bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole organism and tissue-specific analysis of pexophagy in
Drosophila
Authors: Barone Francesco G. , Marcello Marco , Urbé Sylvie , Sanchez-Soriano Natalia , Clague Michael J.
Published: February 2025

Peroxisomes are essential organelles involved in critical metabolic processes in animals such as fatty acid oxidation, ether phospholipid production and reactive oxygen species detoxification. We have generated transgenic
Drosophila melanogaster
models expressing fluorescent reporters for the selective autophagy of peroxisomes, a process known as pexophagy. We show that these reporters are colocalized with a peroxisomal marker and that they can reflect pexophagy induction by iron chelation and inhibition by depletion of the core autophagy protein Atg5. Using light sheet microscopy, we have been able to obtain a global overview of pexophagy levels across the entire organism at different stages of development. Tissue-specific control of pexophagy is exemplified by areas of peroxisome abundance but minimal pexophagy, observed in clusters of oenocytes surrounded by epithelial cells where pexophagy is much more evident. Enhancement of pexophagy was achieved by feeding flies with the iron chelator deferiprone, in line with past results using mammalian cells. Specific drivers were used to visualize pexophagy in neurons, and to demonstrate that specific depletion in the larval central nervous system of Hsc70-5, the
Drosophila
homologue of the chaperone HSPA9/mortalin, led to a substantial elevation in pexophagy.
Crystallographic and computational characterization and
in silico
target fishing of six aromatic and aliphatic sulfonamide derivatives
Authors: Nguyen Anh Van , Vu Anh Thi Ngoc , Utenyshev Andrey N. , Tkachev Valeriy , Polyanskaya Nadezhda , Shchevnikov Dmitriy , Vasil’eva Magrarita , Tran-Trung Hieu , Nguyen Xuan Ha , Kovalchukova Olga V.
Published: February 2025

The molecular and crystal structures of six compounds containing sulfonamide moieties are described. It has been shown that the geometric parameters of the sulfonamide group depend little on the nature of the substituents. Their bond lengths and bond angles remain almost the same and are in good accordance with those known from the literature. In crystals, depending on the type of substituents the molecules exist in the form of either monomers or dimers joined by intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving sulfonamide fragments. Introduction of large substituents into the molecules changes the way of packing of the studied sulfonamides and decreases the number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the crystals. The value of this dihedral angle may affect the nature and strength of the intermolecular bonding of the species in crystals.
In silico
analyses predicted low toxicity and potential enzyme inhibition, along with antiprotozoal properties, suggesting these compounds as candidates against protozoan pathogens. Molecular docking confirmed inhibitory potential against trypanothione reductase, supporting antiprotozoal activity. Consequently, these compounds may serve as promising lead-like molecules for drug development targeting protozoan infections.
Space–time wave localization in systems of subwavelength resonators
Authors: Ammari Habib , Hiltunen Erik Orvehed , Rueff Liora
Published: February 2025

In this article, we study the dynamics of metamaterials composed of high-contrast subwavelength resonators and show the existence of localized modes in such a setting. A crucial assumption in this article is time-modulated material parameters. We prove a so-called capacitance matrix approximation of the wave equation in the form of an ordinary differential equation. These formulas set the ground for the derivation of a first-principle characterization of localized modes in terms of the generalized capacitance matrix. Furthermore, we provide numerical results supporting our analytical results showing for the first time the phenomenon of space–time localized waves in a perturbed time-modulated metamaterial. Such spatio-temporal localization is only possible in the presence of subwavelength resonances in the unperturbed structure. We introduce the time-dependent degree of localization to quantitatively determine the localized modes and provide a variety of numerical experiments to illustrate our formulations and results.
Bifurcation-induced
dual Poynting effect
in transversely isotropic hyperelastic bodies
Authors: Fraldi Massimiliano , Puglisi Giuseppe , Saccomandi Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Inspired by the behaviour exhibited by certain biological systems, we demonstrate, through analytical solutions, a new coupling phenomenon in fibre-reinforced materials, which we term the
dual Poynting effect
. Specifically, we show that, in a transversely isotropic, nonlinear elastic prismatic body, constituted by a soft matrix embedded with sufficiently stiff fibres aligned along the prism axis, compression can induce a supercritical bifurcation at a specific stretch threshold. Both in the shear of a rectangular block and in the torsion of a cylindrical body, compressing beyond a bifurcation stretch threshold results in combined shear-extension or torsion-extension deformed configurations, where the object prefers to accommodate to minimize the total potential energy. Here, we rigorously analyse this effect within the framework of the nonlinear theory of hyperelastic fibre-reinforced materials, determine the constitutive requirements that make the dual solution energetically favoured, describe the (supercritical) bifurcation diagrams, and establish the corresponding stretch thresholds.
Human pressures threaten diet-specialized mammal communities
Authors: Morelli Federico , Hanson Jeffrey O. , Benedetti Yanina
Published: February 2025

