bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the time to blood culture positivity: why does it take so long?
Authors: Falconer Kerry , Hammond Robert , Parcell Benjamin J. , Gillespie Stephen H.
Published: January 2025

Introduction. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are one of the most serious infections investigated by microbiologists. However, the time to detect a BSI fails to meet the rapidity required to inform clinical decisions in real time.

Gap Statement. Blood culture (BC) is considered the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. However, the time to blood culture positivity can be lengthy. Underpinning this is the reliance on bacteria replicating to a high concentration, which is necessary for the detection using routine blood culture systems. To improve the diagnosis and management of patients with BSIs, more sensitive detection methods are required.

Aim. The study aimed to answer key questions addressing the delay in BSI detection and whether the time to BSI detection could be expedited using a Scattered Light Integrated Collection (SLIC) device.

Methodology. A proof-of-concept study was conducted to compare the time to positivity (TTP) of Gram-negative BCs flagging positive on BacT/ALERT with an SLIC device. An SLIC device was utilized to compare the TTP of the most prevalent BSI pathogens derived from nutrient broth and BC, the influence of bacterial load on TTP and the TTP directly from whole blood. Additionally, the overall turnaround time (TAT) of SLIC was compared with that of a standard hospital workflow.

Results. Most pathogens tested took significantly longer to replicate when derived from BC than from nutrient medium. The median TTP of Gram-negative BC on BacT/ALERT was 13.56 h with a median bacterial load of 6.4×109 c.f.u. ml−1. All pathogens (7/7) derived from BC at a concentration of 105 c.f.u. ml−1 were detectable in under 70 min on SLIC. Decreasing Escherichia coli BC concentration from 105 to 102 c.f.u. ml−1 increased the TTP of SLIC from 15 to 85 min. Direct BSI detection from whole blood on SLIC demonstrated a 76% reduction in TAT when compared with the standard hospital workflow.

Conclusion. An SLIC device significantly reduced the TTP of common BSI pathogens. The application of this technology could have a major impact on the detection and management of BSI.
RISKS ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG HIV/AIDS PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY AT UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL OF BUTARE CHUB
Authors: Charles Nshimiyimana , Patrick Nemeyimana , Fabrice Uwumuremyi , Valens Karenzi , Pierre Bakunzibake , Emmy Mugisha
Published: January 2025

This study assessed the risks of cardiovascular diseases among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) in southern Rwanda. A cross-sectional design was employed from January to February 2021. A sample of 199 participants was systematically selected, including HIV-positive patients on ART and a control group. Blood samples were analyzed for lipid profiles using standard spectrophotometric procedures. The study adhered to strict ethical considerations, including informed consent and participant confidentiality. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results indicated demographic disparities, with 66% female participants and 72% on first-line ART. Triglyceride levels showed 42% within normal ranges, 26% borderline high, and 32% hypertriglyceridemia. For high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 61.3% were normal, 19.3% classified as low-risk, and 19.3% had hypercholesterolemia. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) results revealed 87.6% within normal ranges, 7.3% borderline high, and 8% with hypercholesterolemia. Total cholesterol analysis is ongoing. Ethical approval was obtained, though the study faced challenges such as a limited sample size and movement restrictions due to COVID-19. Despite limitations, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring lipid profiles in HIV/AIDS patients on ART to reduce cardiovascular risks and inform clinical interventions.
Crosslinker-freein situhydrogel induces self-aggregation of human dental pulp stem cells with enhanced antibacterial activity
Authors: Lee Sang Jin , Wu Zhenzhen , Huang Mengyu , Liang Chao , Huang Ziqi , Siyuan Chen , Rajasekar Vidhyashree , Abdalla Mohamed Mahmoud , Nah Haram , Heo Dong Nyoung , Kwon Il Keun , Cho Min-Jai , Kim Seong Jun , Sohn Seil , Kim Su-Hwan , Sugimura Ryohichi , Yiu Cynthia Kar Yung
Published: January 2025

Recently, injectable hydrogels have garnered significant attention in tissue engineering due to their controlled flowability, strong plasticity, adaptability, and good biocompatibility. However, research on readily injectablein situ-forming hydrogels capable of forming functional three-dimensional (3D) tissue condensations remains limited. This study explores the development and evaluation of a carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) / oxidized hyaluronic acid (oHA) hydrogel incorporated with silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) for tissue engineering applications with inherent antibacterial activity. Through physicochemical analysis, the optimal formulation of CMCTS/oHA hydrogels was established. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent injectability, enabling minimally invasivein situdelivery.In vitrocytotoxicity assays identified 0.1% AgSD as the optimal concentration, supporting cell proliferation while exhibiting antimicrobial efficacy againstS. mutansandE. faecalis.In vivostudies revealed complete hydrogel degradation and good biocompatibility, with no adverse tissue reactions. The hydrogel’s ability to form 3D cell aggregates and support tissue regeneration underscores its potential for future 3D tissue engineering applications. Consequently, the injectable CMCTS/oHA/AgSD hydrogel developed in this study holds significant potential for application in a wide range of bioengineering fields, including antibacterial substance delivery systems and 3D tissue engineering, indicating potential for future clinical application.
Tetralone-ABA enhances winter cold acclimation, reduces deacclimation, and delays budbreak in V. vinifera and V. hybrid grapevines
Authors: Wang Hongrui , Pan Yue , Londo Jason P.
Published: January 2025

