-microbial compounds. To help understand this complex metabolic interaction, we used mathematical modelling to model bothRalstonia pseudosolanacearumand tomato plant metabolism. This allowed, for the first time, a quantitative insight on metabolic interactions and consequences on physiology of the plant during an infection. Among other results, the model showed that plant transpiration decline is what limits and then stops plant growth and later pathogen growth.
Polyphosphate as a Novel Regulator of Super-Enhancer Complexes: Disruption of Phase Separation and Gene Expression
Authors: Yang Zhiyun , Jia Zongchao
Published: December 2024

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a highly conserved linear polymer of orthophosphate, present across nearly all living organisms. Its functional diversity, particularly through recently discovered post-translational modifications, has garnered increasing scientific interest. However, its role in gene regulation, especially in mammalian systems, remains unexplored. In this study, we present findings that demonstrate that polyP multi-targets the super-enhancer complex to regulate gene expression, marking a novel mechanism of transcriptional control. We show that polyP modifies key components of the complex, including the Mediator subunit MED1, the coactivator Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), and the transcriptional regulator Yin Yang 1 (YY1). This polyP-mediated modification not only disrupts their ability to undergo phase separation but also downregulates the expression of MED1 and BRD4, as well as impairs the nuclear localization of YY1. Furthermore, polyP inhibits YY1 dimer formation and disrupts YY1-mediated DNA looping, leading to suppressed gene expression. These discoveries highlight polyP as a novel regulator of super-enhancer-driven gene transcription and provide new insights into the broader role of polyP in epigenetic regulation. This work uncovers a previously unknown layer of gene control, positioning polyP as a critical player in transcriptional regulation through its interaction with transcription factors and coactivators.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

PolyP modifies key components of the super-enhancer complex BRD4, MED1 and YY1 by targeting their His-rich, Lys-rich or PASK sequences

PolyP disrupts phase separation of BRD4, MED1 and YY1

PolyP impairs YY1’s recruitment of BRD4 and MED1 and disrupts nuclear localization, dimerization, DNA looping and DNA binding to YY1

PolyP attenuates gene expression mediated by YY1 and BRD4
Statistics and sensitivity of axion wind detection with the homogeneous precession domain of superfluid helium-3
Authors: Foster Joshua W. , Gao Christina , Halperin William , Kahn Yonatan , Mande Aarav , Nguyen Man , Schütte-Engel Jan , Scott John William
Published: December 2024

The homogeneous precession domain (HPD) of superfluid He3 has recently been identified as a detection medium which might provide sensitivity to the axion-nucleon coupling gaNN competitive with, or surpassing, existing experimental proposals. In this work, we make a detailed study of the statistical and dynamical properties of the HPD system in order to make realistic projections for a full-fledged experimental program. We include the effects of clock error and measurement error in a concrete readout scheme using superconducting qubits and quantum metrology. This work also provides a more general framework to describe the statistics associated with the axion gradient coupling through the treatment of a transient resonance with a nonstationary background in a time-series analysis. Incorporating an optimal data-taking and analysis strategy, we project a sensitivity approaching gaNN∼10−12  GeV−1 across a decade in axion mass.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Moment extraction using an unfolding protocol without binning
Authors: Desai Krish , Nachman Benjamin , Thaler Jesse
Published: December 2024

Deconvolving (“unfolding”) detector distortions is a critical step in the comparison of cross-section measurements with theoretical predictions in particle and nuclear physics. However, most existing approaches require histogram binning while many theoretical predictions are at the level of statistical moments. We develop a new approach to directly unfold distribution moments as a function of another observable without having to first discretize the data. Our moment unfolding technique uses machine learning and is inspired by Boltzmann weight factors and generative adversarial networks (GANs). We demonstrate the performance of this approach using jet substructure measurements in collider physics. With this illustrative example, we find that our moment unfolding protocol is more precise than bin-based approaches and is as or more precise than completely unbinned methods.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Axi-Majoron: One-shot solution to most of the big puzzles of particle cosmology
Authors: Barenboim Gabriela , Ko Pyungwon , Park Wan-il
Published: December 2024

