bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trichorhinophalangeal Syndrome Type 1 Immunohistochemical Expression in Carcinomas of Gynecologic Origin
Authors: Ruiz Felipe , Tjendra Youley , Millan Nicolas , Gomez-Fernandez Carmen , Pinto Andre
Published: February 2024

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1 (TRPS1) is a new reportedly sensitive and specific immunohistochemical marker for carcinomas of breast origin, including triple-negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2) tumors. In our practice, we have observed a subset of cases of nonmammary carcinomas that are positive for TRPS1, with higher frequency in cytology effusion samples with metastatic gynecologic malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of TRPS1 in a large tissue cohort of Müllerian carcinomas. We retrospectively retrieved 105 cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gynecologic tumors from our surgical pathology archives. Cases corresponded to tumors of tubo-ovarian (17 high-grade serous carcinomas, 3 low-grade serous carcinomas, 2 clear cell carcinomas, and 8 endometrioid adenocarcinomas), endometrial (25 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 8 serous carcinomas, 6 clear cell carcinomas, 12 carcinosarcomas, 1 dedifferentiated carcinoma, and 1 mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma), cervical (6 human papillomavirus [HPV]–associated squamous cell carcinomas [SCCs], 11 HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinomas, and 2 HPV-independent gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinomas), and vulvar (2 HPV-independent SCCs and 1 HPV-associated SCC) origins. Immunohistochemistry for TRPS1 was performed in whole tissue sections and assessed for positivity (≥5% of nuclear labeling), distribution (focal: 5% to 49%, diffuse: 50% to 100%), and intensity (1+, 2+, 3+) in tumor cells. Positive TRPS1 staining was observed in 51.4% (54/105) of cases. Most tumors (64.8%) demonstrated diffuse labeling, while focal in 35.2%. Among positive cases, the intensity was predominantly 1+ (57.4%), followed by 2+ (33.3%) and 3+ (9.2%). Tumors with a high percentage of positivity overall consisted of tubo-ovarian (70%) and endometrial carcinomas (58.4%). TRPS1 immunostain is often expressed in gynecologic carcinomas. Awareness of this phenomenon is crucial when evaluating challenging cases in which the differential diagnosis includes a malignancy of breast origin, to avoid misclassification of the primary site.
Diagnosis of Fever Source Following Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Yanai Milshtein Nili , Pres Shir , Derowe Ari , Rimon Ayelet
Published: February 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and diagnoses of children with postoperative fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher) during the week after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy and to assess the yield of the laboratory tests and otolaryngologist consultations of these patients in the pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included all children who presented with fever to the pediatric ED of a tertiary university-affiliated medical center between May 2017 and April 2020 during the week after a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

Results

There were 94 patients who fulfilled study entry criteria during the 3-year study period, representing a 6% rate of postoperative fever for combined tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy and 3% for adenoidectomy alone. Only 9 patients (<10% of the total) were classified as having bacterial infection, whereas the most common cause for the fever was pneumonia diagnosed by chest radiography. None had surgical site infection. There was no significant difference in blood test findings of patients diagnosed with a bacterial infection and patients with a presumed viral infection or an inflammatory response to surgery.

Conclusions

The results of this investigation revealed that the source of fever of the overwhelming majority of children who were referred to the pediatric ED for fever after undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy was pneumonia as determined by chest radiography, which can be performed in an outpatient setting. Blood tests and otolaryngologist consultations were not contributory in classifying the source of fever, questioning the value of their routine use in these patients.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound of a Nasal Septal Abscess
Authors: Marin Acevedo Paula , Wise Tyler , Mayer Jeffrey , Lin Sophia
Published: February 2024

Although nasal septal abscesses (NSA) are rare, complications can be significant and devastating. Thus, timely diagnosis of NSA is critical. In this case report, we describe the use of point-of-care ultrasound in diagnosing NSA in a healthy boy presenting with viral upper respiratory infection symptoms and fever. Point-of-care ultrasound findings resulted in expediting this patient's treatment and transfer to a quaternary care center for definitive treatment.
Targeted genotyping-by-sequencing of potato and data analysis with R/polyBreedR
Authors: Endelman Jeffrey B. , Kante Moctar , Lindqvist-Kreuze Hannele , Kilian Andrzej , Shannon Laura M. , Caraza-Harter Maria V. , Vaillancourt Brieanne , Mailloux Kathrine , Hamilton John P. , Buell C. Robin
Published: February 2024