Climate change-related acute winter freezes and unseasonal false springs have become significant and predictable risks for grape growers across North America and Eurasia. Novel strategies to enhance resilience during the dormant season, particularly by improving bud cold hardiness and delaying budbreak, are urgently needed for the sustainability of grape and wine production. In this study, we evaluated a synthetic abscisic acid (ABA) analog, tetralone-ABA (ABA-1102), as a sprayable product for inducing these traits in three grapevine cultivars: ‘Riesling’, ‘Cayuga White’, and their progeny, ‘Aravelle’. We determined that post-harvest foliar application of tetralone-ABA promoted early leaf senescence, induced cultivar-specific bud cold hardiness enhancement during cold acclimation, slowed deacclimation under controlled and field conditions, and delayed budbreak in spring without affecting growing season phenology, physiology or harvest yield. Transcriptomic analysis of during deacclimation assays suggests that tetralone-ABA’s effect on delaying deacclimation may result from its suppression of the activation of growth-related pathways under growth-permissive conditions. Detailed investigations of these pathways indicate that tetralone-ABA may have modulated critical biological processes such as cell wall remodeling, sugar metabolism, and ABA signaling. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the genetic control of grapevine deacclimation, highlights ABA’s role in grapevine dormant season physiology, and demonstrates tetralone-ABA’s potential as a promising tool for improving dormant season viticulture resilience, offering a new strategy to protect grapevines against the increasing threats posed by climate change.
A fetal oncogene NUAK2 is an emerging therapeutic target in glioblastoma
Authors: Jo Hanhee , Dalvi Aneesh , Yang Wenqi , Morozova Elizabeth , Munoz Sarah , Glasgow Stacey M.
Published: January 2025

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and highly malignant form of adult brain cancer characterized by poor overall survival rates. Effective therapeutic modalities remain limited, necessitating the search for novel treatments. Neurodevelopmental pathways have been implicated in glioma formation, with key neurodevelopmental regulators being re- expressed or co-opted during glioma tumorigenesis. Here we identified a serine/threonine kinase, NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2), as a fetal oncogene in mouse and human brains. We found robust expression of NUAK2 in the embryonic brain that decreases throughout postnatal stages and then is re-expressed in malignant gliomas. However, the role of NUAK2 in GBM tumorigenesis remains unclear. We demonstrate that CRIPSR-Cas9 mediated NUAK2 deletion in GBM cells results in suppression of proliferation, while overexpression leads to enhanced cell growth in bothin vitroandin vivomodels. Further investigation of the downstream biological processes dysregulated in the absence of NUAK2 reveals that NUAK2 modulates extracellular matrix (ECM) components to facilitate migratory behavior. Lastly, we determined that pharmaceutical inhibition of NUAK2 is sufficient to impede the proliferation and migration of malignant glioma cells. Our results suggest that NUAK2 is an actionable therapeutic target for GBM treatment.
Actin and vimentin jointly control cell viscoelasticity and compression stiffening
Authors: Conboy James P. , Lettinga Mathilde G. , Boukany Pouyan E. , MacKintosh Fred C. , Koenderink Gijsje H.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

The mechanical properties of cells are governed by the cytoskeleton, a dynamic network of actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Understanding the individual and collective mechanical contributions of these three different cytoskeletal elements is essential to elucidate how cells maintain mechanical integrity during deformation. Here we use a custom single-cell rheometer to identify the distinct contributions of actin and vimentin to the viscoelastic and nonlinear elastic response of cells to uniaxial compression. We used mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from wild type (WT) and vimentin knockout (vim -/-) mice in combination with chemical treatments to manipulate actin polymerization and contractility. We show through small amplitude oscillatory measurements and strain ramp tests that vimentin, often overlooked in cellular mechanics, plays a role comparable to actin in maintaining cell stiffness and resisting large compressive forces. However, actin appears to be more important than vimentin in determining cellular energy dissipation. Finally we show by comparing wild type and enucleated cells that compression stiffening originates from the actin and vimentin cytoskeleton, while the nucleus appears to play little role in this. Our findings provide insight into how cytoskeletal networks collectively determine the mechanical properties of cells, providing a basis to understand the role of the cytoskeleton in the ability of cells to resist external as well as internal forces.

