bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of candidemia during COVID-19 pandemic era in a teaching hospital: A non-concurrent cohort study
Authors: Brandt Flávio Pasa , Sawazaki Jonas Atique , Cavalcante Ricardo de Souza
Published: July 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the incidence of bloodstream infections caused by fungi of the Candida genus, also known as candidemia, was observed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to assess the incidence of candidemia, the factors related to COVID-19-associated candidemia (CAC), and prognostic factors. A non-concurrent cohort of 87 cases of patients aged over 18 years with candidemia between March 2020 and February 2022 was evaluated. Incidence density (ID) was calculated by the number of patient-days during the period. All causes of mortality within 30 days of observation were considered. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used, respectively, to determine factors associated with CAC and prognostic factors. Values <0.05 were considered significant. The ID of CAC was eight times higher than candidemia in patients without COVID-19 [2.40 per 1000 person-days vs. 0.27 per 1000 person-days; P < .01]. The corticosteroid therapy was as an independent factor associated with CAC [OR = 15.98 (3.64–70.03), P < .01], while abdominal surgery was associated with candidemia in patients without COVID-19 [OR = 0.09 (0.01–0.88), P = .04]. Both patients with and without COVID-19 had a high 30 days-mortality rate (80.8% vs. 73.8%, respectively; P = .59). Liver disease [HR = 3.36 (1.22–9.27); P = .02] and the Charlson score [HR = 1.17 (1.01–1.34); P = .03] were independent factors of death, while the use of antifungals [HR = 0.15 (0.07–0.33); P < .01] and removal of the central venous catheter [HR = 0.26 (0.12–0.56); P < .01] independently reduced the risk of death. These findings highlight the high incidence of candidemia in COVID-19 patients and its elevated mortality.
X-ray observations of two Type Ia supernovae with an Hα line in their optical spectrum
Authors: Dwarkadas Vikram V
Published: July 2024

We report on Chandra X-ray observations of SN 2016jae and SN 2018cqj, both low-luminosity Type Ia supernova (SN) that showed the presence of an H line in their early optical spectrum. No X-ray emission is detected at the location of either SN. Upper limits to the luminosity of up to 2 $\times 10^{40}$ erg s$^{-1}$ are calculated for each SN, depending on the assumed spectral model, temperature, and column density. This luminosity is comparable to that of another low-luminosity Type Ia SN, SN 2018fhw, that was observed with Chandra. It is generally lower than upper limits calculated for Type Ia-CSM SNe observed in X-rays, and also below that of SN 2012ca, the only Type Ia-CSM SN to have been detected in X-rays. Comparisons are made to other Type Ia SN with an H line observed in X-rays. The observations suggest that while the density into which the SN is expanding may have been high at the time the H$\alpha$ line was detected, it had decreased considerably by the time of X-ray observations.
The effect of the Solar System Ephemeris on the search for the nano-Hz gravitational wave background
Authors: Guo Y J , Caballero R N , Champion D J , Lee K J
Published: July 2024

The detection of the nano-Hz gravitational-wave background (GWB) is one of the main targets of Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs). The detection can be achieved via searching for a common signal with quadrapolar correlation between pulsar pairs. Errors in the Solar-System ephemeris (SSE) can induce dipolar correlations in PTA data, which may affect the results of GWB searches, especially when the data quality is not high enough to constrain the correlation pattern. We investigate the effect of unmodelled SSE errors on GWB searches with PTAs, using simulations with properties based on the European Pulsar Timing Array data set. When the GWB signal is strong, SSE errors have little effect on the GWB search results, including parameter inference and model selection. When the GWB signal is weak, SSE errors can lead to overestimation of the GWB amplitude. However, model comparison would show strong support for dipolar correction, which implies the source of the common signal to be SSE-related and helps avoid its misidentification as a GWB signal. This indicates that SSE error is unlikely to be the main source of the common signal detected recently with real PTA data. We also use simulations to test the ability of the SSE model LINIMOSS in absorbing SSE-error signals and leaving the GWB signal intact. We show that marginalizing LINIMOSS planetary parameters with infinite priors is good at absorbing SSE errors, but may also lead to improper absorption of a GWB signal. Caution is therefore required when setting appropriate limits on the priors of SSE parameters.
Data-driven probabilistic definition of the low energy conformational states of protein residues
Authors: Gavalda-Garcia Jose , Bickel David , Roca-Martinez Joel , Raimondi Daniele , Orlando Gabriele , Vranken Wim
Published: July 2024