Mid-density targeted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) combines trait-specific markers with thousands of genomic markers at an attractive price for linkage mapping and genomic selection. A 2.5K targeted GBS assay for potato was developed using the DArTagTMtechnology and later expanded to 4K targets. Genomic markers were selected from the potato InfiniumTMSNP array to maximize genome coverage and polymorphism rates. The DArTag and SNP array platforms produced equivalent dendrograms in a test set of 298 tetraploid samples, and 83% of the common markers showed good quantitative agreement, with RMSE (root-mean-squared-error) less than 0.5. DArTag is suited for genomic selection candidates in the clonal evaluation trial, coupled with imputation to a higher density platform for the training population. Using the software polyBreedR, an R package for the manipulation and analysis of polyploid marker data, the RMSE for imputation by linkage analysis was 0.15 in a small half-diallel population (N=85), which was significantly lower than the RMSE of 0.42 with the Random Forest method. Regarding high-value traits, the DArTag markers for resistance to potato virus Y, golden cyst nematode, and potato wart appeared to track their targets successfully, as did multi-allelic markers for maturity and tuber shape. In summary, the potato DArTag assay is a transformative and publicly available technology for potato breeding and genetics.

Core Ideas

A mid-density, targeted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) assay was developed for potato.

The GBS assay includes markers for resistance to potato virus Y, golden cyst nematode, and potato wart.

The GBS assay includes multi-allelic markers for potato maturity and tuber shape.

The polyBreedR software has functions for manipulating and imputing polyploid marker data in Variant Call Format.

Linkage Analysis was more accurate than the Random Forest method when imputing from 2K to 10K markers.
Leaf functional trait evolution and its putative climatic drivers in AfricanCoffeaspecies
Authors: Hendrickx Aiden , Hatangi Yves , Honnay Olivier , Janssens Steven B. , Stoffelen Piet , Vandelook Filip , Depecker Jonas
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims

Leaf traits are known to be strong predictors of plant performance and can be expected to (co)vary along environmental gradients. We investigated the variation, integration, environmental relationships, and evolutionary history of leaf functional traits in the genusCoffeaL., typically a rainforest understory shrub, across Africa. A better understanding of the adaptive processes involved in leaf trait evolution can inform the use and conservation of coffee genetic resources in a changing climate.

Methods

We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the evolution of six leaf traits measured from herbarium specimens of 58 AfricanCoffeaspecies. We added environmental data and data on maximum plant height for each species to test trait-environment correlations in various (sub)clades, and we compared continuous trait evolution models to identify variables driving trait diversification.

Key Results

A substantial leaf trait variation was detected across the genusCoffeain Africa, which was mostly interspecific. Of these traits, stomatal size and stomatal density exhibited a clear trade-off. We observed low densities of large stomata in early branching lineages and higher densities of smaller stomata in more recent taxa, which we hypothesise to be related to declining CO2levels since the mid-Miocene. Brownian Motion evolution was rejected in favour of White Noise or Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models for all traits, implying these traits are adaptively significant rather than driven by pure drift. The evolution of leaf area was likely driven by precipitation, with smaller leaves in dryer climates across the genus.

Conclusions

Generally,Coffealeaf traits appear to be evolutionarily labile and governed by stabilising selection, though evolutionary patterns and correlations differ depending on the traits and clades considered. Our study highlights the importance of a phylogenetic perspective when studying trait relationships across related taxa, as well as the consideration of various taxonomic ranges.
Multiple horizontal mini-chromosome transfers drive genome evolution of clonal blast fungus lineages
Authors: Barragan A. Cristina , Latorre Sergio M. , Malmgren Angus , Harant Adeline , Win Joe , Sugihara Yu , Burbano Hernán A. , Kamoun Sophien , Langner Thorsten
Published: February 2024

Crop disease pandemics are often driven by clonal lineages of plant pathogens that reproduce asexually. How these clonal pathogens continuously adapt to their hosts despite harboring limited genetic variation, and in absence of sexual recombination remains elusive. Here, we reveal multiple instances of horizontal chromosome transfer within pandemic clonal lineages of the blast fungusMagnaporthe(Syn.Pyricularia) oryzae. We identified a horizontally transferred 1.2Mb supernumerary mini-chromosome which is remarkably conserved betweenM. oryzaeisolates from both the rice blast fungus lineage and the lineage infecting Indian goosegrass (Eleusine indica), a wild grass that often grows in the proximity of cultivated cereal crops. Furthermore, we show that this mini-chromosome was horizontally acquired by clonal rice blast isolates through at least nine distinct transfer events over the past three centuries. These findings establish horizontal mini-chromosome transfer as a mechanism facilitating genetic exchange among different host-associated blast fungus lineages. We propose that blast fungus populations infecting wild grasses act as genetic reservoirs that drive genome evolution of pandemic clonal lineages that afflict cereal crops.
Recurrent loss of crossover interference punctuates the recombination landscape across yeast species
Authors: Dutta Abhishek , Dutreux Fabien , Garin Marion , Caradec Claudia , Friedrich Anne , Brach Gauthier , Thiele Pia , Llorente Bertrand , Schacherer Joseph
Published: February 2024