The details of the minimal cosmological standard model (MCSM) proposed in [The minimal cosmological standard model, .] are discussed. The model is based on the scale-symmetry and the global Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry with a key assumption that the latter is broken only in the gravity sector in a scale-invariant manner. We show that the model provides a quite simple unified framework for the unknown history of the Universe from inflation to the epoch of big-bang nucleosynthesis, simultaneously addressing key puzzles of high energy theory and cosmology: (i) the origin of scales, (ii) primordial inflation, (iii) matter-antimatter asymmetry, (iv) tiny neutrino masses, (v) dark matter, and (vi) the strong CP-problem. Scale symmetry can be exact, and the Planck scale is dynamically generated. The presence of Gauss-Bonnet term may safely retain dangerous nonperturbative symmetry-breaking effects negligible, allowing a large-field trans-Planckian inflation along the PQ-field. Isocurvature perturbations of axi-Majorons are suppressed. A sizable amount of PQ-number asymmetry is generated at the end of inflation, and conserved afterward. Domain wall problem is absent due to the nonrestoration of the symmetry and the nonzero PQ-number asymmetry. Baryogenesis can be realized by either the transfer of the PQ-number asymmetry through the seesaw sector, or by resonant leptogenesis. Dark matter is purely cold axi-Majorons from the misalignment contribution with the symmetry-breaking scale of O(1012)  GeV. Hot axi-Majorons from the decay of the inflaton become a natural source for a sizable amount of dark radiation. Inflationary gravitational waves have information about the mass parameters of the lightest left-handed and right-handed neutrinos, thanks to the presence of an early matter-domination era driven by the long-lived lightest right-handed neutrino species.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Non-Abelian gauge theory for surface excitations of
He3−B
Authors: Balachandran A. P.
Published: December 2024

In He3−B, two atoms pair in an orbital angular momentum 1 spin triplet state above the phase transition temperature with SO(3)×SO(3) symmetry. Below the transition temperature, this symmetry is spontaneously broken to the diagonal SO(3) due to spin-orbit coupling. Considerations based on effective potentials and solitons show that SO(3)’s get enhanced to SU(3)’s and the symmetry breaking is that of G=SU(3)×SU(3)×U(1) to H=SU(3). The theory of the resultant Goldstone modes can be naturally formulated as a gauge theory of H. Its Gauss law is treated here and shown to lead to surface states in a container with a dynamics governed by large gauge transformations. Observable consequences are pointed out. The transference of the analysis to the chiral model of QCD is pointed out where SU(3) are the left and right chiral groups, U(1) is the axial U(1), the surviving symmetry is flavor SU(3), and the Goldstone modes are the pions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Renormalization of massive vector field theory coupled to scalar in curved spacetime
Authors: Buchbinder Ioseph L. , do Vale Públio Rwany B. R. , Oyadomari Guilherme Y. , Shapiro Ilya L.
Published: December 2024

We consider the renormalization of a massive vector field interacting with a charged scalar field in curved spacetime. Starting with the theory minimally coupled to external gravity and using the formulations with and without Stückelberg fields, we show that the longitudinal mode of the vector field is completely decoupled and the remaining theory of the transverse vector field is renormalizable by power counting. The formal arguments based on the covariance and power counting indicate that multiplicative renormalizability of the interacting theory may require introducing two nonminimal terms linear in the Ricci tensor in the vector sector. Nevertheless, a more detailed analysis shows that these nonminimal terms violate the decoupling of the longitudinal mode and are prohibited. As a verification of general arguments, we derive the one-loop divergences in the minimal massive scalar QED, using the Stückelberg procedure and the heat-kernel technique. The theory without nonminimal terms proves one-loop renormalizable and admits the renormalization group equations for all the running parameters in the scalar and vector sectors. One-loop beta functions do not depend on the gauge fixing and can be used to derive the effective potential.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Absolute Dimensionality of Quantum Ensembles
Authors: Bernal Alexander , Cobucci Gabriele , Renner Martin J. , Tavakoli Armin
Published: December 2024