Significance statement

A cell’s response to mechanical stress is largely governed by the actin and vimentin cytoskeletal networks, but their relative contribution to cell viscoelasticity and response to large deformations are poorly characterized.

We reveal that actin and vimentin networks have an almost equal contribution to cellular stiffness and the cell’s ability to strain-stiffen under uniaxial compression.

This work underscores the cytoskeleton’s central role in cellular mechanics and the mechanical synergy between the cytoskeletal networks, providing a framework for understanding how cellular components coordinate to maintain structural integrity and respond to different mechanical environments.
Identifying Potential Drug Targets for Prostate Cancer from a Genetic Perspective: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Huang Jiaqing , Li Zhiqiang , Lin Yunqiao
Published: January 2025

Background

This study aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer (PCa) utilizing expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, while exploring the potential underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We employed MR analysis to evaluate the causal relationships between eQTLs and PCa. Cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL, exposure) data were obtained from the eQTLGen Consortium. GWAS data for prostate cancer were obtained from the UK Biobank Consortium and the FinnGen Consortium, with the UK Biobank Consortium data used for primary discovery and the FinnGen Consortium data used for replication and validation. Additionally, we conducted enrichment analysis, constructed protein interaction networks, predicted potential drugs, and performed molecular docking experiments to elucidate the functional significance and therapeutic reliability of identified targets.

Results

Our findings revealed that HOXA9, MPHOSPH6, SLC45A3, PBX2, and HLA-A are positively correlated with PCa risk, whereas PPARGC1A, FLOT2, TKT, CARNS1, GPBAR1, CSF1R, and TRAV21 showed negative associations. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that GPBAR1 exhibited the highest binding affinity among the top five predicted drugs.

Conclusions

This study identified 12 promising drug targets for PCa through MR analysis. Therapeutics developed to target these genes are anticipated to enhance the success rate in clinical trials, thus enabling more efficient development of PCa treatments and potentially lowering overall drug development costs.
The Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Reflex as a Function of Depression Severity in Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Authors: Nguyen Thomas P. , Baumeister-Lingens Luise , Markser Anna , Rösch Anna-Sophia , Kaess Michael , Koenig Julian
Published: January 2025

A growing body of research has demonstrated a link between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and mood disorders with pro-inflammatory states. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex is a neural pathway that helps modulate the body’s inflammatory response and has been posited as a potential avenue for adjuvant treatment in mental disorders. However, no study to date has investigated the functioning of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex in a clinical adolescent population with NSSI. This study measured heart rate variability (HRV; a proxy for vagus nerve activity), inflammatory markers (leukocytes, c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL- 6)) and several clinical measures in female adolescents with NSSI (n = 154) along with healthy controls (n = 46). Statistical analyses tested for group differences and correlations between HRV, inflammatory markers and depression in the NSSI group. Mediation analyses were conducted to test direct and indirect effects. The NSSI group showed greater depressive symptoms and leukocyte levels, but lower HRV compared to the control group. In the full sample, depression severity was positively correlated with leukocyte and CRP levels and negatively correlated with HRV. HRV was also negatively correlated with leukocyte and CRP levels. Depression severity mediated the association between leukocytes and HRV. Overall, this study supports the notion that lower vagal activity is associated with increased inflammatory markers in a sample of adolescents with NSSI which suggests altered functioning of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex.
Addressing the open world: detecting and segmenting pollen on palynological slides with deep learning
Authors: Feng Jennifer T. , Satheesan Sandeep Puthanveetil , Kong Shu , Donders Timme H. , Punyasena Surangi W.
Published: January 2025

In the open world, categorical classes are imbalanced, test classes are not known a priori, and test data are captured across different domains. Paleontological data can be described as open-world, as specimens may include new, unknown taxa, and the data collected, such as measurements or images, may not be standardized across different studies. Fossil pollen analysis is one example of an open-world problem in paleontology. Pollen samples capture large numbers of specimens, including not only common types but also rare and even novel taxa. Pollen is diverse morphologically and features can be altered during fossilization. Additionally, there is little standardization in the methods used to capture and catalog pollen images and most collections are mounted on microscope slides. Therefore, generalized workflows for automated pollen analysis require techniques that are robust to these differences and can work with microscope images. We focus on a critical first step, the detection of pollen specimens on a palynological slide and review how existing methods can be employed to build robust and generalizable analysis pipelines. First, we demonstrate how a mixture-of-experts approach -- the fusion of a general pollen detector with an expert model trained on minority classes -- can be used to address taxonomic biases in detections, particularly the missed detections of rarer pollen types. Second, we demonstrate the efficiency of domain fine-tuning in addressing domain gaps -- differences in image magnification and resolution across microscopes, and of taxa across different sample sources. Third, we demonstrate the importance of continual learning workflows, which integrate expert feedback, in training detection models from incomplete data. Finally, we demonstrate how cutting-edge segmentation models can be used to refine and clean detections for downstream deep learning classification models.
Λc+→ηπ+Λ
reaction and the
Λa0+(980)
and
π+Λ(1670)
contributions
Authors: Duan Man-Yu , Lyu Wen-Tao , Xiao Chu-Wen , Wang En , Xie Ju-Jun , Chen Dian-Yong , Oset Eulogio
Published: January 2025