Environmental change is increasing worldwide and many animal species face anthropogenic threats, especially diet specialists. Yet the degree to which specialist species are currently impacted by environmental change remains poorly understood. We examine how anthropogenic pressures impact dietary specialist species. We calculated indices of diet specialization for mammal species, based on the Gini inequality coefficient, and combined these indices with human pressure data. We then used spatially explicit Mantel tests to examine global patterns in mammal diet specialization. We used a generalized linear mixed model to investigate correlations between the percentage of diet specialist species in mammal communities in an area and its total species richness, human pressure and protection status (mediated through an interaction with the continent). Findings revealed that areas with many diet specialists in mammal communities are also impacted by high human pressure. Additionally, we found that the global protected area system adequately covers habitat for many mammal diet specialists, but has lower effectiveness in South America, Oceania, North America and Europe compared with Africa and Asia. Finally, we identified potential reservoirs for specialist species—places containing many highly diet specialist species and that are subject to less human pressure—which may be important for conservation efforts.
Poverty is associated with both risk avoidance and risk taking: empirical evidence for the desperation threshold model from the UK and France
Authors: de Courson Benoît , Frankenhuis Willem E. , Nettle Daniel
Published: February 2025

In situations of poverty, do people take more or less risk? One hypothesis states that poverty makes people avoid risk, because they cannot buffer against losses, while another states that poverty makes people take risks, because they have little to lose. Each hypothesis has some previous empirical support. Here, we test the ‘desperation threshold’ model, which integrates both hypotheses. We assume that people attempt to stay above a critical level of resources, representing their ‘basic needs’. Just above this threshold, people have much to lose and should avoid risk. Below, they have little to lose and should take risks. We conducted preregistered tests of the model using survey data from 472 adults in France and the UK. The predictor variables were subjective and objective measures of current resources. The outcome measure, risk taking, was measured using a series of hypothetical gambles. Risk taking followed a V-shape against subjective resources, first decreasing and then increasing again as resources reduced. This pattern was not observed for the objective resource measure. We also found that risk taking was more variable among people with fewer resources. Our findings synthesize the split literature on poverty and risk taking, with implications for policy and interventions.
Large-sized trees regulating the structural diversity–productivity relationships through shaping different productive processes in a tropical forest
Authors: Shi Chen-Yue , Zhang Hong-Tu , Tang Zhiyao
Published: February 2025

Forest structural diversity, a measurement indicating the spatial and size distribution of individual trees, is critical for forest productivity, which stems from the combination of different ecological processes, such as tree mortality, recruitment and growth. Here, we evaluated the relationship between structural diversity and productivity caused by different ecological processes, and tested the roles of different-sized trees in influencing this relationship in a Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) rainforest site on the Barro Colorado Island between 2000 and 2015. Generally, we found a negative relationship between structural diversity and forest productivity. Specifically, tree mortality-induced productivity loss increased, while tree recruitment-induced productivity gain decreased, with structural diversity. In addition, the structural diversity–productivity relationship varied with tree size, which was negative for small trees but positive for large trees. Furthermore, we revealed the important role of large-sized trees, which significantly promoted structural diversity but decreased productivity through increasing biomass loss. By disentangling the components of productivity, our results provide insights on the mechanism of the relationship between structural diversity and productivity, and highlight the role of large trees in shaping this relationship.
New insights on sea turtle behaviour during the ‘lost years’
Authors: Phillips Katrina F. , Putman Nathan F. , Mansfield Katherine L.
Published: February 2025

Several marine turtle species spend their first years of life in oceanic habitats. This early life stage is referred to as the ‘lost years’ due to the difficulty of accessing individuals for study offshore. We satellite tracked 114 wild-caught juvenile turtles (straight carapace lengths 12.3–29.9 cm) from the Gulf of Mexico between 2011 and 2022 to investigate ‘lost years’ movements with respect to traditional definitions assigned to the life stage. Satellite-tracked turtles included 79 green turtles (
Chelonia mydas
), 26 Kemp’s ridleys (
Lepidochelys kempii
), 5 loggerheads (
Caretta caretta
) and 4 hawksbills (
Eretmochelys imbricata
). Many tracked turtles transited between oceanic (>200 m depth) and neritic waters (<200 m depth), challenging the assumption that this life stage is exclusively found in oceanic habitats. Turtle movements differed from oceanographic surface drifters, providing further evidence that sea turtles of this life stage do not exclusively drift with currents. We recommend redefining the ‘oceanic stage’ as a ‘dispersal stage’ to better reflect their behaviour and habitat plasticity. Our findings establish the West Florida Shelf as a high-use area, particularly among green turtles and Kemp’s ridleys. The northeastern Gulf of Mexico is an important region for these species of conservation concern.
Avoiding the tragedies of parasite tolerance in Darwinian beekeeping
Authors: Sokolov Nina A. , Boots Mike , Bartlett Lewis J.
Published: February 2025