Protein dynamics and related conformational changes are essential for their function but difficult to characterise and interpret. Amino acids in a protein behave according to their local energy landscape, which is determined by their local structural context and environmental conditions. The lowest energy state for a given residue can correspond to sharply defined conformations, e.g. in a stable helix, or can cover a wide range of conformations, e.g. in intrinsically disordered regions. A good definition of such low energy states is therefore important to describe the behaviour of a residue and how it changes with its environment. We propose a data-driven probabilistic definition of six low energy conformational states typically accessible for amino acid residues in proteins. This definition is based on solution NMR information of 1322 proteins through a combined analysis of structure ensembles with interpreted chemical shifts. We further introduce a conformational state variability parameter that captures, based on an ensemble of protein structures from molecular dynamics or other methods, how often a residue moves between these conformational states. The approach enables a different perspective on the local conformational behaviour of proteins that is complementary to their static interpretation from single structure models.
Frequent Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological change in patients with glioblastoma
Authors: Greutter Lisa , Miller-Michlits Yelyzaveta , Klotz Sigrid , Reimann Regina , Nenning Karl-Heinz , Platzek Stephan , Krause Elena , Kiesel Barbara , Widhalm Georg , Langs Georg , Baumann Bernhard , Woehrer Adelheid
Published: July 2024

Background

The incidence of brain cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is increasing with a demographic shift towards aging populations. Biological parallels have been observed between glioblastoma and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which converge on accelerated brain aging. Here, we aimed to map the cooccurrence of AD neuropathological change (ADNC) in the tumor-adjacent cortex of patients with glioblastoma.

Methods

Immunohistochemical screening of AD markers amyloid beta (Abeta), amyloid precursor protein (APP), and hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) was conducted in 420 tumor samples of 205 patients. For each cortex area, we quantified ADNC, neurons, tumor cells, and microglia.

Results

Fifty-two percent of patients (N = 106/205) showed ADNC (Abeta and pTau, Abeta or pTau) in the tumor-adjacent cortex, with histological patterns widely consistent with AD. ADNC was positively correlated with patient age and varied spatially according to Thal phases and Braak stages. It decreased with increasing tumor cell infiltration (P < .0001) and was independent of frequent expression of APP in neuronal cell bodies (N = 182/205) and in tumor necrosis-related axonal spheroids (N = 195/205; P = .46). Microglia response was most present in tumor cell infiltration plus ADNC, being further modulated by patient age and sex. ADNC did not impact patient survival in the present cohort.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the frequent presence of ADNC in the glioblastoma vicinity, which was linked to patient age and tumor location. The cooccurrence of AD and glioblastoma seemed stochastic without clear spatial relation. ADNC did not impact patient survival in our cohort.
A case report of squamous cell carcinoma mimicking interdigital intertrigo
Authors: Snoussi Ilham , Boulifa Safa , Abbad Faiçal , El Jouari Ouiame , Gallouj Salim
Published: July 2024

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), also known as epidermoid carcinoma, represents the most common malignant tumor affecting the nails. A 60-year-old tailor with no significant medical history presented with a three-year history of macerated skin between the toes, previously treated with a topical antifungal. Dermatological examination revealed a verrucous, infected ulceration with infiltrated and hyperkeratotic edges, characterized by a whitish, fissured base. This lesion in the fourth interdigital space and extended onto the dorsal surface of the foot without any other associated symptoms. The clinical diagnosis identified it as a neoplastic ulceration. An initial biopsy found keratoacanthoma but showed no malignant features. However, follow-up biopsy at our department revealed moderately differentiated SCC. Surgical resection was successful in treating our patient. Diagnostic errors due to insufficient understanding of the pathology and inadequate biopsy methods contribute to the progression of SCC. Surgery is the main treatment for such malignant tumors.
Onset of Prolonged High-Potency Benzodiazepine Use Among ICU Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Lindström Ann-Charlotte , von Oelreich Erik , Eriksson Jesper , Eriksson Mikael , Mårtensson Johan , Larsson Emma , Oldner Anders
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVES:

Exposure to critical illness and intensive care may lead to long-term psychologic and physical impairments. To what extent ICU survivors become prolonged users of benzodiazepines after exposure to critical care is not fully explored. This study aimed to describe the extent of onset of prolonged high-potency benzodiazepine use among ICU survivors not using these drugs before admission, identify factors associated with this use, and analyze whether such usage is associated with increased mortality.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Sweden, including all registered ICU admissions between 2010 and 2017.

PATIENTS:

ICU patients surviving for at least 3 months, not using high-potency benzodiazepine before admission, were eligible for inclusion.

INTERVENTIONS:

Admission to intensive care.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

A total of 237,904 patients were screened and 137,647 were included. Of these 5338 (3.9%) became prolonged users of high-potency benzodiazepines after ICU discharge. A peak in high-potency benzodiazepine prescriptions was observed during the first 3 months, followed by sustained usage throughout the follow-up period of 18 months. Prolonged usage was associated with older age, female sex, and a history of both somatic and psychiatric comorbidities, including substance abuse. Additionally, a longer ICU stay, a high estimated mortality rate, and prior consumption of low-potency benzodiazepines were associated with prolonged use. The risk of death between 6 and 18 months post-ICU admission was significantly higher among high-potency benzodiazepine users, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.7–2.0; p < 0.001). No differences were noted in causes of death between users and nonusers.