The dimension of a quantum state is traditionally seen as the number of superposed distinguishable states in a given basis. We propose an absolute, i.e., basis-independent, notion of dimensionality for ensembles of quantum states. It is based on whether a quantum ensemble can be simulated with states confined to arbitrary lower-dimensional subspaces and classical postprocessing. In order to determine the absolute dimension of quantum ensembles, we develop both analytical witness criteria and a semidefinite programming criterion based on the ensemble’s information capacity. Furthermore, we construct explicit simulation models for arbitrary ensembles of pure quantum states subject to white noise, and in natural cases we prove their optimality. Also, efficient numerical methods are provided for simulating generic ensembles. Finally, we discuss the role of absolute dimensionality in high-dimensional quantum information processing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Probing molecular photophysics in a matter-wave interferometer
Authors: Martinetz Lukas , Stickler Benjamin A. , Simonović Ksenija , Ferstl Richard , Brand Christian , Arndt Markus , Hornberger Klaus
Published: December 2024

We show that matter-wave diffraction off a single standing laser wave can be used as an accurate measurement scheme for photophysical molecular parameters. These include state-dependent optical polarizabilities and photon-absorption cross sections, the relaxation rates for fluorescence, internal conversion, and intersystem crossing, as well as ionization or cleavage probabilities. We discuss how the different photophysical processes manifest as features of the interference pattern, and we determine the accuracy of molecular parameters estimated from a realistic measurement with finite particle numbers. The analysis is based on an analytic calculation in Wigner representation, which accounts for the laser-induced coherent and incoherent dynamics, for the finite longitudinal and transverse coherence in the matter-wave beam, the gravitational and Coriolis acceleration, and an imperfect standing laser wave.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Influence of final state interactions in attosecond photoelectron interferometry
Authors: Luo S. , Weissenbilder R. , Laurell H. , Bello R. Y. , Marante C. , Ammitzböll M. , Neoričić L. , Ljungdahl A. , Squibb R. J. , Feifel R. , Gisselbrecht M. , Arnold C. L. , Martín F. , Lindroth E. , Argenti L. , Busto D. , L'Huillier A.
Published: December 2024

Fano resonances are ubiquitous phenomena appearing in many fields of physics, e.g., atomic or molecular photoionization, or electron transport in quantum dots. Recently, attosecond interferometric techniques have been used to measure the amplitude and phase of photoelectron wave packets close to Fano resonances in argon and helium, allowing for the retrieval of the temporal dynamics of the photoionization process. In this work, we study the photoionization of argon atoms close to the 3s13p64p autoionizing state using an interferometric technique with high spectral resolution. The phase shows a monotonic 2π variation across the resonance or a nonmonotonic less than π variation depending on experimental conditions, e.g., the probe laser bandwidth. Using three different, state-of-the-art calculations, we show that the measured phase is influenced by the interaction between final states reached by two-photon transitions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Two-dimensional arrays of Bose-Einstein condensates: Interference and stochastic collapse dynamics
Authors: Huang Youjia , Nagata Shu , Jachinowski Joseph , Hu Jiazhong , Chin Cheng
Published: December 2024

We demonstrate two-dimensional arrays of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) as a new experimental platform with parallel quantum simulation capability. A defect-free array of up to 49 BECs is formed by loading a single BEC with 50000 atoms into 7×7 optical wells. Each BEC is prepared with independent phases, confirmed by matterwave interference. Based on BEC arrays, we realize fast determination of the phase boundary of BECs with attractive interactions. We also observe the stochastic collapse dynamics from the distribution of atom numbers in the array. We show that the collapse of a BEC can occur much faster than the averaged decay of an ensemble. The BEC arrays enable new forms of experiments to drastically increase the measurement throughput and to quantum simulate, say, large 2D Josephson-junction arrays.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Strong field induced ion and electron emission from size-selected metal clusters
Authors: Raspe K. , Kazak L. , Iwe N. , Krebs B. , Martinez F. , Meiwes-Broer K.-H. , Tiggesbäumker J.
Published: December 2024