We study from the theoretical point of view the Λc+→π+ηΛ reaction, recently measured by the Belle and BESIII Collaborations, where clear signals are observed for a0(980), Λ(1670), and Σ(1385) excitation. By considering the a0(980) and Λ(1670) as dynamically generated resonances from the meson meson and meson baryon interaction, respectively, we are able to determine their relative production strengths in the reaction, which is also tied to the strength of the π+ηΛ tree level contribution. We observe that this latter strength is very big and there are large destructive interferences between the tree level and the rescattering terms where the a0(980) and Λ(1670) are generated. The Σ(1385) contribution is included by means of a free parameter, the only one of the theory, up to a global normalization, when one considers only external emission, and we observe that the spin flip part of this term, usually ignored in theoretical and experimental works, plays an important role determining the shape of the mass distributions. Internal emission is also considered and it is found to play a minor role.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Impact and mitigation of polarized extragalactic foregrounds on Bayesian cosmic microwave background lensing
Authors: Qu Frank J. , Millea Marius , Schaan Emmanuel
Published: January 2025

Future low-noise cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing measurements from e.g., CMB-S4 will be polarization dominated, rather than temperature dominated. In this new regime, statistically optimal lensing reconstructions outperform the standard quadratic estimator, but their sensitivity to extragalactic polarized foregrounds has not been quantified. Using realistic simulations of polarized radio and infrared point sources, we show for the first time that optimal Bayesian lensing from a CMB-S4-like experiment is insensitive to the expected level of polarized extragalactic foregrounds after masking, as long as an accurate foreground power spectrum is included in the analysis. For more futuristic experiments where these foregrounds could cause a detectable bias, we propose a new method to jointly fit for lensing and the Poisson foregrounds, generalizing the bias hardening from the standard quadratic estimator to Bayesian lensing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dissipation in the
1/D
expansion for planar matrix models
Authors: Anegawa Takanori , Iizuka Norihiro , Kabat Daniel
Published: January 2025

We consider the thermal behavior of a large number of matrix degrees of freedom in the planar limit. We work in 0+1 dimensions, with D matrices, and use 1/D as an expansion parameter. This can be thought of as a noncommutative large-D vector model, with two independent quartic couplings for the two different orderings of the matrices. We compute a thermal two-point correlator to O(1/D) and find that the degeneracy present at large D is lifted, with energy levels split by an amount

∼

1

/

D

. This implies a timescale for thermal dissipation ∼D. At high temperatures dissipation is predominantly due to one of the two quartic couplings.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Covariant interacting fractons
Authors: Bertolini Erica , Kim Hyungrok
Published: January 2025

We show that there exists a natural analog of the Yang-Mills equations using the Frölicher-Nijenhuis bracket between vector-valued differential forms. The gauge field is a rank-2 tensor, and when one constrains it to be symmetric, then the system exhibits fractonic behaviors. In the linearized limit, the constrained equations of motion reduce to those of the covariant fracton model [., ., and Notes from the bulk, Ph.D. thesis, Università di Genova, 2024.].

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Yang-Lee zeros for real-space condensation
Authors: Burda Zdzislaw , Johnston Desmond A. , Kieburg Mario
Published: January 2025

Using the electrostatic analogy, we derive an for the limiting Yang-Lee zero distribution in the random allocation model of general weights. This exhibits a real-space condensation phase transition, which is induced by a pressure change. The exact solution allows one to read off the scaling of the density of zeros at the critical point and the angle at which the locus of zeros hits the critical point. Since the order of the phase transition and critical exponents can be tuned with a single parameter for several families of weights, the model provides a useful testing ground for verifying various relations between the distribution of zeros and the critical behavior, as well as for exploring the behavior of physical quantities in the mesoscopic regime, i.e., systems of large but finite size. The main result is that asymptotically the Yang-Lee zeros are images of a conformal mapping, given by the generating function for the weights, of uniformly distributed complex phases.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Markov-bridge generation of transition paths and its application to cell-fate choice
Authors: Le Treut Guillaume , Ancheta Sarah , Huber Greg , Orland Henri , Yllanes David
Published: January 2025