Conclusions:

Despite the lack of evidence supporting long-term treatment, prolonged usage of high-potency benzodiazepines 18 months following ICU care was notable and associated with an increased risk of death. Considering the substantial number of ICU admissions, prevention of benzodiazepine misuse may improve long-term outcomes following critical care.
Atherosclerosis and HIV: Exploring Cardiovascular Risks and Management
Authors: Seplowe Matthew , Goyal Anjali , Fowler Tolison , Michaud Liana , Glassman Rebecca , Frishman William H. , Aronow Wilbert S.
Published: July 2024

The advent of antiretroviral therapy has markedly improved the life expectancy of individuals with HIV, leading to a shift in clinical focus from managing opportunistic infections to addressing chronic conditions, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Emerging evidence highlights an elevated risk of ASCVD among people living with HIV, characterized by a higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and heart failure compared with the general population. This review examines the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of ASCVD in the context of HIV. It explores the interplay between HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, underscoring the need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction strategies tailored to people living with HIV. Through synthesizing data from clinical trials, observational studies, and basic research, the review aims to enhance understanding of HIV-associated ASCVD and inform healthcare practices to improve the longevity and quality of life for this patient population.
Medical Students' Preferences on Practicing Intravenous Insertion on Each Other and Via Simulation
Authors: Kiernan Risa , Smith Shannon , Kikel Michelle , Forkey Blake , Rembert Avarie , Jung Min-Kyung , Krishnamachari Bhuma , Gindi Michael
Published: July 2024

Summary Statement

Medical students have traditionally practiced painful procedures such as intravenous (IV) line insertion on each other. Recently, there has been more emphasis on learning through simulation. Our study investigated students' attitudes regarding IV line insertion training, focusing on their anxiety, expectation to learn empathy, learning preference, and litigiousness. A 24-question survey was taken regarding anxiety and empathy when learning IV placement on each other versus on mannequins.

Many students believed that they could learn empathy skills and better appreciate patient discomfort by learning IV placement through person-based practice. However, students who reported feeling anxious about having a student practice IV placement on them believed they were less likely to learn empathy through having a student practice IV insertion on them. The preferred method of learning painful procedures, such as IV placement, may be through a combination of simulation and person-based practice to mitigate anxiety while also enhancing empathy skills.
The modulatory effects of tyrosol and nano-tyrosol on anxiety-like behavior and emotional memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Naseroleslami Maryam , Khakpai Fatemeh , Jafari-Rastegar Nima , Hosseininia Haniyeh-Sadat , Mousavi-Niri Neda
Published: July 2024

The effects of tyrosol and nano-tyrosol on the modulation of anxiety-like behavior and memory processes were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male diabetic rats were orally treated with 1 ml of saline, nano-niosome, tyrosol, and nano-tyrosol (20 mg/dl) for 30 days. Anxiety-like behavior and memory process were evaluated by an elevated plus-maze (EPM) test–retest paradigm. The results showed that a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) raised blood glucose. While daily intragastric administration of tyrosol and nano-tyrosol reduced blood glucose. Induction of type II diabetes produced a distorted cellular arrangement whereas treatment with tyrosol and nano-tyrosol showed a typical cellular arrangement in the liver. Furthermore, induction of type II diabetes decreased %OAT (%open-arm time) but daily intragastric application of tyrosol (20 mg/dl) and nano-tyrosol (20 mg/dl) enhanced %OAT and %OAE (%open-arm entry) in the EPM when compared to the saline groups, showing anxiogenic- and anxiolytic-like effects, respectively. Also, induction of type II diabetes increased %OAT while daily intragastric administration of tyrosol (20 mg/dl) and nano-tyrosol (20 mg/dl) decreased %OAT and %OAE in the EPM in comparison to the saline groups, displaying impairment and improvement of emotional memory, respectively. Interestingly, nano-tyrosol exhibited the highest significant effect rather than tyrosol. Upon these results, we proposed the beneficial effects of tyrosol and nano-tyrosol on the modulation of anxiety-like behavior and memory processes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
The CoREST complex regulates multiple histone modifications temporal-specifically in clock neurons
Authors: Lv Pengfei , Zhao Zhangwu , Hirano Yukinori , Du Juan
Published: July 2024