Bee declines have been partly attributed to the impacts of invasive or emerging parasite outbreaks. For western honeybees,
Apis mellifera
, major losses are associated with the virus-vectoring mite,
Varroa destructor
. In response, beekeepers have focused breeding efforts aimed at conferring resistance to this key parasite. One method of many is survival-based beekeeping where colonies that survive despite significant
Varroa
infestations produce subsequent colonies. We argue that this ‘hands-off’ approach will not always lead to
Varroa
resistance evolving but rather tolerance. Tolerance minimizes host fitness costs of parasitism without reducing parasite abundance, whereas resistance either prevents parasitism outright or keeps parasitism intensity low. With clear epidemiological distinctions, and as honeybee disease dynamics impact other wild bees owing to shared pathogens, we discuss why tolerance outcomes in honeybee breeding have important implications for wider pollinator health. Crucially, we argue that unintentional selection for tolerance will not only lead to more spillover from honeybees but may also select for pathogens that are more virulent in wild bees leading to ‘tragedies of tolerance’. These tragedies can be avoided through successful breeding regimes that specifically select for low
Varroa
. We emphasize how insights from evolutionary ecology can be applied in ecologically responsible honeybee management.
Exotic cuticular specializations in a Cambrian scalidophoran
Authors: Mussini Giovanni , Butterfield Nicholas J.
Published: February 2025

Scalidophora, the ecdysozoan group including priapulids, kinorhynchs and loriciferans, comprises some of the most abundant and ecologically important Cambrian animals. However, reconstructions of the morphology and lifestyles of fossil scalidophorans are often hampered by poor preservation of their submillimetre-scale cuticular specializations. Based on exceptionally preserved small carbonaceous fossils (SCFs), we describe a new scalidophoran-grade animal,
Scalidodendron crypticum
gen. et sp. nov., from the Early to Middle Cambrian Hess River Formation of northern Canada. The Hess River SCFs comprise pharyngeal teeth, coniform sclerites and hook-like sclerites, all closely comparable to known scalidophoran counterparts. The coniform and hook-like sclerites recurrently associate with arborescent cuticular projections that show multiple orders of branching, morphologically unlike those of any known living or fossil scalidophoran. The fine splintering and inferred post-pharyngeal position of these structures argue against locomotory, feeding and defensive roles with direct analogues in extant counterparts. As such, the arborescent structures of
Scalidodendron
denote a previously cryptic range of morphological variation in Cambrian scalidophorans, paralleling that of coeval panarthropods but expressed at a fundamentally different level of anatomical organization.
Circatidal control of gene expression in the deep-sea hot vent shrimp
Rimicaris leurokolos
Authors: Zhang Hongyin , Yahagi Takuya , Miyamoto Norio , Chen Chong , Jiang Qingqiu , Qian Pei-Yuan , Sun Jin
Published: February 2025

Biological clocks are a ubiquitous feature of all life, enabling the use of natural environmental cycles to track time. Although studies on circadian rhythms have contributed greatly to the knowledge of chronobiology, biological rhythms in dark biospheres such as the deep sea remain poorly understood. Here, based on a free-running experiment in the laboratory, we reveal potentially endogenous rhythms in the gene expression of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp
Rimicaris leurokolos
. Oscillations with approximately 12 h periods, probably reflecting tidal influence, greatly prevail over others in the temporal transcriptome, indicating
R. leurokolos
probably depends on a circatidal clock consisting of at least some components independent from the circadian clocks. The tidal transcripts exhibit an antiphased expression pattern divided into two internally synchronized clusters, correlated with wide-ranging biological processes that occur in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. In addition, the tidal transcripts showed great similarities with genes in fruit flies and mice exhibiting approximately 12 h ultradian rhythms, indicating that the tide probably had a broad impact on the evolution of approximately 12 h oscillations found across the Metazoa. These findings not only provide new insights into the temporal adaptations in deep-sea organisms but also highlight hydrothermal vent organisms as intriguing models for chronobiological studies, particularly those linked to approximately 12 h ultradian rhythms.
Advancing Biogeographical Ancestry Predictions Through Machine Learning
Authors: Heinzel Carola Sophia , Purucker Lennart , Hutter Frank , Pfaffelhuber Peter
Published: February 2025