We present a method to sample Markov-chain trajectories constrained to both the initial and final conditions, which we term Markov bridges. The trajectories are conditioned to end in a specific state at a given time. We derive the master equation for Markov bridges, which exhibits the original transition rates scaled by a time-dependent factor. Trajectories can then be generated using a refined version of the Gillespie algorithm. We illustrate the benefits of our method by sampling trajectories in the Müller-Brown potential. This allows us to generate transition paths which would otherwise be obtained at a high computational cost with standard kinetic Monte Carlo methods because commitment to a transition path is essentially a rare event. We then apply our method to a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset from mouse pancreatic cells to investigate the cell differentiation pathways of endocrine-cell precursors. By sampling Markov bridges for a specific differentiation pathway, we obtain a time-resolved dynamics that can reveal features such as cell types which behave as bottlenecks. The ensemble of trajectories also gives information about the fluctuations around the most likely path. For example, we quantify the statistical weights of different branches in the differentiation pathway to alpha cells.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Synthetic tensor gauge fields
Authors: Zhang Shaoliang , Lv Chenwei , Zhou Qi
Published: January 2025

Synthetic gauge fields have provided physicists with a unique tool to explore a wide range of fundamentally important phenomena. However, most experiments have focused on synthetic vector gauge fields. The very rich physics brought about by coupling tensor gauge fields to fracton phases of matter remains unexplored in laboratories. Here, we propose schemes to realize synthetic tensor gauge fields that address dipoles instead of single particles. A lattice tilted by a strong linear potential and a weak quadratic potential yields a rank-2 electric field for a dipole formed by a particle-hole pair. Such a rank-2 electric field leads to a new type of Bloch oscillations, which modulates the quadrupole moment and preserves the dipole moment of the system. In higher dimensions, the interplay between interactions and vector gauge potentials imprints a phase to the ring-exchange interaction and thus generates synthetic tensor gauge fields. Such tensor gauge fields make it possible to realize a dipolar Harper-Hofstadter model in laboratories. The resultant dipolar Chern insulators feature chiral edge currents of dipoles in the absence of net charge currents.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Fractional derivative in continuous-time Markov processes and applications to epidemics in networks
Authors: D'Alessandro Matteo , Van Mieghem Piet
Published: January 2025

Continuous-time Markov processes are governed by the Chapman-Kolmogorov differential equation. We show that replacing the standard time derivative of the governing equation with a Caputo fractional derivative of order 0<α<1, leads to a fractional differential equation whose solution can describe the state probabilities of a class of non-Markovian stochastic processes. We show that the same state probabilities also solve a system of equations that describe semi-Markov processes in which the sojourn times follow a Mittag-Leffler distribution, contrasting the usual Markov processes with exponentially distributed sojourn times. We apply the fractional framework to the ɛ−SIS epidemic process on any contact graph and we propose a microscopic epidemic description in which infection and curing events follow a Mittag-Leffler distribution and are not independent. We analytically prove that the description exactly solves the fractional extension of the Chapman-Kolmogorov differential equation, and we provide an extensive study of how the dependence between events strongly affects the dynamics of the spreading process. We conclude verifying the proposed framework with Monte Carlo simulations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Time-dependent spectra of quantum beats
Authors: Castro-Beltrán Héctor M. , Román-Ancheyta Ricardo
Published: January 2025

We obtain time-resolved spectra of spontaneous emission and resonance fluorescence of a single multilevel emitter where two antiparallel transitions interfere and cause quantum beats. After rising as a single broad peak, the spontaneous emission spectrum turns into a doublet of subnatural peaks and then fades for long times. For strong field resonance fluorescence, the beat signature is the formation of doublet sidebands, which initially grow asymmetrically but end up symmetrical. We stress the filter bandwidth's crucial role in the spectral resolution and causal evolution.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Absence of gapless Majorana edge modes in few-leg bosonic flux ladders
Authors: Palm F. A. , Repellin C. , Goldman N. , Grusdt F.
Published: January 2025

The search for Majorana excitations has seen tremendous efforts in recent years, ultimately aiming for their individual controllability in future topological quantum computers. A promising framework to realize such exotic Majorana fermions are topologically ordered non-Abelian phases of matter, such as certain fractional quantum Hall states. Quantum simulators provide unprecedented controllability and versatility to investigate such states, and developing experimentally feasible schemes to realize and identify them is of immediate relevance. Motivated by recent experiments, we consider bosons on coupled chains, subjected to a magnetic flux and experiencing Hubbard repulsion. At magnetic filling factor ν=1, similar systems on cylinders have been found to host the non-Abelian Moore-Read Pfaffian state in the bulk. Here, we address the question of whether more realistic few-leg ladders can host this exotic state and its chiral Majorana edge states. To this end, we perform extensive density-matrix renormalization-group simulations and determine the central charge of the ground state. While we do not find any evidence of gapless Majorana edge modes in systems of up to six legs, exact diagonalization of small systems reveals evidence for the Pfaffian state in the entanglement structure. By systematically varying the number of legs and monitoring the appearance and disappearance of this signal, our work highlights the importance of finite-size effects for the realization of exotic states in experimentally realistic systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Projected entangled pair states with flexible geometry
Authors: Patra Siddhartha , Singh Sukhbinder , Orús Román
Published: January 2025