Epigenetic regulation is important for circadian rhythm. In previous studies, multiple histone modifications were found at the
Period
(
Per
) locus. However, most of these studies were not conducted in clock neurons. In our screen, we found that a
CoREST
mutation resulted in defects in circadian rhythm by affecting
Per
transcription. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that
CoREST
regulates circadian rhythm by regulating multiple histone modifiers at the
Per
locus. Genetic and physical interaction experiments supported these regulatory relationships. Moreover, through tissue-specific chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in clock neurons, we found that the
CoREST
mutation led to time-dependent changes in corresponding histone modifications at the
Per
locus. Finally, we proposed a model indicating the role of the CoREST complex in the regulation of circadian rhythm. This study revealed the dynamic changes of histone modifications at the
Per
locus specifically in clock neurons. Importantly, it provides insights into the role of epigenetic factors in the regulation of dynamic gene expression changes in circadian rhythm.
Tau phosphorylation suppresses oxidative stress-induced mitophagy via FKBP8 receptor modulation
Authors: Isei Michael O , Crockett Meredith , Chen Emily , Rodwell-Bullock Joel , Caroll Trae , Girardi Peter A , Nehrke Keith , Johnson Gail VW
Published: July 2024

Neurodegenerative diseases are often characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. In Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal tau phosphorylation disrupts mitophagy, a quality control process through which damaged organelles are selectively removed from the mitochondrial network. The precise mechanism through which this occurs remains unclear. Previously, we showed that tau which has been mutated at Thr-231 to glutamic acid to mimic an Alzheimer’s-relevant phospho-epitope expressed early in disease selectively inhibits oxidative stress-induced mitophagy inC. elegans. Here, we use immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell lines to extend that result into mammalian cells. Specifically, we show that phosphomimetic tau at Ser-396/404 (EC) or Thr-231/Ser-235 (EM) partly inhibits mitophagy induction by paraquat, a potent inducer of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Moreover, a combination of immunologic and biochemical approaches demonstrates that the levels of the mitophagy receptor FKBP8, significantly decrease in response to paraquat in cells expressing EC or EM tau mutants, but not in cells expressing wildtype tau. In contrast, paraquat treatment results in a decrease in the levels of the mitophagy receptors FUNDC1 and BNIP3 in the presence of both wildtype tau and the tau mutants. Interestingly, FKBP8 is normally trafficked to the endoplasmic reticulum during oxidative stress induced mitophagy, and our results support a model where this trafficking is impacted by disease-relevant tau, perhaps through a direct interaction. We provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease and highlight FKBP8 receptor as a potential target for mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.
EM-Compressor: Electron Microscopy Image Compression in Connectomics with Variational Autoencoders
Authors: Li Yicong , Park Core Francisco , Xenes Daniel , Bishop Caitlyn , Berger Daniel R. , Samuel Aravi D.T. , Wester Brock , Lichtman Jeff W. , Pfister Hanspeter , Li Wanhua , Meirovitch Yaron
Published: July 2024

The ongoing pursuit to map detailed brain structures at high resolution using electron microscopy (EM) has led to advancements in imaging that enable the generation of connectomic volumes that have reached the petabyte scale and are soon expected to reach the exascale for whole mouse brain collections. To tackle the high costs of managing these large-scale datasets, we have developed a data compression approach employing Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) to significantly reduce data storage requirements. Due to their ability to capture the complex patterns of EM images, our VAE models notably decrease data size while carefully preserving important image features pertinent to connectomics-based image analysis. Through a comprehensive study using human EM volumes (H01 dataset), we demonstrate how our approach can reduce data to as little as 1/128th of the original size without significantly compromising the ability to subsequently segment the data, outperforming standard data size reduction methods. This performance suggests that this method can greatly alleviate requirements for data management for connectomics applications, and enable more efficient data access and sharing. Additionally, we developed a cloud-based application named EM-Compressor on top of this work to enable on-thefly interactive visualization:https://em-compressor-demonstration.s3.amazonaws.com/EM-Compressor+App.mp4.
Humans forage for reward in reinforcement learning tasks
Authors: Zid Meriam , Laurie Veldon-James , Levine-Champagne Alix , Shourkeshti Akram , Harrell Dameon , Herman Alexander B. , Ebitz R. Becket
Published: July 2024

How do we make good decisions in uncertain environments? In psychology and neuroscience, the classic answer is that we calculate the value of each option and then compare the values to choose the most rewarding, modulo some exploratory noise. An ethologist, conversely, would argue that we commit to one option until its value drops below a threshold, at which point we start exploring other options. In order to determine which view better describes human decision-making, we developed a novel, foraging-inspired sequential decision-making model and used it to ask whether humans compare to threshold (“Forage”) or compare alternatives (“Reinforcement-Learn” [RL]). We found that the foraging model was a better fit for participant behavior, better predicted the participants’ tendency to repeat choices, and predicted the existence of held-out participants with a pattern of choice that was almost impossible under RL. Together, these results suggest that humans use foraging computations, rather than RL, even in classic reinforcement learning tasks.
CoRAL accurately resolves extrachromosomal DNA genome structures with long-read sequencing
Authors: Zhu Kaiyuan , Jones Matthew G. , Luebeck Jens , Bu Xinxin , Yi Hyerim , Hung King L. , Wong Ivy Tsz-Lo , Zhang Shu , Mischel Paul S. , Chang Howard Y. , Bafna Vineet
Published: July 2024