Meiotic recombination is essential for the accurate chromosome segregation and the generation of genetic diversity through crossover and gene conversion events. Although this process has been studied extensively in a few selected model species, understanding how its properties vary across species remains limited. In this context, we first characterized the meiotic recombination landscape and properties of theKluyveromyces lactisbudding yeast. We then conducted a comprehensive analysis of 28,897 recombination events spanning 567 meioses in five budding yeast species includingSaccharomyces cerevisiae,Saccharomyces paradoxus,Lachancea kluyveri,Lachancea waltiiandK. lactis. We observed variations in the recombination landscapes and properties across these species. TheSaccharomycesyeasts displayed higher recombination rates compared to the non-Saccharomycesyeasts. In addition, bona fide crossover interference and associated crossover homeostasis were found in theSaccharomycesspecies only. The evolutionarily conserved ZMM pathway, essential for generating interference-dependent crossovers, has undergone multiple losses throughout evolution, suggesting variations in the regulation of crossover formation. Finally, recombination hotspots, although highly conserved within theSaccharomycesyeasts are not conserved beyond theSaccharomycesgenus. Overall, these results highlight great variability and evolution in the recombination landscape between species.
Exploring Rubiaceae fungal endophytes across contrasting tropical forests, tree tissues, and developmental stages
Authors: Castillo-Gonzalez Humberto , Slot Jason C , Yarwood Stephanie , Chaverri Priscila
Published: February 2024

Fungal endophytes play a pivotal role in tropical forest dynamics, influencing plant fitness through growth stimulation, disease suppression, stress tolerance, and nutrient mobilization. This study investigates the effects of region, leaf developmental stage, and tissue type on endophyte communities in tropical plants. Young and mature leaves were collected from 47 Rubiaceae species, and sapwood from 23 species, in old-growth forests of Golfito and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Fungal diversity and composition were assessed through metabarcoding of the ITS2 nrDNA region. Most identified ASVs belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. The orders Botryosphaeriales and Glomerellales significantly contributed to endophytic assemblages, without detection of host-specific communities. We observed significant differences in species richness across regions, confirming distinct compositions through beta diversity. No statistically significant variances were found between mature and juvenile leaf tissues. In contrast, leaves exhibited richer and more diverse assemblages than sapwood. As plants experienced diverse environments over time and space, our results may be influenced by changing structural and chemical properties through ontogeny. Given the potential impact of these fungi on agricultural and forest ecosystems, ongoing research is crucial to discern the roles of hosts, endophytes, and other ecological mechanisms in apparent colonization patterns.
Canine major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) diversity landscape
Authors: Feng Yuan , Ho Kun-Lin , Zhang Mengyuan , Sundaresha Nikitha Brahmasamudra , Cavanagh Hannah Lorelle , Zhao Shaying
Published: February 2024

The genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) are among the most diverse in the mammalian genome, playing a crucial role in immunology. Understanding the diversity landscape of MHC-I is therefore of paramount importance. The dog is a key translational model in various biomedical fields. However, our understanding of the canine MHC-I diversity landscape lags significantly behind that of humans. To address this deficiency, we used our newly developed software, KPRde novoassembler and genotyper, to genotype 1,325 samples from 1,025 dogs with paired-end RNA-seq data from 43 BioProjects, after extensive quality control. Among 926 dogs that pass the QC, 591 dogs (64%) have at least one allele genotyped, and a total of 97 known alleles and 52 putative new alleles were identified. Further analysis reveals that DLA-I gene expression levels vary among the tissues, with lowest for testis and brain tissues and highest for blood, corpus luteum, and spleen. We identified dominant alleles in each of the 17 canine breeds, as well as among the entire canine population. Furthermore, our analysis also identifies breed-specific alleles and mutually co-occurred/exclusive alleles. Our study indicates that canine DLA-88 is as diversified as human HLA-A/B/C genes within the entire population, but less diversified within a breed than with HLA-A/B/C within an ethnic group. Lastly, we examined the hypervariable regions (HVR) within or across human/canine MHC-I alleles and found that 80% of the HVRs overlap between the two species. We further noted that 80% of the HVRs are within 4A contact with the peptides, and that the dog-human difference overlaps with only 20% HVRs. Our research offers valuable insights for immunological studies involving dogs.
Differential GTP-dependentin-vitropolymerization of recombinant Physcomitrella FtsZ proteins
Authors: Milferstaedt Stella W. L. , Joest Marie , Bohlender Lennard L. , Hoernstein Sebastian N. W. , Özdemir Buğra , Decker Eva L. , van der Does Chris , Reski Ralf
Published: February 2024

1.