Single-sized clusters of Ag309− are accumulated within a digital Paul trap and exposed to intense optical laser pulses, leading to the formation of nanoplasmas of known initial conditions, not yet feasible. Using field-free diagnostics, the resulting Coulomb explosion is analyzed, giving electron distributions and charge-state resolved ion energy spectra. Experiments on the well-defined target result in comprehensive information on the particle emission and reveals details of nanoplasma dynamics not available before. These are for example the particle size-specific intensity-dependent transition towards a fully ionized plasma state as well as the subtle interplay between electron and ion dynamics, which becomes apparent in the intensity-dependent development of maximum and average values of energy and charge state.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Thermal pure states for systems with antiunitary symmetries and their tensor network representations
Authors: Yoneta Yasushi
Published: December 2024

Thermal pure state algorithms, which employ pure quantum states representing thermal equilibrium states instead of statistical ensembles, are useful both for numerical simulations and for theoretical analysis of thermal states. However, their inherently large entanglement makes it difficult to represent efficiently and limits their use in analyzing large systems. Here we propose a tensor network algorithm for constructing thermal pure states for systems with certain antiunitary symmetries, such as time-reversal or complex-conjugate symmetry. Our method utilizes thermal pure states that, while exhibiting volume-law entanglement, can be mapped to tensor network states through simple transformations. Furthermore, our approach does not rely on random sampling and thus avoids statistical uncertainty. Moreover, we can compute not only thermal expectation values of local observables but also thermodynamic quantities. We demonstrate the validity and utility of our method by applying it to the one-dimensional XY model and the two-dimensional Ising model on a triangular lattice. Our results suggest a class of variational wave functions for volume-law states that are not limited to thermal equilibrium states.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Structured volume-law entanglement in an interacting, monitored Majorana spin liquid
Authors: Zhu Guo-Yi , Tantivasadakarn Nathanan , Trebst Simon
Published: December 2024

Monitored quantum circuits allow for unprecedented dynamical control of many-body entanglement. Here we show that random, measurement-only circuits, implementing the competition of bond and plaquette couplings of the Kitaev honeycomb model, give rise to a structured volume-law entangled phase with subleading LlnL liquid scaling behavior. This interacting Majorana liquid takes up a highly symmetric, spherical parameter space within the entanglement phase diagram obtained when varying the relative coupling probabilities. The sphere itself is a critical boundary with quantum Lifshitz scaling separating the volume-law phase from proximate area-law phases, a color code or a toric code. An exception is a set of tricritical, self-dual points exhibiting effective (1+1)d conformal scaling at which the volume-law phase and both area-law phases meet. From a quantum information perspective, our results define error thresholds for the color code in the presence of projective error and stochastic syndrome measurements.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of poly[di-μ-bromido-(μ-2,5-dimethylpyrazine)cadmium(II)]
Authors: Näther Christian
Published: December 2024

The title compound, [CdBr2(C6H8N2)]
n
, was prepared by the reaction of cadmium bromide with 2,5-dimethylpyrazine in water. Its asymmetric unit consists of one Cd cation and one 2,5-dimethylpyrazine ligand that are located on a crystallographic mirror plane as well as one bromide anion that occupies a general position. The Cd cations are sixfold coordinated by four bromide anions and two 2,5-dimethylpyrazine ligands within slightly distorted trans-CdBr4N2 octahedra. The cations are linked into [100] chains via pairs of bridging bromide anions that are further connected into (001) layers by the bridging 2,5-dimethylpyrazine ligands. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) shows that a pure crystalline phase has been obtained. Thermogravimetry coupled to differential thermoanalysis (TG-TDA) reveal that the 2,5-dimethylpyrazine ligands are removed in two separate steps leading to the formation of a compound with the composition (CdBr2)2(2,5-dimethylpyrazine) that decomposes into CdBr2 upon further heating. PXRD measurements of the residue obtained after the first mass loss show that a new crystalline phase has been formed.
Selected aspects of electronic hardware development and testing for the flight reconfiguration system in accordance with the RTCA DO-160G standard
Authors: Szpakowska-Peas Ewelina , Filipowicz Maciej
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of testing avionics systems during the development phase according to standard procedures outlined in documents such as RTCA DO-160G. Specifically, it focuses on the necessity of correctly designing electronic devices to successfully pass tests for environmental conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

During the development of the flight reconfiguration system (FRS) within the Clean Sky 2/Clean Aviation cost optimized avionics System (COAST) project, this paper applied solutions for input power protection in electronic design. The methods discussed are aimed at protecting circuits from input power disturbances following Sections 16 and 17 of DO-160G. The approach includes both computer simulations and laboratory testing to analyze the effectiveness of the applied methods.