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a central mechanism for focal oncogene amplification in cancer, occurring in ∼15% of early-stage cancers and ∼30% of late-stage cancers. ecDNAs drive tumor formation, evolution, and drug resistance by dynamically modulating oncogene copy number and rewiring gene-regulatory networks. Elucidating the genomic architecture of ecDNA amplifications is critical for understanding tumor pathology and developing more effective therapies. Paired-end short-read (Illumina) sequencing and mapping have been utilized to represent ecDNA amplifications using a breakpoint graph, in which the inferred architecture of ecDNA is encoded as a cycle in the graph. Traversals of breakpoint graphs have been used to successfully predict ecDNA presence in cancer samples. However, short-read technologies are intrinsically limited in the identification of breakpoints, phasing together complex rearrangements and internal duplications, and deconvolution of cell-to-cell heterogeneity of ecDNA structures. Long-read technologies, such as from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, have the potential to improve inference as the longer reads are better at mapping structural variants and are more likely to span rearranged or duplicated regions. Here, we propose Complete Reconstruction of Amplifications with Long reads (CoRAL) for reconstructing ecDNA architectures using long-read data. CoRAL reconstructs likely cyclic architectures using quadratic programming that simultaneously optimizes parsimony of reconstruction, explained copy number, and consistency of long-read mapping. CoRAL substantially improves reconstructions in extensive simulations and 10 data sets from previously characterized cell lines compared with previous short- and long-read-based tools. As long-read usage becomes widespread, we anticipate that CoRAL will be a valuable tool for profiling the landscape and evolution of focal amplifications in tumors.
Performance optimization of continuous-variable quantum teleportation with generalized photon-varying non-Gaussian operations
Authors: He Mingjian , Liu Shouyin
Published: July 2024

Continuous variable quantum teleportation provides a path to the long-distance transmission of quantum states. Photon-varying non-Gaussian operations have been shown to improve the fidelity of quantum teleportation when integrated into the protocol. However, for a given type of non-Gaussian operation, the achievable fidelity varies with the parameters associated with the operation. Previous work only focused on particular settings of the parameters, over which an optimization was missing. The potential of such operations is not fully uncovered. Given a fixed non-Gaussian operation, the achievable fidelity also varies with input states. An operation that increases the fidelity for teleporting one class of states might do the contrary for other classes of states. A performance metric, upon which an operation is optimized, suitable for different input states, is also missing. In this work, we build a framework for photon-varying non-Gaussian operations for multimode states, upon which we propose a performance metric suitable for arbitrary teleportation input states. We then apply the new metric to evaluate different types of non-Gaussian operations. Starting from simple multiphoton photon subtraction and photon addition, we find that increasing the number of ancillary photons involved in the operation does not guarantee performance improvement. We then investigate a generalization of the operations mentioned above, finding that operations that approximate a particular form provide the best improvement. The results provided here will be valuable for real-world implementations of quantum teleportation networks and applications that harness the non-Gaussianity of quantum states.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Dynamical study of
D*DK
and
D*DD¯
systems at quark level
Authors: Tan Yue , Liu Xuejie , Chen Xiaoyun , Yang Youchang , Huang Hongxia , Ping Jialun
Published: July 2024

Inspired by the recent report from the LHCb Collaboration on Tcc, which can be interpreted as a molecular DD*, we investigated two trimeson systems of the Tcc partner with IJP=01− in the framework of a chiral quark model. In the first case, because of the attraction between D* and D¯, we explored the existence of bound states in the system D*DD¯, which is obtained by adding D¯ into the molecular bound state Tcc (DD*). Similarly, in the second case, we explored whether there is a bound state in the D*DK system, which is obtained by adding K into the Tcc, given the attraction between D and K. The results show that both of them are bound states, in which the binding energy of the molecular state DD*K is relatively small, only 0.4±0.4  MeV, while the binding energy of DD*D¯ is up to 1.6±0.3  MeV. According to the calculation results of the root-square-mean distances, the spatial structure of the two systems shows the obvious (DD*)−(D¯/K) structure, in which D is close to D* while DD* as a whole is relatively distant from the third hadron (D¯/K), which are similar to the nucleon-electron structure. As a result, we strongly recommend that these bound states DD*D¯ and DD*K are searched for experimentally.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Extremal Higgs couplings
Authors: Miró Joan Elias , Guerrieri Andrea L. , Gümüş Mehmet Asım
Published: July 2024