Bacterial cell division and plant chloroplast division require self-assembling Filamentous temperature-sensitive Z (FtsZ) proteins. FtsZ proteins are GTPases sharing structural and biochemical similarities with eukaryotic tubulin. In the moss Physcomitrella, the morphology of the FtsZ polymer networks varies between the different FtsZ isoforms. The underlying mechanism and foundation of the distinct networks is unknown. Here, we investigated the interaction of Physcomitrella FtsZ2-1 with FtsZ1 isoformsviaco-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, and found protein-protein interactionin vivo. We tagged FtsZ1-2 and FtsZ2-1 with different fluorophores and expressed both inE. coli, which led to the formation of defined structures within the cells and to an influence on bacterial cell division and morphology. Furthermore, we have optimized the purification protocols for FtsZ1-2 and FtsZ2-1 expressed inE. coliand characterized their GTPase activity and polymerizationin vitro. Both FtsZ isoforms showed GTPase activity. Stoichiometric mixing of both proteins led to a significantly increased GTPase activity, indicating a synergistic interaction between them. In light scattering assays, we observed GTP-dependent assembly of FtsZ1-2 and of FtsZ2-1 in a protein concentration dependent manner. Stoichiometric mixing of both proteins resulted in significantly faster polymerization, again indicating a synergistic interaction between them. Under the same conditions used for GTPase and light scattering assays both FtsZ isoforms formed filaments in a GTP-dependent manner as visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Taken together, our results reveal that Physcomitrella FtsZ1-2 and FtsZ2-1 are functionally different, can synergistically interactin vivoandin vitro, and differ in their properties from FtsZ proteins from bacteria, archaea and vascular plants.
Translational response to mitochondrial stresses is orchestrated by tRNA modifications
Authors: Rashad Sherif , Al-Mesitef Shadi , Mousa Abdulrahman , Zhou Yuan , Ando Daisuke , Sun Guangxin , Fukuuchi Tomoko , Iwasaki Yuko , Xiang Jingdong , Byrne Shane R , Sun Jingjing , Maekawa Masamitsu , Saigusa Daisuke , Begley Thomas J , Dedon Peter C , Niizuma Kuniyasu
Published: February 2024

Mitochondrial stress and dysfunction play important roles in many pathologies. However, how cells respond to mitochondrial stress is not fully understood. Here, we examined the translational response to electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition and arsenite induced mitochondrial stresses. Our analysis revealed that during mitochondrial stress, tRNA modifications (namely f5C, hm5C, queuosine and its derivatives, and mcm5U) dynamically change to fine tune codon decoding, usage, and optimality. These changes in codon optimality drive the translation of many pathways and gene sets, such as the ATF4 pathway and selenoproteins, involved in the cellular response to mitochondrial stress. We further examined several of these modifications using targeted approaches. ALKBH1 knockout (KO) abrogated f5C and hm5C levels and led to mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced proliferation, and impacted mRNA translation rates. Our analysis revealed that tRNA queuosine (tRNA-Q) is a master regulator of the mitochondrial stress response. KO of QTRT1 or QTRT2, the enzymes responsible for tRNA-Q synthesis, led to mitochondrial dysfunction, translational dysregulation, and metabolic alterations in mitochondria-related pathways, without altering cellular proliferation. In addition, our analysis revealed that tRNA-Q loss led to a domino effect on various tRNA modifications. Some of these changes could be explained by metabolic profiling. Our analysis also revealed that utilizing serum deprivation or alteration with Queuine supplementation to study tRNA-Q or stress response can introduce various confounding factors by altering many other tRNA modifications. In summary, our data show that tRNA modifications are master regulators of the mitochondrial stress response by driving changes in codon decoding.
Inelastic and elastic parton scattering in the strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma
Authors: Grishmanovskii Ilia , Soloveva Olga , Song Taesoo , Greiner Carsten , Bratkovskaya Elena
Published: February 2024

We investigate the role of inelastic processes in the strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma (sQGP) based on the effective dynamical quasiparticle model (DQPM). In the DQPM the nonperturbative properties of the sQGP at finite temperature T and baryon chemical potential μB are described in terms of strongly interacting off-shell partons (quarks and gluons) with dynamically generated spectral functions whose properties are adjusted to reproduce the lattice QCD equation of state for the quark-gluon plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium. For the first time the massive gluon radiation processes from the off-shell quark-quark (q+q) and quark-gluon (q+g) scatterings are calculated explicitly within leading-order Feynman diagrams with effective propagators and vertices from the DQPM without any further approximations. We present the results for the energy and temperature dependencies of the total and differential radiative cross sections and compare them to the corresponding elastic cross sections. We show that our results reproduce the perturbative QCD calculations in the limit of zero masses and widths of quasiparticles. Also we study the μB dependence of the inelastic cross sections. Moreover, we present estimates for the transition rate and relaxation time of radiative versus elastic scatterings in the sQGP.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Heavy quark diffusion coefficients in magnetized quark-gluon plasma
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Aritra
Published: February 2024