Projected entangled pair states (PEPS) are a class of quantum many-body states that generalize matrix product states for one-dimensional systems to higher dimensions. In recent years, PEPS have advanced understanding of strongly correlated systems, especially in two dimensions, e.g., quantum spin liquids. Typically described by tensor networks on regular lattices (e.g., square, cubic), PEPS have also been adapted for irregular graphs; however, the computational cost becomes prohibitive for dense graphs with large vertex degrees. In this paper, we present a PEPS algorithm to simulate low-energy states and dynamics defined on arbitrary, fluctuating, and densely connected graphs. We introduce a cut-off, κ∈N, to constrain the vertex degree of the PEPS to a set but tunable value, which is enforced in the optimization by applying a simple edge-deletion rule, allowing the geometry of the PEPS to change and adapt dynamically to the system's correlation structure. We benchmark our flexible PEPS algorithm with simulations of classical spin glasses and quantum annealing on densely connected graphs with hundreds of spins, and also study the impact of tuning κ when simulating a uniform quantum spin model on a regular (square) lattice. Our paper opens the way to apply tensor network algorithms to arbitrary, even fluctuating, background geometries.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Corporate governance and energy sector sustainability performance disclosure
Authors: Hussien Lina Fuad , Alrawashedh Nahed Habis , Deek Anan , Alshaketheep Khaled , Zraqat Omar , Al-Awamleh Hasan Khaled , Zureigat Qasim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The energy sector is one of the most important sectors with an impact on the environment, and therefore, sustainable performance in this sector is considered a sensitive issue for sustainability. It is, therefore, necessary to know how to address stakeholders’ interest in sustainability through governance mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to look into the role of corporate governance (CG) on sustainable performance disclosure (SPD) in the energy sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data covering the period 2019–2023 among 12 companies in the energy sector in Jordan. Fixed-effect regression models were estimated for board size, board independence, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, board diligence, board gender diversity, sustainability committee existence and sustainability disclosure. The data analysis tool of choice was a multiple regression approach because it was deemed appropriate. The disclosure index was created using global reporting initiative standards and provides the number and quality of disclosures on key sustainability indicators.

Findings

The study found a significant and positive relationship between board size, percentage of independent directors, board audit, board gender diversity, existence of sustainability committee and level of SPD. On the other hand, the study establishes that CEO duality has an inverse relationship with SPD.

Practical implications

The findings of this study have significant implications for managers and corporate decision-makers in the energy sector. The findings affirm that the improved design of CG motivations and realizations conducive to robust measures of SPD necessitates effective CG.

Originality/value

The value of this applied study stems from the importance of SPD for various categories of stakeholders, and conducting such an applied study is crucial to improving the existing realization of the factors that can have a significant impact on the level of SPD in Jordanian energy sector companies. The results of this paper may be of procedural value to regulatory authorities and decision-makers.
Understanding NEET status in Cameroon and Chad: determinants and gender disparities
Authors: Zamo Akono Christian , Medjo Obia Liliane Odette
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) status and a set of individual and household socioeconomic factors, including potential gender-based variations, for young people aged 15–34 years in Cameroon and Chad.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the 2021 Survey on Youths’ Transition to the Labour Market in Francophone Africa, logistic regressions were conducted to identify the determinants of NEET status, and the multivariate decomposition for nonlinear response models was employed to examine gender disparities in the likelihood of being NEET.

Findings

In Cameroon, the likelihood of being NEET is linked to factors such as age, being female, being in a couple, having dependent children, financial difficulties and urban residency. In Chad, NEET status is associated with higher education, age, being female, being in a couple and having dependent children, but decreases with secondary education, technical education and balancing work and study. Gender disparities in NEET status are largely explained by individual characteristics, accounting for 56.16% of the disparity in Cameroon and 73.72% in Chad. The main contributors in Cameroon are higher education, marital status and having children, while in Chad they are secondary and technical education, studying STEM, age, marital status and having children.