We critically assess to what extent it makes sense to bound the Wilson coefficients of dimension-six operators. In the context of Higgs physics, we establish that a closely related observable, cH, is well defined and satisfies a two-sided bound. cH is derived from the low momentum expansion of the scattering amplitude, or the derivative of the amplitude at the origin with respect to the Mandelstam variable s, expressed as M(HiHi→HjHj)=cHs+O(gSM,s−2) where gSM represents all Standard Model couplings. This observable is and, as a result, not sign-definite. We also determine the conditions under which the bound on

c

H

is equivalent to a bound on the dimension-six operator OH=∂|H|2∂|H|2.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nonlinear Quantum Photonics with a Tin-Vacancy Center Coupled to a One-Dimensional Diamond Waveguide
Authors: Pasini Matteo , Codreanu Nina , Turan Tim , Riera Moral Adrià , Primavera Christian F. , De Santis Lorenzo , Beukers Hans K. C. , Brevoord Julia M. , Waas Christopher , Borregaard Johannes , Hanson Ronald
Published: July 2024

Color centers integrated with nanophotonic devices have emerged as a compelling platform for quantum science and technology. Here, we integrate tin-vacancy centers in a diamond waveguide and investigate the interaction with light at the single-photon level in both reflection and transmission. We observe single-emitter-induced extinction of the transmitted light up to 25% and measure the nonlinear effect on the photon statistics. Furthermore, we demonstrate fully tunable interference between the reflected single-photon field and laser light backscattered at the fiber end and show the corresponding controlled change between bunched and antibunched photon statistics in the reflected field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Mitigating Temporal Fragility in the XY Surface Code
Authors: Tsai Pei-Kai , Wu Yue , Puri Shruti
Published: July 2024

An important outstanding challenge that must be overcome in order to fully utilize the XY surface code for correcting biased Pauli noise is the phenomenon of fragile temporal boundaries that arises during the standard logical state-preparation and measurement protocols. To address this challenge we propose a new logical state-preparation protocol based on locally entangling qubits into small Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-like states prior to making the stabilizer measurements that place them in the XY-code state. We prove that in this new procedure O(n) high-rate errors along a single lattice boundary can cause a logical failure, leading to an almost quadratic reduction in the number of fault configurations compared to the standard state-preparation approach. Moreover, the code becomes equivalent to a repetition code for high-rate errors, guaranteeing a 50% code-capacity threshold during state preparation for infinitely biased noise. With a simple matching decoder we confirm that our preparation protocol outperforms the standard protocol in terms of both threshold and logical error rate in the fault-tolerant regime where measurements are unreliable and at experimentally realistic biases. We also discuss how our state-preparation protocol can be inverted for similar fragile-boundary-mitigated logical-state measurement.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A model of regional housing markets in England and Wales
Authors: Bhattacharjee Arnab , Jensen-Butler Chris
Published: July 2024

Purpose

We propose an economic model of housing markets. The model incorporates the macroeconomic relationships between prices, demand and supply. Since vacancy rates are not observable, the demand-supply mismatches are identified using a microeconomic model of search, matching and price formation. The model is applied to data on regional housing markets in England and Wales.

Design/methodology/approach

Economic theory combining macroeconomics and microeconomics together with new generation econometric methods for empirical analysis.

Findings

The empirical model, estimated for the ten government office regions of England and Wales, validates the economic model. We find that there is substantial heterogeneity across the regions, which is useful in informing housing and land-use policies. In addition to heterogeneity, the model enables us to better understand unrestricted inter-regional spatial relationships. The estimated spatial autocorrelations imply different drivers of spatial diffusion in different regions.

Research limitations/implications

In the nature of other empirical work, the findings are subject to specificities of the data considered here. The understanding of spatial diffusion can also be further developed in future work.

Practical implications

This paper develops a nice way of closing macroeconomic models of housing markets when complete demand, supply and pricing data are not available. The model may also be useful when data are available but with large measurement errors. The model comes together with corresponding empirical methods.

Social implications

Implications for the housing market and other regional policies are important. These are context-specific, but some implications for housing policy in the UK are provided in the paper as an example.

Originality/value

Unique housing market paper combining both macroeconomic and microeconomic theory as well as both theory and empirics. The rich framework so developed can be extended to much future work.
Solo female travelers: a systematic literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Abdul Shukor Syadiyah , Kattiyapornpong Uraiporn
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Solo travel is one of the fastest-growing tourism segments, especially among women. This study aims to identify which research topics of interest are more evident in solo female travelers (SFTs) and provide future researchers directions to explore some other research areas in SFTs.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, the searched keywords included “female travel*” OR “women travel*” AND solo, extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Emerald and ProQuest databases conducted in English.

Findings

Out of the 163 initial records, 25 papers were included. The reviews revealed four research topics that are more evident in SFT studies, namely, push and pull factors, perceived risks and travel constraints, risk management and negotiation strategy and travel experience. More work is required on SFTs beyond the existing research streams.