Findings

The paper presents the findings of the applied methods for input power protection in the electronic design of the FRS. Through computer simulations and laboratory tests, it was observed that the developed electronic eqty -35uipment worked correctly after completing environmental and input power testing. The achieved results indicate that the applied methods of circuits’ protection ensured proper functionality.

Practical implications

The findings of this study have practical implications for the design and development of airborne electronic equipment. By adhering to standard procedures outlined in DO-160G and implementing appropriate input power protection methods, electronic devices can reliably operate in harsh environmental conditions encountered during aircraft operations.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the field by presenting practical solutions for input power protection in electronic design, specifically within the context of the FRS by discussing methods of circuits’ protection in accordance with DO-160G and providing analysis of computer simulations and laboratory test results, this paper offers valuable insights into ensuring the proper functionality of avionic equipment in challenging environmental conditions.
Enterprise-wide risk management in higher education: beyond the paradigm of managing risk by categories
Authors: Bamber Christopher , Elezi Enis
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The global higher education (HE) sector is facing difficult challenges worldwide. Thus, we investigate risk management (RM) practices within HE with three purposes in mind: (1) embedding knowledge management (KM) concepts into the drivers of enterprise-wide risk management (EWRM); (2) providing a road map for embedding RM elements utilising a risk-focused preparation, planning, doing, checking and action (P,PDCA) approach to the management of risks in HE; and (3) rendering KM more readily applicable to EWRM thus enhancing the management of risk.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative research, we examined the intersection of theories of EWRM in HE and KM concepts while considering our existing knowledge and previously formed ideas about the complex phenomena of successfully implementing risk management. Additionally, we took into account our researchers’ and practitioners' epistemological dispositions with regard to the value of KM. We applied a methodical analytic approach to gain a greater understanding of EWRM in HE. Following a focused literature review of EWRM in HE and KM, we integrated RM implementation models with KM concepts to answer three research questions: (1) How can higher education institutions (HEIs) effectively manage EWRM by pinpointing specific risks within selected categories? (2) To what extent could adopting RM enablers enhance RM practices in HEIs? and (3) Are HEIs mitigating unforeseen outcomes by implementing risk management strategies?

Findings

We have analysed six drivers of EWRM from a KM perspective, demonstrating that KM concepts can support the successful implementation of risk enterprise-wide. A multifaceted yet practical model has emerged by linking the interconnecting concepts of RM and KM, which provides a holistic approach to implementing EWRM in HE. The emergent model was critically reviewed and discussed by eight senior sector practitioners, and their viewpoints and suggestions have been taken into consideration.

Originality/value

Our research has pinpointed, analysed and verified deficiencies in the present understanding of the factors that impact the effective execution of RM. Consequently, this investigation contributes to the comprehension of the potential of KM in fostering a nurturing environment that enables successful EWRM in HE. In view of these discoveries, we suggest adopting an all-encompassing approach to RM that incorporates top-down, bottom-up and combined approaches, which can enrich risk awareness and ultimately minimise unanticipated outcomes.
Inclusive leadership in times of global crisis: how CEOs of multinational enterprises responded to COVID-19
Authors: Kim Rebecca Chunghee , Scullion Hugh , Avvari Mohan V. , Jooss Stefan , Uddin Helal
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical perspective on how the COVID-19 crisis shaped inclusive leadership behaviors of global business leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors analyzed 240 CEO statements in 120 multinational enterprises from six countries (France, India, Japan, South Korea, UK, USA), pre- and mid-COVID-19.

Findings

Results show that CEO emphasis on inclusive leadership increased during the pandemic. More substantively, the authors identify three key behaviors of inclusive leadership – fidelity, calmness and collective resilience.