Tools like SNIPPER or the Admixture Model count as state-of-the-art methods in forensic science for biogeographical ancestry. However, they have not been systematically compared to classifiers widely used in other disciplines. Noting that genetic data have a tabular form, this study addresses this gap by benchmarking forensic classifiers against TabPFN, a cutting-edge, general-purpose machine learning classifier for tabular data. The comparison evaluates performance using metrics such as accuracy, the proportion of correct classifications, and ROC AUC. We examine classification tasks for individuals at both the intracontinental and continental levels, based on a published dataset for training and testing. Our results reveal significant performance differences between methods, with TabPFN consistently achieving the highest accuracy and ROC AUC across the datasets. Based on these findings, we recommend adopting TabPFN for population classification in forensic science
Generating functional plasmid origins with OriGen
Authors: Irvine Jamie , Arora Jigyasa , Martinson Jonathan N.V. , Patel Jaymin R. , Hasham Sarah I. , Cress Brady F. , Rubin Benjamin E.
Published: February 2025

While generative artificial intelligence has shown promise for biological design, no computational system has yet created sequences proven capable of replication. Focusing on plasmids as minimal replicating systems, we develop OriGen, a language model that generates novel plasmid origins of replication while maintaining essential functional elements. We experimentally validate OriGen's ability to create functional origins that diverge from existing wild types, demonstrating the model's capacity to capture the complex and often enigmatic mechanisms of biological replication.
AAV serotype PHP.eB achieves superior neuronal transduction efficiency compared to AAV9 in pigtail macaques following intracerebroventricular administration
Authors: Fortuna Michal G , Nyberg Lyle , Taskin Naz , Weed Natalie , Hunker Avery , Gudsnuk Kathryn , Berg Melissa , Levi Boaz , Lein Ed , Ting Jonathan T
Published: February 2025

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are pivotal in gene therapy for neurological disorders due to their ability to enable long-term gene expression in the central nervous system (CNS). However, transducing larger brains, such as those of non-human primates (NHPs), remains challenging, necessitating alternative delivery routes and optimized capsids. This study directly compares the transduction efficiency and biodistribution of the benchmark AAV9 and its engineered derivative, AAV-PHP.eB, following intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration in juvenile Macaca nemestrina. Employing a neuron-specific promoter and nuclear-localized reporter, we systematically quantified transduction across cortical, subcortical, and spinal regions. AAV-PHP.eB demonstrated significantly higher transduction rates in cortical and spinal regions compared to AAV9, despite similar expression patterns. Both vectors exhibited limited subcortical penetration and significant peripheral leakage, highlighting key challenges in CNS targeting. This is the first study to quantitatively compare AAV-PHP.eB and AAV9 in NHPs, providing valuable insights into the advantages and limitations of engineered AAV capsids for CNS gene therapy. These findings lay a critical foundation for optimizing vector designs and delivery strategies to improve outcomes in clinical applications for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dynamics of Fanconi anemia protein D2 in association with nuclear lipid droplet formation
Authors: Hotani Tomoya , Goto Motonari , Otsuki Yukie , Matsuda Shun , Wada Nobuhiro , Shinohara Masakazu , Matsuda Tomonari , Yokoi Masayuki , Sugasawa Kaoru , Ohsaki Yuki , Sakai Wataru
Published: February 2025

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease caused by the loss of function of one of the 22 associated genes and is characterized by bone marrow failure, cancer predisposition, and developmental defects. The proteins encoded by these genes (FA proteins) mainly function in DNA damage response and repair. Although FA deficiency has multiple effects on the regulation of lipid metabolism, the molecular function of FA proteins in the context of FA pathology remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that FANCD2, a key component of FA proteins, interacts with lipid metabolism-related factors and that FANCD2 deficiency downregulates the cellular levels of fatty acids. Moreover, a portion of FANCD2 is localized to nuclear lipid droplets in response to oleic acid treatment. These subcellular dynamics are independent of FANCD2 monoubiquitination, which is essential for the DNA damage response. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that FANCD2 responds to not only DNA damage but also oleic acid exposure, providing insights into the pathogenesis of lipid dysregulation in FA.
Kernel-bounded clustering for spatial transcriptomics enables scalable discovery of complex spatial domains
Authors: Zhang Hang , Zhang Yi , Ting Kai Ming , Zhang Jie , Zhao Qiuran
Published: February 2025

Spatial transcriptomics are a collection of technologies that have enabled characterization of gene expression profiles and spatial information in tissue samples. Existing methods for clustering spatial transcriptomics data have primarily focused on data transformation techniques to represent the data suitably for subsequent clustering analysis, often using an existing clustering algorithm. These methods have limitations in handling complex data characteristics with varying densities, sizes, and shapes (in the transformed space on which clustering is performed), and they have high computational complexity, resulting in unsatisfactory clustering outcomes and slow execution time even with GPUs. Rather than focusing on data transformation techniques, we propose a new clustering algorithm called kernel-bounded clustering (KBC). It has two unique features: (1) It is the first clustering algorithm that employs a distributional kernel to recruit members of a cluster, enabling clusters of varying densities, sizes, and shapes to be discovered, and (2) it is a linear-time clustering algorithm that significantly enhances the speed of clustering analysis, enabling researchers to effectively handle large-scale spatial transcriptomics data sets. We show that (1) KBC works well with a simple data transformation technique called the Weisfeiler–Lehman scheme, and (2) a combination of KBC and the Weisfeiler–Lehman scheme produces good clustering outcomes, and it is faster and easier-to-use than many methods that employ existing clustering algorithms and data transformation techniques.
Optimal limits of continuously monitored thermometers and their Hamiltonian structure
Authors: Mehboudi Mohammad , Meier Florian , Huber Marcus , Miller Harry J. D.
Published: February 2025