We evaluate the heavy quark momentum diffusion coefficients in a hot magnetized medium for the most general scenario of any arbitrary values of the external magnetic field. We choose to work with the systematic way of incorporating the effect of the magnetic field, by using the effective gluon and quark propagators, generalized for a hot and magnetized medium. To get gauge independent analytic form factors valid through all Landau levels, we apply the hard thermal loop technique for the resummed effective gluon propagator. The derived effective hard thermal loop gluon propagator and the generalized version of Schwinger quark propagator subsequently allow us to analytically evaluate the longitudinal and transverse momentum diffusion coefficients for charm and bottom quarks beyond the static limit. Within the static limit we also explore another way of incorporating the effect of the magnetic field, i.e. through the magnetized medium modified Debye mass and compare the results to justify the need for structural changes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Yukawa potential under weak magnetic field
Authors: Braghin Fábio L. , Loewe Marcelo , Villavicencio Cristian
Published: February 2024

Weak magnetic field induced corrections for the Yukawa potential due to one pion exchange between two constituent quarks (nucleons) are presented. For that, the constant magnetic field effect on the pion propagator and on the pion form factor are taken into account. An effective gluon propagator parametrized with an effective gluon mass (Mg∼0.5  GeV) is considered. In the limit of magnetic field that is weak with respect to the constituent quark mass and pion mass, analytical and semianalytical expressions can be obtained. Different types of contributions are found, isotropic or anisotropic, dependent on the pion mass and also on the constituent quark and effective gluon masses. Overall the corrections are of the order of 2% to 5% of the Yukawa potential at distances close to 2 fm, and they decrease slower than the Yukawa potential. The anisotropic corrections are considerably smaller than the isotropic components. A sizable splitting between results due to the magnetic field dependent neutral or charged pion mass is found.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Generalized parton distributions from lattice QCD with asymmetric momentum transfer: Axial-vector case
Authors: Bhattacharya Shohini , Cichy Krzysztof , Constantinou Martha , Dodson Jack , Gao Xiang , Metz Andreas , Miller Joshua , Mukherjee Swagato , Petreczky Peter , Steffens Fernanda , Zhao Yong
Published: February 2024

Recently, we made significant advancements in improving the computational efficiency of lattice QCD calculations for generalized parton distributions (GPDs). This progress was achieved by adopting calculations of matrix elements in asymmetric frames, deviating from the computationally-expensive symmetric frame typically used, and allowing freedom in the choice for the distribution of the momentum transfer between the initial and final states. A crucial aspect of this approach involves the adoption of a Lorentz covariant parametrization for the matrix elements, introducing Lorentz-invariant amplitudes. This approach also allows us to propose an alternative definition of quasi-GPDs, ensuring frame independence and potentially reduce power corrections in matching to light cone GPDs. In our previous work, we presented lattice QCD results for twist-2 unpolarized GPDs (H and E) of quarks obtained from calculations performed in asymmetric frames at zero skewness. Building upon this work, we now introduce a novel Lorentz covariant parametrization for the axial-vector matrix elements. We employ this parametrization to compute the axial-vector GPD H˜ at zero skewness, using an Nf=2+1+1 ensemble of twisted mass fermions with clover improvement. The light-quark masses employed in our calculations correspond to a pion mass of approximately 260 MeV.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Vacuum stability and electroweak precision in the two-Higgs-doublet model with vectorlike quarks
Authors: Cingiloglu Kivanc Y. , Frank Mariana
Published: February 2024

We present a comprehensive analysis of the vacuum stability of the two-Higgs-doublet model, for both type-I and type-II, augmented by vectorlike quarks in singlet, doublet, or triplet representations. We review the model briefly before introducing the extra fermionic states and their interactions, and impose restrictions on the parameters coming from both theoretical considerations and experimental bounds. We then study the renormalization group equation evolution of the parameters of the model in order to isolate the parameter regions that satisfy vacuum stability requirements. We then add the electroweak precision observables to ensure that the resulting parameter space is consistent with the data. We include complete expressions for the renormalization group equations and the S and T parameters used. Finally, we summarize the effects of various vectorlike quark representations on the parameter space. We indicate the regions constrained, highlighting the differences between representations in type-I and type-II, and pinpoint the effects of the interplay between the extended model and the additional fermions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Exploring robust correlations between fermionic dark matter model parameters and neutron star properties: A two-fluid perspective
Authors: Thakur Prashant , Malik Tuhin , Das Arpan , Jha T. K. , Providência Constança
Published: February 2024