Originality/value

This paper makes two key contributions: first, it is the pioneering study on the determinants of entering the NEET category in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on individual characteristics; second, it offers the first comprehensive decomposition of factors driving gender disparities in the likelihood of being NEET.
Marketing strategies and dynamics in online mobile gaming: a diffusion model
Authors: Makki Mahshidsadat , Jafari Mostafa , Parsanejad Mohammadreza
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Growing technology adoption is a significant opportunity for the growth of the mobile gaming market. Rising smartphones allow game developers to reach more players and make more money. The study offers guidance for mobile game developers to increase profits and extend the longevity of their games. It aims to assist in making better marketing policy decisions by providing valuable insights into effective approaches for both early and subsequent market penetration stages.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a model for analyzing factors that influence the attraction and retention of mobile gamers, which is based on a literature review of mobile gaming and uses the Bass diffusion model and system dynamics method for modeling and simulation.

Findings

In the initial stages of a game release, influencer marketing can be more effective than other marketing tools in increasing visibility. As the game progresses, incorporating referral programs can enhance user engagement, promote the game further, and reduce the number of uninstalls. Influencer marketing can also help the games reach a wider audience, generating more interest, and increasing installations for more tremendous success in the market. However, referral programs can extend the lifespan of games, mainly when gamers are engaged.

Originality/value

The study used new marketing strategies in the mobile game industry to gain insights into the growth and evolution of this industry. Development managers can use insights for effective policies and success. The model aids in understanding the dynamics of mobile games and informed decisions for game developers.
Does the business strategy matter? The mandatory regulation of corporate social responsibility and earnings quality relationship
Authors: Hamed Ruba , Al-Shattarat Wasim , Al-Shattarat Basiem
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and earnings management (EM) activities following the Companies Act 2006 Regulation 2013. Further, it examines the moderating role of business strategy in the association between mandatory CSR reporting and EM practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample of UK-listed companies on the London Stock Exchange from 2006 to 2020. It uses a quantitative approach to examine the main hypotheses.

Findings

The study finds that the new regulation of CSR reporting has increased the tendency of managers to act opportunistically through real earnings management (REM). Moreover, it finds that the defender business strategy negatively affects the association between mandated CSR reporting and REM but is positively related to accrual earnings management (AEM). Moreover, the results demonstrate that the prospector business strategy does not moderate the association between mandatory CSR reporting and EM practices.

Practical implications

Policymakers should consider business strategy when designing CSR regulations to prevent unintended consequences, introducing safeguards like stricter disclosure requirements and enhanced auditing standards. For investors and auditors, understanding the factors influencing EM helps make informed decisions and conduct rigorous audits, especially for companies with high CSR reporting levels.

Originality/value

This study addresses a significant gap in the literature concerning the impact of introducing new CSR legislation (The Companies Act 2006) on EM practices. It enhances our understanding of the role that CSR reporting and functions play in capital markets. Furthermore, it contributes to the CSR literature by highlighting how business strategy influences the relationship between CSR reporting and EM practices.
Way beyond the care cliff: exploring a housing and support service for care experienced people over 25
Authors: Rogers Justin , Thomas Ian , Mendes Philip
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study explores the experiences of care-experienced people living in supported housing provided by the Rees Foundation in England. This study aims to understand the challenges faced by those over 25 who have aged out of statutory support and explores how the Rees Foundation’s services help address these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with five tenants and five staff members from the housing project. Thematic analysis identified key themes related to homelessness, safety, stability and the importance of relationships with outreach workers.

Findings

The findings reveal that care leavers often face a “cliff edge” when statutory support ends, resulting in risks such as homelessness and social isolation. The Rees Foundation’s approach, which includes ongoing emotional and practical support, plays a crucial role in fostering safety, stability and hope among tenants.

Originality/value

This study offers original insights into the effectiveness of sustained support for care-experienced people beyond the age of 25, an age group that has been largely overlooked in existing research. By focusing on a population often neglected in care leaver studies, it highlights the need for extended support services to prevent long-term adverse outcomes, contributing to the broader understanding of post-care transitions.
Subtle success of digitalization in hospitality: a triangulation study
Authors: Chen Yihong , Ye Huiyue , Law Rob
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Digitalization in hospitality and tourism (DHT) is undergoing a profound revolution, yet its actual effect remains overlooked. This paper aims to delve into the actual effect of DHT and uncover the underlying mechanisms that trigger its subtle success.

Design/methodology/approach

Triangulation was used by leveraging complementary multisource data and mixed methods to explore DHT’s challenges. First, regression and statistical analysis revealed intricate outcome of DHT at the regional level. Then, DistilBERT and nonnegative matrix factorization were used to cluster the tourists’ complaints about DHT. Finally, based on a modified diffusion innovation system and stakeholder theory, this study proposed the Integrated Framework for Digitalization Mismatch in Hospitality and Tourism (IFDMHT).

Findings

The quantitative techniques identified the subtle contributions of digitalization on demand. The qualitative technique explored the strategy–practice and demand–supply mismatches as the core of the failure.