Research limitations/implications

The papers selected for this study were chosen based on the review’s selection criteria and might omit other SFT studies.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to uncovering the literature on SFTs to date.
Efficient machine learning for strength prediction of ready-mix concrete production (prolonged mixing)
Authors: Tuvayanond Wiput , Kamchoom Viroon , Prasittisopin Lapyote
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the efficient process of the machine learning algorithms implemented in the ready-mix concrete (RMC) onsite. It proposes innovative machine learning algorithms in terms of preciseness and computation time for the RMC strength prediction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an investigation of five different machine learning algorithms, namely, multilinear regression, support vector regression, k-nearest neighbors, extreme gradient boosting (XGBOOST) and deep neural network (DNN), that can be used to predict the 28- and 56-day compressive strengths of nine mix designs and four mixing conditions. Two algorithms were designated for fitting the actual and predicted 28- and 56-day compressive strength data. Moreover, the 28-day compressive strength data were implemented to predict 56-day compressive strength.

Findings

The efficacy of the compressive strength data was predicted by DNN and XGBOOST algorithms. The computation time of the XGBOOST algorithm was apparently faster than the DNN, offering it to be the most suitable strength prediction tool for RMC.

Research limitations/implications

Since none has been practically adopted the machine learning for strength prediction for RMC, the scope of this work focuses on the commercially available algorithms. The adoption of the modified methods to fit with the RMC data should be determined thereafter.

Practical implications

The selected algorithms offer efficient prediction for promoting sustainability to the RMC industries. The standard adopting such algorithms can be established, excluding the traditional labor testing. The manufacturers can implement research to introduce machine learning in the quality controcl process of their plants.

Originality/value

Regarding literature review, machine learning has been assessed regarding the laboratory concrete mix design and concrete performance. A study conducted based on the on-site production and prolonged mixing parameters is lacking.
International subjects on the periphery: the publishing challenges of early-career female academics from Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Lendák-Kabók Karolina , Mignot-Gerard Stéphanie , Vanholsbeeck Marc
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The paper’s aim is to explore female academics’ publication aspirations and constraints in a less researched area of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Design/methodology/approach

The research data presented in this paper is part of a larger cross-European project involving semi-structured interviews conducted with Early Career Researchers (ECR) (PhD+ 8 years) from Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) from seventeen European countries.

Findings

The findings show how ECR women from the CEE region in SSH encounter difficulties when trying to publish, which obstacles add to a strong economic and geopolitical dependence. Findings reveal that female ECRs use various publications strategies to enhance their scientific career and engage in the neoliberal model of academia, but mostly stay in their local scientific communities, without building internationally recognized scientific careers. Thus, they do wish for a global recognition, but they opt for a safer and more accessible choice of publishing in their local scientific communities.

Originality/value

Knowledge which academic women from the CEE region produce (mostly in their local languages) stays in their local and isolated enviroments, creating an imbalanced knowledge advancement in a international academic arena which recognizes only publications written in English and in renowed journals.
Critical success factors, institutional actions and instructors’ acceptance of e-learning in higher education: a systematic review
Authors: Millidonis Theodoros , Lois Petros , Georgiou Ifigenia , Tsoukatos Evangelos
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study conducts a systematic literature review to examine the interrelationships between e-learning critical success factors, instructors' perceptions of these factors, and the corresponding institutional actions taken by higher education institutions to achieve success in e-learning implementation, by fostering instructors’ acceptance of e-learning as a viable mode of delivery in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design employed in this study involves a systematic literature review of 43 peer-reviewed articles from EBSCO host and Scopus databases. The selected methodology employed thematic analysis of the gathered data by utilizing a multistep qualitative coding method of analysis.

Findings

The systematic literature review delivers three key findings. First, there is a notable divergence between instructors' perceptions of critical success factors for e-learning in higher education and the perspectives of other stakeholders, such as students, e-learning experts, and institutional management. Second, it emphasizes the importance for higher education institutions to understand and address instructors' perceptions to facilitate effective e-learning implementation. Third, the literature suggests potential causal relationships between institutional actions addressing the success factors deemed important by instructors and instructors' sustained acceptance of e-learning as a viable delivery mode.

Research implications

The present study enriches knowledge of instructor perceptions of critical success factors for effectiveness in higher education by extending research in institutional management actions to enable their achievement. This study has implications for research strands on how instructors’ motivation and propensity for e-learning acceptance can be influenced by institutional management and how to reduce the level of resistance to adopting e-learning courses by addressing e-learning’s critical success factors as perceived by instructors.