We investigate the fundamental and practical precision limits of thermometry in bosonic and fermionic environments by coupling an N-level probe to them and continuously monitoring it. Our findings show that the ultimate precision limit, quantified by the Fisher information, scales linearly with N, offering an exponential improvement over equilibrium thermometry, where the scaling is only log2N. For a fixed Hamiltonian structure, we develop a maximum-likelihood estimation strategy that maps the observed continuously monitored trajectories of the probe into temperature estimates with minimal error. By optimizing over all possible Hamiltonian structures, we discover that the optimal configuration is an effective two-level system, with both levels exhibiting degeneracy that increases with N—a stark contrast to equilibrium thermometry, where the ground state remains nondegenerate. Our results have practical implications. First, continuous monitoring is experimentally feasible on several platforms and accounts for the preparation time of the probe, which is often overlooked in other approaches such as prepare and reset. Second, the linear scaling is robust against deviations from the effective two-level structure of the optimal Hamiltonian. Additionally, this robustness extends to cases of initial ignorance about the temperature. Thus, in global estimation problems, the linear scaling remains intact even without adaptive strategies.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Balanced coupling in electromagnetic circuits
Authors: Sank Daniel , Khezri Mostafa , Isakov Sergei , Atalaya Juan
Published: February 2025

The rotating-wave approximation (RWA) is ubiquitous in the analysis of driven and coupled resonators. However, the limitations of the RWA seem to be poorly understood and in some cases the RWA disposes of essential physics. We investigate the RWA in the context of electrical circuits. Using a classical Hamiltonian approach, we find that by balancing electrical and magnetic components of the resonator drive or resonator-resonator coupling, the RWA can be made exact. This type of balance, in which the RWA is exact, has applications in superconducting qubits, where it suppresses nutation normally associated with strong Rabi driving. In the context of dispersive readout, balancing the qubit-resonator coupling changes the qubit leakage induced by the resonator drive but does not remove it in the case of the transmon qubit.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Trimeson state
B¯B¯*B¯*
Authors: Deng Cheng-Rong , An Chun-Sheng
Published: February 2025

We systematically explore the trimeson states B¯B¯*B¯* with various isospin-spin configurations in the quark model by solving exactly the six-body Schrödinger equations with the Gaussian expansion method. The configuration [[B¯B¯*]01B¯*]120 is not only approximately 10.2 MeV lower than the threshold of its constituent particles but also about 0.2 MeV below that of the compact tetraquark state [B¯B¯*]01 and B¯*. This configuration manifests a loose two-body bound state composed of [B¯B¯*]01 and B¯*, with a size of around 4.75 fm. In contrast, the configurations [[B¯B¯*]11B¯*]120, [B¯[B¯*B¯*]10]120, and [[B¯B¯*]11B¯*]121 exhibit binding energies of less than 1 MeV relative to their constituent particles, establishing a loose three-meson bound state. After coupling three configurations with 120−, the trimeson state with 120− remains a loosely two-body bound state with a binding energy around 1.5 MeV and a huge size of 2.20 fm, in which the configuration [[B¯B¯*]01B¯*]120 is dominant, contributing 80% to the overall probability. Among the four bound configurations, the σ-meson exchange plays a decisive role. The meson pair [B¯B¯*]01, resembling the short-range strong correlated p−n pair in nuclear physics, prevails over other types of meson pairs. The meson pair [B¯B¯*]01 not only contributes to the binding mechanisms but also influences the spatial structures of those stable trimeson configurations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Probing hidden topology with quantum detectors
Authors: Bhattacharya Dyuman , Louko Jorma , Mann Robert B.
Published: February 2025

We consider the transition rate of a static Unruh-DeWitt detector in two (2+1)-dimensional black hole spacetimes that are isometric to the static Bañados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole outside the horizon but have no asymptotically locally anti–de Sitter exterior behind the horizon. The spacetimes are the RP2 geon, with spatial topology RP2\{point at infinity}, and the Swedish geon of Åminneborg ., with spatial topology T2\{point at infinity}. For a conformal scalar field, prepared in the Hartle-Hawking-type state that is induced from the global vacuum on the anti–de Sitter covering space, we show numerically that the detector’s transition rate distinguishes the two spacetimes, particularly at late exterior times, and we trace this phenomenon to the differences in the isometries that are broken by the quotient construction from the universal covering space. Our results provide an example in which information about the interior topology of a black hole is accessible to a quantum observer outside the black hole.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Deconfinement and chiral restoration phase transition under rotation from holography in an anisotropic gravitational background
Authors: Chen Yidian , Chen Xun , Li Danning , Huang Mei
Published: February 2025