We investigate the probable existence of dark matter in the interior of neutron stars. Despite the current state of knowledge, the observational properties of neutron stars have not definitively ruled out the possibility of dark matter. Our research endeavors to shed light on this intriguing mystery by examining how certain neutron star properties, including mass, radius, and tidal deformability, might serve as constraints for the dark matter model. In our investigation, we adopt a two-fluid approach to calculate the properties of neutron stars. For the nuclear matter equation-of-state (EOS), we employ several realistic EOS derived from the relativistic mean field model (RMF), each exhibiting varying stiffness and composition. In parallel, we look into the dark matter EOS, considering fermionic matter with repulsive interaction described by a relativistic mean field Lagrangian. A reasonable range of parameters is sampled meticulously. Our study primarily focuses on exploring correlations between the dark matter model parameters and different neutron star properties using a rich set of EOSs. Interestingly, our results reveal a promising correlation between the dark matter model parameters and stellar properties, particularly when we ignore the uncertainties in the nuclear matter EOS. However, when introducing uncertainties in the nuclear sector, the correlation weakens, suggesting that the task of conclusively constraining any particular dark matter model might be challenging using global properties alone, such as mass, radius, and tidal deformability. Notably, we find that dark-matter admixed stars tend to have higher central baryonic density, potentially allowing for non-nucleonic degrees of freedom or direct Urca processes in stars with lower masses. There is also a tantalizing hint regarding the detection of stars with the same mass but different surface temperatures, which may indicate the presence of dark matter. With our robust and extensive dataset, we delve deeper and demonstrate that even in the presence of dark matter, the semiuniversal C-Love relation remains intact. This captivating finding adds another layer of complexity to the interplay between dark matter and neutron star properties.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Prescaling Relaxation to Nonthermal Attractors
Authors: Heller Michal P. , Mazeliauskas Aleksas , Preis Thimo
Published: February 2024

We study how isotropic and homogeneous far-from-equilibrium quantum systems relax to nonthermal attractors, which are of interest for cold atoms and nuclear collisions. We demonstrate that a first-order ordinary differential equation governs the self-similar approach to nonthermal attractors, i.e., the prescaling. We also show that certain natural scaling-breaking terms induce logarithmically slow corrections that prevent the scaling exponents from reaching the constant values during the system’s lifetime. We propose that, analogously to hydrodynamic attractors, the appropriate mathematical structure to describe such dynamics is the transseries. We verify our analytic predictions with state-of-the-art 2PI simulations of the large-N vector model and QCD kinetic theory.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Large
N
Fractons
Authors: Jensen Kristan , Raz Amir
Published: February 2024

We consider theories of N-component fields with exotic spacetime symmetries, including a conserved dipole moment. Microscopic charges are immobile by symmetry, and so resemble fractons. Using collective fields we solve these models to leading order in large N. The large N solution reveals that these models are strongly correlated, and that interactions dress the microscopic charges so that they become mobile, long-lived quasiparticles. Dipole symmetry is spontaneously broken throughout the phase diagram of these models, leading to a low-energy Goldstone description.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Why Shot Noise Does Not Generally Detect Pairing in Mesoscopic Superconducting Tunnel Junctions
Authors: Niu Jiasen , Bastiaans Koen M. , Ge Jian-Feng , Tomar Ruchi , Jesudasan John , Raychaudhuri Pratap , Karrer Max , Kleiner Reinhold , Koelle Dieter , Barbier Arnaud , Driessen Eduard F. C. , Blanter Yaroslav M. , Allan Milan P.
Published: February 2024

The shot noise in tunneling experiments reflects the Poissonian nature of the tunneling process. The shot-noise power is proportional to both the magnitude of the current and the effective charge of the carrier. Shot-noise spectroscopy thus enables us, in principle, to determine the effective charge q of the charge carriers of that tunnel. This can be used to detect electron pairing in superconductors: In the normal state, the noise corresponds to single electron tunneling (q=1e), while in the paired state, the noise corresponds to q=2e. Here, we use a newly developed amplifier to reveal that in typical mesoscopic superconducting junctions, the shot noise does not reflect the signatures of pairing and instead stays at a level corresponding to q=1e. We show that transparency can control the shot noise, and this q=1e is due to the large number of tunneling channels with each having very low transparency. Our results indicate that in typical mesoscopic superconducting junctions, one should expect q=1e noise and lead to design guidelines for junctions that allow the detection of electron pairing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Orbital Rashba Effect as a Platform for Robust Orbital Photocurrents
Authors: Adamantopoulos T. , Merte M. , Go D. , Freimuth F. , Blügel S. , Mokrousov Y.
Published: February 2024