Originality/value

The authors provide empirical evidence of inclusive leadership behaviors by global business leaders. In doing so, the authors integrate inclusive leadership into societally engaged international business research.
Cultivating organizational cultural change: the role of team-level leadership in modern organizations
Authors: Ortiz-Astiz Sara , Gisbert-Trejo Nuria , Careaga-Aja Iñigo , Landeta Jon
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study explores the key role of team-level leadership (TLL) in contemporary organizational dynamics and organizational cultural change (OCC).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a focus-group approach, in-depth sessions were conducted with 20 organizational leaders and team members. The study focused on identifying and analyzing key aspects of TLL within the framework of OCC.

Findings

The research shows that TLL significantly enhances agile decision-making and promotes inclusivity and empowerment among team members. Key findings highlight the importance of a strong organizational culture, clear alignment of team and organizational goals, and effective communication practices. These factors are essential for TLL to successfully drive and sustain OCC.

Originality/value

This study uniquely contributes to the academic literature by focusing on TLL as a critical driver of cultural change, a perspective that has been underexplored. It offers fresh insights into how TLL can be leveraged to navigate dynamic organizational environments and foster OCC.
Leading the innovation: role of employee engagement as a mediator relating supervisor’s practices and employee’s innovative behaviour
Authors: Almazrouei Sultan Ali , Hilmi Mohd Faiz
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Business environment, which is described by being volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, forces organisations to innovate their products, processes and services to stay competitive. Employees’ innovative behaviours play a critical role in enhancing business environment. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of supervisor’s practices on employee’s innovative behaviour and the mediating role of employee engagement on the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design was used. Data is collected from 163 employees from Ministry of Education in Oman by using an online questionnaire. SmartPLS-based structural equation modelling and process macro by Hayes are used for data analysis.

Findings

Results revealed significant relationships between supervisor’s practices (recognition, empowerment and development), employee engagement and innovative behaviour. It also revealed a significant relationship between supervisor’s practices (recognition, empowerment and development) and employee engagement. Furthermore, the results supported the hypotheses that supervisor’s practices affect innovative behaviour through employee engagement.

Originality/value

Although the literature reveals that supervisor’s practices foster innovative behaviour, the mediating role of employee engagement has rarely been empirically investigated. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first papers that asserts the importance of employee engagement in mediating the relationship between supervisor’s practices and employee innovative behaviour. It also investigates a hybrid of organisational (supervisor’s practices) and individual level factors (employee’s engagement) in predicting innovative behaviours. It contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the ways to achieve a business strategy of innovation.
Exploring lean manufacturing impact on sustainable performance in automotive companies in Brazil
Authors: Gama Mariana Silva Barbosa , Bonamigo Andrei
Published: December 2024

Purpose

In response to strict regulations, high customer pressure, climate change and scarcity of natural resources, manufacturers have reassessed their operation and performance strategies to balance the sustainability and competitiveness needed to pursue a long-term competitive advantage toward an endurable business. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap between lean and sustainability, analyzing the sustainable lean manufacturing (SLM) effect on performance in the Brazilian automotive sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study divided the performance into Triple Bottom Line (TBL) drivers: Economic, Social and Environmental, and developed six hypotheses for assessing the multidimensional performance of SLM organizations. Empirical data was collected with 127 usable responses, and the models were tested using partial least squares structural equations modeling. The results of this study are valid and adequate models and revealed that environmental, operational and social performance are significantly improved through SLM adoption in Brazilian automotive studies. In addition, analyze the interaction among the TBL’s drivers.

Findings

The results revealed positive and direct improvements in economic, social and environmental performance enhanced LM adoption. In addition, the results obtained in this study reveal that social drivers are more sensitive to prejudice due to simultaneous other driver improvements overlapping the workforce.