We investigate the effects of rotation on deconfinement and chiral phase transitions in the framework of the dynamical holographic QCD model. Instead of transforming to the rotating system by Lorentz boost, we construct an anisotropic gravitational background by incorporating the rotating boundary current. We first investigate the pure gluon system under rotation to extract deconfinement phase transition from the Polyakov loop then add two-flavor probe for chiral restoration phase transition from the chiral condensate. It is observed that at low chemical potentials, the deconfinement phase transition of pure gluon system is of first order and the chiral phase transition of a two-flavor system is of crossover. Both the critical temperatures of deconfinement and chiral phase transitions decrease/increase with imaginary/real angular velocity (ΩI/Ω) as T/Tc∼1−C2ΩI2 and T/Tc∼1+C2Ω2, which is consistent with lattice QCD results. In the temperature-chemical potential T−μ phase diagram, the critical end point moves toward regions of higher temperature and chemical potential with real angular velocity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Enhancing events in neutrino telescopes through deep-learning-driven superresolution
Authors: Yu Felix J. , Kamp Nicholas , Argüelles Carlos A.
Published: February 2025

Recent discoveries by neutrino telescopes, such as the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, relied extensively on machine learning (ML) tools to infer physical quantities from the raw photon hits detected. Neutrino telescope reconstruction algorithms are limited by the sparse sampling of photons by the optical modules due to the relatively large spacing (10–100 m) between them. In this Letter, we propose a novel technique that learns photon transport through the detector medium through the use of deep-learning-driven superresolution of data events. These “improved” events can then be reconstructed using traditional or ML techniques, resulting in improved resolution. Our strategy arranges additional “virtual” optical modules within an existing detector geometry and trains a convolutional neural network to predict the hits on these virtual optical modules. We show that this technique improves the angular reconstruction of muons in a generic ice-based neutrino telescope. Our results readily extend to water-based neutrino telescopes and other event morphologies.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Exploiting bias in optimal finite-time copying protocols
Authors: Mulder Daan , Wolde Pieter Rein ten , Ouldridge Thomas E.
Published: February 2025

We study a finite-time cyclic copy protocol that creates persisting correlations between a memory and a data bit. The average work to copy the two states of the data bit consists of the mutual information created between the memory and data bit after copying, a cost due to the difference between the initial and final states of the memory bit, and a finite-time cost. At low copy speeds, the optimal initial distribution of the memory bit matches the bias in the expected outcome, set by the bias in the data bit and the copying accuracies. However, if both states of the data are copied with the same accuracy, then in the high-speed regime copying the unlikely data bit state becomes prohibitively costly with a biased memory; the optimal initial distribution is then pushed toward 50:50. Copying with unequal accuracies, at fixed copy-generated mutual information, yields an opposite yet more effective strategy. Here, the initial memory distribution becomes increasingly biased as the copy speed increases, drastically lowering the work and raising the maximum speed. This strategy is so effective that it induces a symmetry-breaking transition for an unbiased data bit.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Generation of Massively Entangled Bright States of Light during Harmonic Generation in Resonant Media
Authors: Yi Sili , Klimkin Nikolai D. , Brown Graham Gardiner , Smirnova Olga , Patchkovskii Serguei , Babushkin Ihar , Ivanov Misha
Published: February 2025

At the fundamental level, full description of light-matter interaction requires quantum treatment of both matter and light. However, for standard light sources generating intense laser pulses carrying quadrillions of photons in a coherent state, the classical description of light during intense laser-matter interaction has been expected to be adequate. Here, we show how nonlinear optical response of matter can be controlled to generate dramatic deviations from this standard picture, including generation of several squeezed and entangled harmonics of the incident laser light. In particular, such nontrivial quantum states of harmonics are generated as soon as one of the harmonics induces a transition between different laser-dressed states of the material system. Such transitions generate an entangled light-matter wave function, which can generate quantum states of harmonics even in the absence of a quantum driving field or material correlations. In turn, entanglement of the material system with a single harmonic generates and controls entanglement between different harmonics. Hence, nonlinear media that are near resonant with at least one of the harmonics appear to be quite attractive for controlled generation of massively entangled quantum states of light. Our analysis opens remarkable opportunities at the interface of attosecond physics and quantum optics, with implications for quantum information science.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Suitability of calcined clay and ground granulated blast furnace slag geopolymer binder for hempcrete applications
Authors: Nair Siddharth Girish , Nguyen Quang Dieu , Zhu Qiaoxi , Karimi Mahmoud , Gan Yixiang , Wang Xu , Castel Arnaud , Irga Peter , Rocha Cecilia Gravina da , Torpy Fraser , Wilkinson Sara , Moreau Danielle , Delhomme Fabien
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Hempcrete has the potential to reduce both CO2 emissions and energy usage in buildings. Hempcrete has a high sound absorption capacity, excellent moisture regulator and outstanding thermal insulation properties. However, hempcrete traditionally uses lime-based binders, which are carbon-intensive materials. The low-carbon binders to increase the sustainability of hempcrete are the current research gap. Geopolymer binders are low-carbon binders composed of aluminosilicate precursors dissolved in a high alkalinity solution. This study investigated the suitability of calcined clay and ground granulated blast furnace slag geopolymer binder as a low-carbon binder for hempcrete applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of hemp hurds with different water absorption capacity and particle size distributions were used. Hempcrete properties tested were compressive strength, bulk density, sound absorption coefficient by a two-microphone impedance tube and thermal conductivity by a Hot Disk system.