Originality/value

Based on the theoretical insights derived from the systematic literature review, a conceptual framework is constructed, integrating the three concepts under investigation: success factors, institutional actions, and instructors' acceptance of e-learning in higher education. This framework provides a basis for future research seeking to validate the potential causal relationships among these concepts. Moreover, the study contributes to existing literature by addressing and consolidating research strands related to critical success factors and instructors' perceptions of e-learning effectiveness in higher education.
Meeting the needs of physically disabled tourists: use of service robots toward the hotel attachment
Authors: Parvez M. Omar , Hossain Md Sazzad , Patwary Ataul Karim , Elkhwesky Zakaria , Ur Rehman Shafique , Ali Faizan
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to focus on tourists with physical disabilities and examine their perceptions of service robots in hotels and their influence on the overall experience, behavioral intentions and hotel attachment.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted via the Prolific platform to collect data from 409 respondents. The data was analyzed using partial least squares–based SEM.

Findings

The salient PLS-SEM findings show that perceived safety and functional benefits significantly affect a hotel's overall experience and intention to revisit. Perceived privacy did not relate to the hotel's overall experience and intention to revisit. Moreover, the hotel's overall experience significantly affects the intention to revisit, further influencing hotel attachment.

Research limitations/implications

This research only examines the perceptions of tourists with physical disabilities of hotel service robots. Findings are based on a survey, and thus, the results cannot be generalized.

Originality/value

Current research indicates the impact of the intention to revisit and hotel attachment. Moreover, this study investigates the mediating role of overall hotel experience in the association between perceived privacy, perceived safety and functional benefits regarding revisit intention.
Water peaking with a three‐pillar analysis in China: Exploring the interplay of resource utilization and industrial structure
Authors: Sun Mingsong , Song Yutong
Published: July 2024

This study introduces the innovative concept of water‐peaking theory, drawing inspiration from the theories of “peak oil” and “carbon peaking.” Employing the Environmental Kuznets Curve, Tapio's decoupling theory, and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition, we analyze data spanning from 2006 to 2020, yielding significant findings. First, China's three industries exhibit an imbalanced structure in the utilization of water resources, necessitating the reallocation of water from the primary industry to the secondary and tertiary industries. Second, although China has not yet attained absolute water peaking, it confronts a predicament in sustainable development. Third, the primary and secondary industries demonstrate favorable decoupling of water consumption from economic growth, while the tertiary industry faces challenges in achieving historical water peaking. Fourth, drivers on the production side (technological effects, structural effects, output effects) substantially reduce water consumption across all industries, contributing to progress toward water peaking. Conversely, factors on the consumer side (population effects) play a minor role with untapped potential. This research provides valuable insights for nations worldwide in identifying historical inflection points in water resource management, pursuing sustainable pathways for industrial water usage and economic growth, and achieving environmental quality and sustainable economic development objectives. China's experiences serve as a guiding exemplar in this endeavor.
The impact of heat waves on food industry productivity: Firm‐level evidence from Italy
Authors: Nota Paolo , Curzi Daniele , Haase Oliver Ken , Olper Alessandro
Published: July 2024

This paper investigates the impact of heat waves on the productivity of the Italian food industry. Using daily weather and firm‐level data for the 2004–2019 period, we show that a heat wave causes, on average, a reduction in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of about 3.2%. Smaller firms are more severely affected, with a reduction of approximately 7%, revealing unequal impacts within the same country and sector. The reduction in TFP can be partially attributed to lower workers' productivity, with labour input increased in order to compensate for productivity loss. The estimated effect is heterogeneous across subsectors, with some well‐known Italian products (e.g., wine production) more severely affected by heat waves. These findings have significant policy implications due to the expected increase in the frequency of heat waves caused by climate change, and are particularly important in the case of the Italian food industry, which is mainly composed of small firms. The paper highlights the need to investigate further the impacts of heat stress on the entire food system, as most of the literature has predominantly focused on the agricultural sector.
Responsible innovation: Mitigating the food safety aspects of cultured meat production
Authors: Manning Louise
Published: July 2024

There is much interest in cultured (cultivated) meat as a potential solution to concerns over the ecological and environmental footprint of food production, especially from animal‐derived food products. The aim of this critical review is to undertake a structured analysis of existing literature to (i) identify the range of materials that could be used within the cultured meat process; (ii) explore the potential biological and chemical food safety issues that arise; (iii) identify the known and also novel aspects of the food safety hazard portfolio that will inform hazard analysis and risk assessment approaches, and (iv) position a responsible innovation framework that can be utilized to mitigate food safety concerns with specific emphasis on cultured meat. Although a number of potential food safety hazards are identified that need to be considered within a food safety plan, further research is required to validate and verify that these food safety hazards have been suitably controlled and, where possible, eliminated. The responsible innovation framework developed herein, which extends beyond hazard analysis and traditional risk assessment approaches, can be applied in multiple contexts, including this use case of cultured meat production.