Orbital current has emerged over the past years as one of the key novel concepts in magnetotransport. Here, we demonstrate that laser pulses can be used to generate large and robust nonrelativistic orbital currents in systems where the inversion symmetry is broken by the orbital Rashba effect. By referring to model and first principles tools, we demonstrate that orbital Rashba effect, accompanied by crystal field splitting, can mediate robust orbital photocurrents without a need for spin-orbit interaction even in metallic systems. We show that such nonrelativistic orbital photocurrents are translated into derivative photocurrents of spin when relativistic effects are taken into account. We thus promote orbital photocurrents as a promising platform for optical generation of currents of angular momentum, and discuss their possible applications.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Using continua to analyze qualitative data investigating epistemic beliefs about physics knowledge: Visualizing beliefs
Authors: Watson Ellen , Thomas Gregory
Published: February 2024

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Qualitative Methods in PER: A Critical Examination.] Epistemic beliefs about physics are most often investigated using quantitative instruments that reflect binary conceptualizations of those beliefs. This study reports from a qualitative study which used continua to represent the epistemic beliefs about physics knowledge of sixteen Western Canadian, high school physics teachers. Unlike other research, this study did not intend to compare epistemic beliefs to any specific epistemology of science. This article presents a novel, more nuanced means of analyzing interview data to construct profiles to describe epistemic beliefs. The epistemic belief profiles of the physics teachers in this study reflect each of four areas of a literature-derived theoretical framework regarding epistemic beliefs about physics knowledge. These four areas are individuals’ beliefs about the (a) source, (b) content, (c) certainty, and (d) structure of physics knowledge. The use of thematic analysis research methods and reasons for the placement of participants along continua are discussed. Potential classroom applications of this research include prompting discussions about student epistemic beliefs and collecting more nuanced representations of students’ epistemic beliefs to inform teaching.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Understanding historic buildings from an environmental perspective: Finsbury Health Centre – as an environmental rhetoric of modernism
Authors: Ravhee Shahla Safwat , Ahmed Sazdik
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how the interrelation between architecture and the physical environment came to prominence and influenced the pioneering modernist architects to acquire the features of modern architecture that the British modernists later adopted. How the post-war urban poor of Britain, suffering from ill-health and dire need of sun, air and a good environment, played an essential role in alleviating the environmental concerns of the modern movement architects.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this research involves a comprehensive architectural analysis of the Finsbury Health Centre alongside an in-depth historical investigation of modernist design principles. This review article examines books, articles and some archival materials, such as recordings, pictures, etc. on the early phase of British modernism and its environmental dimension by looking at the works of historians, architects and critics.

Findings

Design based on modernist principles. While it can be seen as the political agenda of the Labor Party, this building was not only functionally efficient but also represented the biometric concerns of modern architecture with the most natural means.

Research limitations/implications

While this study provides valuable insights, it may be limited by historical documents and data availability.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this paper lie in its examination of the Finsbury Health Centre as a case study, shedding light on the environmental rhetoric of modernism in historic architecture. By providing a holistic assessment of the building’s environmental aspects, this research contributes to both architectural history and contemporary sustainable design practices.
Application of lean for early identification and avoidance of disputes in construction projects
Authors: Jagannathan Murali , Malla Vijayeta , Delhi Venkata Santosh Kumar , Renganaidu Venkatesan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The dispute resolution process in the construction industry is known for delays in settlement, with some cases even escalating to complex arbitration and litigation. To avoid conflicts turning into disputes, the parties need to be proactive in identifying and resolving conflicts in their nascent stages. It is here that innovative lean construction practices can potentially act as a game-changer to avoid disputes, and this study aims to attempt to understand this phenomenon empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based empirical study, followed by semi-structured interviews, is conducted to understand the relevance of key tenets of lean principles in dispute avoidance.

Findings

Although stakeholders agree on the usefulness and practicality of lean principles in dispute avoidance, the extent of agreement is lesser when it comes to its implementation practicality. Moreover, there is a demographic influence observed on lean tenets such as “open communication”, “stakeholder collaboration” and “constraint identification”.

Practical implications

The results point towards an approach that combines contractual mandate, training and awareness creation to iron out the differences in the usefulness and practicality of lean approaches to avoid disputes.