Findings

The particle size distribution and water absorption capacity of hemp hurds did not affect the compressive strength of hempcrete when following a mixing procedure, ensuring the hurds in a saturated surface dry condition. The geopolymer hempcrete achieved a compressive strength about four times higher than the reference hydrated lime hempcrete. All hempcrete specimens achieved outstanding acoustic performance. The increase in bulk density led to the decrease in the maximum sound absorption coefficient. The geopolymer hempcrete achieved the lowest thermal conductivity.

Originality/value

The outcomes of this paper reveal that the low-carbon geopolymer binder appears to be a promising option for manufacturing hempcrete, achieving significantly higher compressive strength and lower thermal conductivity than the reference hydrated lime-based hempcrete.
A critical review of brand image and buying intentions: visualization and bibliometric analysis approach
Authors: Mohit  , Chaudhry Rishi , Kumar Raj , Arora Meenal
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the relationship between brand image and buying intentions, which is crucial in understanding consumer buying behaviour. This study aims to review the literature, identify research trends and further suggests research directions for future study.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 402 research articles extracted from the Scopus database, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. The study includes performance analysis, science mapping and network visualization, with VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software for the analysis. It examines publication trends, prolific countries, institutions, authors, highly cited papers, keyword co-occurrence and thematic evolution for a comprehensive analysis.

Findings

The study reveals the increasing scholarly interest of researchers in brand image and purchase intention over time and identified various research themes. Results state that Brand image and purchase intention themes remained central throughout both time zones (1995–2012 and 2013–2024). Emerging themes of the field include green marketing, corporate social responsibility, influencer marketing and entrepreneurial marketing.

Originality/value

This research study makes an addition to the body of literature by identifying the research hotspots and areas that need further investigation. Further, the thematic evolution of the brand image and purchase intentions illustrates how perception at various consumer levels and decision-making process has shifted over time in response to changing market dynamics. This study is of quite paramount importance for a vast group of stakeholders including researchers, businesses, brand managers, policy makers, marketing professionals and future research scholars.
The effects of roasting versus toasting brand-to-brand dialogues on consumer perceptions
Authors: Dang Anh , Bhattarai Ashok , Saavedra Torres Jose
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how two different types of brand-to-brand dialogues – “roasting” versus “toasting” – impact consumers’ brand perceptions, particularly perceived entertainment, and influence brand attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design comprises four studies. The preliminary study involves Web scraping to gauge consumer perception about the two communication approaches followed by two well-known brands. Study 1 involves an online experiment to compare these communication types within each brand tested in the pilot study and examines the mediation effect of perceived entertainment. Study 2, also an online experiment, investigates the role of message neutralization, demonstrating that “roasting” can be acceptable when the humor is neutralized. Study 3 further tests the effects of neutralized “roasting” at different levels of brand familiarity and personality.

Findings

Roasting can lead to more favorable consumer perceptions than toasting. The effect can be explained by roasting’s higher level of perceived entertainment. However, this positive outcome is contingent on the successful neutralization of the aggressive humor in the “roasting” messages. When it comes to brand familiarity and personality, familiar brands benefit more from neutralized “roasting,” whereas brand personality does not have a strong influence.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that “roasting” can be effective when messages are neutralized, and “toasting” works best when spontaneous and genuine. It highlights how brand familiarity and personality influence consumer reactions, thus, offering strategic insights for both established and lesser-known brands. The study also prompts further research to examine other brand traits, cultural factors and behavioral dimensions in brand-to-brand dialogue, signifying the complexity and richness of this growing research area.

Practical implications

This study advises lesser-known brands to adopt “toasting” strategies to build a positive image, while established brands can try “roasting,” ensuring message neutrality to avoid negativity. The research emphasizes the role of brand familiarity and personality in shaping brand dialogues. Marketers must consider these to make humor strategies effective and bolster positive brand image.