Originality/value

These findings are beneficial for company leaders and researchers working to improve the organization’s performance in these drivers, especially within companies in developing countries. These results explored different aspects of performance evaluation supporting a holistic view of the organization toward sustainability performance. Also explored different regulations and incentives for automotive companies that comply with specific sustainable goals.
Rapport in police interviews with victims: a linguistic comparison between UK and Spain
Authors: Gomez-Bedoya Maria
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how rapport is operationalised in police interviews with victims in the United Kingdom and Spain. Rapport is considered a key element in the success of investigative interviewing and therefore, police interviewers are trained to use rapport-building techniques throughout the interview. Previous research has enabled us to understand what rapport is and how it works in interviews with victims (Abbe and Brandon, 2012; Dando et al., 2016; Walsh and Bull, 2010). However, it has been highlighted that the expression of rapport may vary between cultures (Matsumoto and Hwang, 2021), as there are cultural and linguistic differences concerning interactional factors.

Design/methodology/approach

To uncover this, British and Spanish police interviewing guidelines are examined with regard to rapport techniques and how they are conceptualised. Then, a discourse-pragmatic and ethnographic approach is applied to real interviews with victims in the United Kingdom and Spain, to analyse what happens in real practice and how rapport with victims is expressed linguistically in British English and European Spanish.

Findings

The study unfolds certain linguistic subtleties in relation to “face-related issues” that need to be considered for future research on rapport in investigative interviews with victims, particularly in multicultural interviewing contexts.

Originality/value

The findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of how rapport is operationalised in different contexts and how the expression of rapport is tied to cultural and linguistic patterns that influence how people communicate.
The impact of diplomatic relations on corporate outward foreign direct investment: a spatial spillovers perspective
Authors: Yi Wenjun , Yang Yaru , Gu Lulu
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the spatial spillover effect and its mechanism of the impact of China–US relations on Chinese enterprises’ OFDI.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes the relations between China and the United States (China–US relations), one of the most important great power relations in the 21st century, as the research object, employing a spatial spillover perspective informed by bilateral and multilateral theory, information transfer theory and realism and institutionalism. This study utilizes micro-level data on Chinese firms’ outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) for 2008–2023 to study the spatial spillover effects and mechanism involved in the impact of China–US relations on Chinese firms’ OFDI.

Findings

Results show that China–US relations increase Chinese enterprises’ OFDI in countries other than the US, demonstrating spatial spillovers in the impact of China–US relations on Chinese firms’ OFDI. This spatial spillover effect is characterized by a full cycle, time variation and imbalance. The mechanism analysis shows that this spatial spillover is realized through the neighboring country effects and great power demonstration effects. Heterogeneity analysis shows that firms’ independent research and development (R&D) capabilities, China’s economic power and the cultural distance between China and the host country can buffer the impact of changes in China–US relations on Chinese firms’ OFDI.

Practical implications

This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of international relations in influencing OFDI and offers useful insights for developing countries to promote high-level opening-up.

Originality/value

First, this study examines the spatial spillover effects of China–US relations on Chinese firms’ OFDI, expanding the perspective of the impact of diplomatic relations on cross-border economic activities. Second, this study enriches the research on the mechanism by which diplomatic relations affect OFDI by arguing that this spatial spillover is realized through the neighboring country effect and the great power demonstration effect. Third, this study confirms the role of enhancing the competitiveness of multinational corporations (MNCs), upgrading the country’s comprehensive national strength, and promoting cultural exchanges in buffering exogenous shocks of changes in China–US relations.
Differential impact of gender and academic background on complex thinking development in engineering students: a machine learning perspective
Authors: Suárez-Brito Paloma , Elizondo-Noriega Armando , Lis-Gutiérrez Jenny Paola , Henao-Rodríguez Carolina , Forte-Celaya María Rubi , Vázquez-Parra José Carlos
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of measuring a sample of engineering students’ perceived achievement of complex thinking at different stages of their professional training. This study intended to analyze and predict the differences in the self-perception of achieved complex thinking competency by gender, semester, course of study and high school of origin.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology included applying the E-Complexity instrument to 225 university students from northern Mexico. The initial comparison of groups used the chi-square test and two supervised learning algorithms (logit regression with Lasso regularization and a classification tree).

Findings

The findings of this study indicated that the selected undergraduate degree did not reveal differences in self-perceived performance in complex thinking, while gender, semester and high school of origin had significant differences.