Originality/value

Lean implementation is widely discussed in many construction contexts, such as sustainability, productivity improvement and planning. However, a discussion on lean philosophy’s role in dispute avoidance is muted. Therefore, this study assumes significance.
Do you prefer logging in? The relevance of the experience of telework for well-being
Authors: Urien Begoña , Erro-Garcés Amaya
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The swift and unanticipated integration of telework by European companies due to COVID-19 gave rise to distinct features of telework. These attributes underscore the necessity of analysing its impact on employees’ well-being. This paper explores how telework experiences impact well-being by influencing work–life balance and job satisfaction. Additionally, it investigates whether employee preferences for telework are a contributing factor.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data provided by the “living, working and COVID-19” e-survey, structural equation models (SEM) were used to test the hypotheses. Specifically, a multiple-mediation approach and path analyses were applied to measure the relationship between the variables under study. The moderating role of preference for telework was also tested.

Findings

Key findings support that telework experience has a positive impact on well-being, both directly and indirectly, particularly via work–life balance. Although preference for telework strengthens the relationship between telework experience and well-being, it does not enhance the predictive power of the mediated model.

Practical implications

These results have important implications from an applied perspective. Human capital departments as well as managers should design telework programmes to create a positive experience since this will ensure a positive influence on the perception of work–life balance, job satisfaction and well-being.

Originality/value

COVID-19 as a sudden environmental constraint forced the implementation of telework without proper planning and training. Thus, how the employees experience this major change in their working conditions has affected their well-being. The present paper contributes to clarifying how the proposed variables relate under such constraints.
Innovative university: evidence from university management
Authors: Monticelli Jefferson Marlon , Fossatti Paulo , de Quadros da Silva Louise , Bitencourt Soster Luz Charlene
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Innovation enables growth and helps address social challenges. This research aims to identify evidence that can characterize an innovative university based on its university management. Thus, the authors define the following research problem: How to measure innovation in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) that intends to be innovative based on its university management?

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the authors conducted a literature review, with a qualitative approach, as well as a case study with data collection through the documental analysis of research that was carried out with the community, namely: Undergraduate Students Profile survey, Reputation of the Institution and Innovation Octagon.

Findings

The authors noticed that the results presented by Innovation Octagon show an increase in most indexes, mainly Processes and People, followed by Leadership, Strategy, Relationships and Funding. However, there was a reduction in Structure and Culture.

Originality/value

The results point to the relevance of measuring innovation in the institution, mainly through the use of the Innovation Octagon. The longitudinal measurement of innovation in the institution enables the management of the HEI to constantly progress and develop in favor of the society’s demands for the training of competent professionals for their future professional reality.
Non-directive team coaching in engineering education to strengthen teamwork competencies
Authors: García-Galán Ramiro , Ortiz-Marcos Isabel , Molina-Sánchez Rafael
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Teamwork is necessary for engineering to address today’s complex challenges. Therefore, team members must improve their teamwork competencies for more significant team development and effectiveness. This study aimed to analyze how a non-directive coaching intervention model for an entire team influences the individual team members’ teamwork competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research was used in this study with a quasi-experimental design featuring control and experimental groups comprising final-year engineering students from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. The sample included 168 students, with 132 in the control group and 36 in the experimental group. The experimental group underwent a non-directive team coaching intervention involving three sessions. Competencies were evaluated using the teamwork competency test (TWCT), administered at the course’s beginning and end to measure progress.

Findings

The results show that the individuals who participated in the team coaching significantly increased their competencies, particularly “conflict resolution” and “feedback.”

Originality/value

This study’s value contributes to identifying the positive impacts of non-directive team coaching interventions on individual teamwork competencies, fostering collaborative skills and supporting collective goals.
Exploring the moderating role of religious orientation on Islamic Fintech adoption
Authors: Alsmadi Ayman Abdalmajeed
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to delve into the factors influencing the adoption of Islamic Fintech and investigates the potential impact of Religious Orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a questionnaire to collect data from 291 Jordanians, using Structural Equation Model – Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to evaluate the research model and test hypotheses.

Findings

The outcomes of the Smart PLS path analysis revealed that several factors significantly influence the adoption of Islamic Fintech. Notably, perceived risk, financial literacy, trust and convenience were identified as pivotal determinants in shaping individuals' decisions to adopt Islamic Fintech. Additionally, the study unveils the noteworthy role of religious orientation as a moderator, impacting the relationship between perceived risk, financial literacy, trust and convenience concerning the adoption of Islamic Fintech.

Originality/value

This study contributes fresh insights to the existing literature concerning the adoption of Islamic Fintech, enhancing the understanding of the key drivers in this domain. Furthermore, it emphasizes the practical implications of religious orientation in shaping individuals' attitudes and behaviors pertaining to Islamic Fintech adoption.