Originality/value

This study synthesizes macroregional and micropsychological perspectives to examine the actual effect of DHT. An IFDMHT model is established to investigate the underlying factors influencing the subtle successes of DHT. The findings provide targeted recommendations to assist stakeholders in developing sustainable DHT.
A path towards sustainability through the circular economy phenom: indicators from the Spanish agri-food sector
Authors: García-Granero Eva M. , Piedra-Muñoz Laura , Galdeano-Gómez Emilio , Sorroche-del-Rey Yolanda
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to propose a comprehensive framework for assessing circular economy (CE) performance in the agri-food sector. It identifies those indicators that should be used to measure circularity regarding CE strategies, applies them at a microeconomic level and examines the impact of key business determinants (financial, internalization, knowledge, awareness and digitalization).

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted with a focus on CE strategies and related indicators. The framework obtained is applied on a Spanish agri-food sector survey to provide an empirical CE analysis at firm level. A partial least squares based-structural equation modelling method is applied.

Findings

The research suggests a set of circularity indicators to assess CE strategies at micro level. The findings reveal the heterogeneity of CE sub-indicators related to narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating strategies. It also highlights the strong effects that the drivers tested have on CE, especially awareness and knowledge.

Practical implications

This study provides a framework that can guide public policies and business decisions in sectors with significant environmental impacts. It provides a conceptual framework that explains which CE indicators should be considered by governments and regulators when developing policies that seek to promote circular strategies.

Social implications

In the case of companies, the results show that acquiring more environmental awareness and knowledge is essential for promoting more sustainable work habits that enhance CE.

Originality/value

The paper offers a novel contribution to the CE literature by introducing a multidimensional indicator framework comprehensively applied to the agri-food sector, integrating miscellaneous pillars of circular strategies and business determinants.
Dancing with the devil: Could native predators inside ‘predator‐free’ havens be good for the conservation of threatened native prey species?
Authors: Harrison Natasha D. , Phillips Ben L. , Mitchell Nicola J. , Macmahon Brian , Rasmussen Deanna , Lacey Peter , Fanson Kerry , Wayne Adrian F.
Published: January 2025

As invasive predators continue to drive global biodiversity loss, predator‐free havens are rapidly being established to recover threatened fauna. An unintended consequence of these efforts is that havened populations can lose anti‐predator traits, making them poorly suited for reintroduction into landscapes that contain predators.

One approach showing promise in preventing the loss of these critical responses from havened populations is in situ predator exposure. Here we evaluate this via experimental translocations to determine whether predation pressure from a native mesopredator (chuditch; Dasyurus geoffroii) is effective in retaining behavioural and morphological anti‐predator traits in the Endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi). We conducted replicated reintroductions of semi‐havened (free from invasive predators but exposed to chuditch) and non‐havened (control) woylies into vacant bushland containing chuditch, feral foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus). We monitored woylie survival, reproduction, physiology (faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, fGCM), and proxies for behavioural and morphological anti‐predator traits before and for 10 months after their release.

We found no effects of source population on weight, pes length, agitation behaviour or fGCM. Survival probability was higher for males, and individuals with higher fGCM levels, but we could not attribute differences in woylie survival to whether they originated from a haven.

These findings suggest that sustained predation pressure from chuditch inside the haven has been effective in maintaining anti‐predator responses and supporting the survival of woylies faced with novel invasive predators.

Synthesis and Applications. In situ predator exposure can be a valuable tool for preserving anti‐predator traits in havened populations. However, it will be crucial to understand thresholds of predation pressure across contexts that havened fauna can withstand before recommending broad‐scale adoption of this strategy.
Beyond a logic of choice: the role of family narratives in ethical, person‐centred support for individuals with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Jackson Aaron J.
Published: January 2025

This article demonstrates the important role family narratives can play in providing ethical, person‐centred support for people with severe intellectual disabilities living in supported accommodation. Focusing on the story of Daniel, a 65‐year‐old man residing in a group home in Australia, I illustrate, through the lens of his mother Arleen, how family narratives foreground those with intellectual disabilities as holders and makers of memories, offering valuable social and narrative contexts for their ethical treatment. I conceptualize family narratives as evolving frameworks that give meaning to the lives of people, both individually and as a group, grounding shared and individual ways of being and understanding through the passage of time. In a time where the disability sector increasingly emphasizes personal autonomy and choice for service users, I argue for an embodied understanding of ethics, of paying the other their due, by attending to the stories that constitute people as relational beings. This is particularly relevant in the context of consumer‐oriented support, which can drive individualizing, one‐size‐fits‐all approaches to a person's ethical treatment. Such narratives have the potential to influence professional practice and promote a more connected approach to person‐centred support that recognizes the embodied and relational dimensions of our lives.