Research limitations/implications

Among the limitations of the study is the size of the sample and the fact that it only focused on engineering students from a single educational institution; however, this limitation responds to the exploratory nature of this study and the guidance of the institutional ethics committee. With these results, it is feasible to request an extension of the sample to include other disciplines to evaluate these findings, which, although relevant, cannot be considered exhaustive.

Originality/value

Regarding possible lines of research, the authors propose that given the difference between students who graduated from the high school of the same institution and those who did not, a possible line of research could explore new hypotheses on whether the policies and practices of the institution’s high school emphasize the development of complex thinking skills; the teachers of this high school are trained to teach complex thinking; and the learning materials of this high school are designed to develop complex thinking skills.
Preparation and properties of modified Vac-VeoVa10 copolymer nanometre latex emulsified with novel surfactants
Authors: Fang Sipeng , Gong Zheqing , Chen Lijun
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is that the long fluorocarbon monomer is used to modify the latex. The film of the resultant latex has the C-F bond with high bond energy and low surface energy, which can effectively improve the heat resistance and water resistance of the resultant film. In addition, a mixture of CO-436 and dibutyl maleate (DBM) as surfactants is used as the emulsifier, which brings the new application of the above surfactants.

Design/methodology/approach

The modified Vac-VeoVa10 copolymer nanometre latex modified VAc-VeoVa10 latex has been successfully synthesized via the semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, which VAc and VeoVa10 is used as the main monomers and long fluorocarbon monomer was used as the functional monomer. Potassium persulphate (KPS) and the mixture of CO-436 and DBM were used as the initiator and emulsifier, respectively. The structure of resultant latex film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The latex films were tested by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and contact angle. The particle size and its distribution of the latex were measured by the nano particle size analyzer.

Findings

Detailed investigation was conducted on the factors influencing the properties of the latex and film. The stability of the resultant latex is good. The average particles of the latex and its distribution are small and uniform, respectively. In comparison with the conventional latex film, the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of the resultant latex film are improved obviously.

Originality/value

The modification of p (VAc-VeoVa10) using a new emulsifier and long fluorocarbon monomer has not been widely reported. In this study, the modified Vac-VeoVa10 copolymer nanometre latex modified VAc-VeoVa10 latex has been successfully synthesized via the semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, which VAc and VeoVa10 is used as the main monomers and long fluorocarbon monomer was used as the functional monomer. KPS and the mixture of CO-436 and DBM were used as the initiator and emulsifier, respectively.
Free senior high school devours basic education in Ghana: rescue the children
Authors: Fuseini Inusah
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the effect of free senior high school on the quality of basic education in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A convergent mixed method design as indicated in Sharma et al. (2023) is used in this work to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from documents available from the stakeholders of education. Quantitative data from already-existing reports with data on basic education are analysed to identify the effects of the FSHS on basic education in Ghana and ascertain the impact of the FSHS on the educational budget as well as the indicators of basic education in the country. This is followed by a qualitative data analysis of the reports to ascertain the gravity of the results in the quantitative data. The Ministry of Education in charge of education in the country and the Ministry of Finance in charge of resource distribution to various sectors of the country’s economy are the major institutions with relevant reports and data which assist in this research. Reports from organisations and institutions with a keen interest in education are also considered. The secondary data is therefore the source for this research using a document analysis.

Findings

The poor performance of learners is largely attributed to the inadequate resources for effective management of basic education. Government expenditure on education is managed by reducing the spending on basic education. Compensation which is the inevitable expenditure for basic education is the only expenditure the parliamentary committee could identify. This is clear evidence that goods and services at the basic education level are sacrificed to manage the government’s spendings on education.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to Ghana, a Sub-Sahara African country which introduced a free senior high school policy. The research only looks at the effects of the policy on the quality of basic education.

Practical implications

Educational policymakers should ascertain the consequences of a policy on the economy before implementation. The devastating effect of educational policy on other educational policies should also be considered when bringing in a new policy. As policies leverage existing policies, new policies must not devour already existing policies which are still relevant. An educational policy at any level must consider the basic policies of education that enhance inclusivity and equity at the lower levels of education. This will help in maximizing the effective implementation of the policies. Through this, nations can promote life-long learning with inclusivity and equity in education.

Originality/value

This research work has never been published elsewhere.