Originality/value

This research uniquely examines message neutralization through contextual cues as a strategy brands can use to aid their sensitive dialogues with others on social media. The findings provide new insights into how brands can use different types of messages in digital communications to attract consumers and ensure positive reception, offering valuable guidance for academics and practitioners in brand-to-brand dialogue.
Self or others? The interaction effect between benefit appeals and message sidedness on green consumption
Authors: Sun Jin , Liu Ruining , Miao Pan
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the effectiveness of green advertising can be improved by matching benefit appeals (self vs other) and message sidedness (one-sided vs two-sided) in consumer evaluations of green products.

Design/methodology/approach

Four scenario experiments and one field experiment were conducted to investigate the interaction effects of benefit appeals and message sidedness on green consumption. It aims to verify the psychological mechanisms that promote green consumption when benefit appeals and message sidedness are matched and to explore the persuasiveness of this matching on consumers with different power states engaging in green consumption.

Findings

Studies 1 and 4 provide evidence that when advertising conveys self-benefit appeals (vs other-benefit appeals), two-sided messages (vs one-sided messages) positively promote green consumption. Importantly, Study 2 concluded that perceived manipulative intent was the psychological mechanism underlying the interaction effects of green advertising benefit appeals and message sidedness. Studies 3 and 5 confirm that the power state plays a moderating role in these effects.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the growing research on green marketing, especially green advertising, and advances the theoretical knowledge of how to match benefit appeal with message sidedness to promote green consumption effectively.

Practical implications

This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of consumer evaluations of green products under the influence of benefit appeals and message sidedness. The match between benefit appeal and message sidedness can promote green consumption. These findings can help marketers and policymakers promote green consumption by designing advertisements that match benefit appeal with message sidedness. When considering the power state’s impact, marketers should consider consumers’ high- or low-power states when selecting appropriate advertisement designs. Alternatively, they can manipulate the power state to optimise the effectiveness of advertisements.

Originality/value

Although previous research has focused on the difference in persuasiveness between self-benefit and other appeals, little is known about how to match green benefit appeals and message sidedness to heighten the persuasiveness of green advertising to consumers. Therefore, in this study, this paper attempts to fill this research gap by exploring how green benefit appeals and message sidedness match and how green advertising may produce better persuasion effects on green consumption.
The effect of lateral position of heating surface and angular orientation of latent heat thermal energy storage system on the melting characteristics: a numerical investigation
Authors: Kumar Himanshu , Singh Gurjeet , Yadav Ankit , Arici Müslüm
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to address the low thermal conductivity and suboptimal performance of phase change materials (PCMs) by examining the impact of geometric adjustments on their melting rate.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-dimensional numerical model was created to investigate the effect of different positions and angular inclinations of the inside heating surface (IHS) on the melting rate of PCM within a latent heat thermal energy storage system. The model analysed the IHS at the centre and below the centre at various positions (10, 20, 30 and 40 mm) and inclinations (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°).

Findings

The 90° inclination (vertical) significantly reduced the melting time by 75% compared to the 0° inclination (horizontal). The best melting performance was recorded with the IHS positioned 20 mm below the centre. At a 30° inclination, the maximum reduction in melting time was observed with the IHS at 30 and 40 mm placements. The system demonstrated the highest energy storage capacity of 307.72 kJ/kg at a 75° inclination with the IHS positioned 10 mm laterally, and the lowest capacity of 255.02 kJ/kg at a 0° inclination with the IHS at a 30 mm lateral position.

Practical implications

To address the deficient part of PCM like low thermal conductivity and below level performance characteristics, a structural (geometrical) adjustment was developed to study the effect on the melting rate of PCM without any cost addition. Using the computational model, an optimised thermal energy storage system is developed that can play a pivotal role in improving the applicability of thermal energy storage systems.

Originality/value

This research is novel in simultaneously investigating the numerical characteristics of PCM melting behaviour with different lateral positions and angular orientations of the IHS. A unique design modification was introduced, using a 2D numerical model and simulations to explore the effects under isothermal conditions.
The impact of digital technologies on public service delivery: the role of organizational structures and decision-making
Authors: Iddrisu Issah , Fuseini Inusah
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To fill a research gap in the current literature, using resource dependence theory, this study aims to investigate the role of organizational structures and decision-making processes in mediating the relationship between digital technology and service delivery in public organizations in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a quantitative technique with the use of partial least squares structural equation modelling, analysing data from a stratified random sample of 450 respondents from diverse organizations.

Findings

The findings show that digital technologies have a major impact on organizational structures and decision-making, resulting in improved service delivery. With an R-square value of 0.839, the measurement model shows strong validity and reliability and accounts for 83.9% of the variance in service delivery. These findings highlight the need for public organizations to implement a thorough digital transformation plan that includes cultural shifts and leadership development to maximize service delivery results.

Originality/value

The research offers significant contributions to theory and practice, assisting practitioners and policymakers in using digital technology to enhance public sector performance.