bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A CRISPR/Cas9 screen reveals proteins at the endosome-Golgi interface that modulate cellular ASO activity
Authors: Malong Liza , Roskosch Jessica , Hager Carolina , Fortin Jean-Philippe , Schmucki Roland , Callow Marinella G. , Weile Christian , Romeo Valentina , Patsch Christoph , Martin Scott , Costa Mike , Modrusan Zora , Villaseñor Roberto , Koller Erich , Haley Benjamin , Spang Anne , Roudnicky Filip
Published: December 2024

Anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are modified synthetic single-stranded molecules with enhanced stability, activity, and bioavailability. They associate with RNA through sequence complementarity and can reduce or alter mRNA expression upon binding of splice site positions. To target RNA in the nucleus or cytoplasm, ASOs must cross membranes, a poorly understood process. We have performed an unbiased CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen with a genetic splice reporter to identify genes that can increase or decrease ASOs activity, resulting in the most comprehensive catalog of ASOs-activity modifier genes. Distinct targets were uncovered, including AP1M1 and TBC1D23, linking ASOs activity to transport of cargo between the Golgi and endosomes. AP1M1 absence strongly increased ASO activity by delaying endosome-to-lysosome transportin vitroandin vivo. Prolonged ASOs residence time in the endosomal system may increase the likelihood of ASOs escape from this organelle before they reach lysosomes. This insight into AP1M1 role in ASOs trafficking suggests a way for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of ASOs by manipulating the endolysosomal pathways.
Modelling oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer reveals aSERPINE1-based gene signature (RESIST-M) and therapeutic strategies for pro-metastatic CMS4 subtype
Authors: Wong Stephen Qi Rong , Das Mohua , Shirgaonkar Niranjan , Tenzin Kenzom , Chua Huiwen , Chee Lin Xuan , Ahpa Sae Yeoh , Murugiah Astley Aruna , Chua Wei Yong , Theardy Madelaine Skolastika , Thangavelu Matan Thangavelu , Chan Jane Vin , Yap Choon Kong , Tan Iain Bee Huat , Tsantoulis Petros , Tejpar Sabine , Loo Jia Min , Dasgupta Ramanuj
Published: December 2024

Drug resistance and distant metastases are major contributors to mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we investigate mechanisms underlying acquired resistance to oxaliplatin, a first-line, standard-of-care CRC treatment. We generated oxaliplatin-resistant CRC tumor cells with clinically relevant dosing regimen, which displayed enhanced metastatic potential. Transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses revealed a critical function for cholesterol biogenesis in modulating TGF-β signaling activity, which in turn regulatesSERPINE1expression, a gene we identified as a key player in promoting drug resistance and metastasis. Additionally, we uncovered aSERPINE1-associated nine-gene expression signature, RESIST-M, that can predict overall and relapse-free survival (RFS) in clinical cohorts and is able to stratify patients into CMS4/iCMS3-fibrotic CRC-subtypes, underscoring its clinical utility. Using mouse tumor models, we provide further evidence that targetingSERPINE1and cholesterol biogenesis can be viable approaches to re-sensitize the resistant pro-metastatic CRC cells to oxaliplatin. This study not only elucidates the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance and metastasis in primary CRC, but also offers prognostic and therapeutic strategies to guide clinical management of the disease.

Significance

This study reveals critical resources and insights on oxaliplatin resistance and metastasis in CRC via a novel TGF-β cholesterol axis. We generated improved oxaliplatin-resistant models that enabled identification of a prognosticSERPINE1-based gene signature to predict oxaliplatin resistance-induced metastasis in CRC. This gene signature derived from our models showed that the models can mimic CMS-4/iCMS-fibrotic-like metastatic CRC patients. We validated therapeutic candidates targeting CMS-4/iCMS-fibrotic-like metastatic CRC cells which can reverse drug resistance and metastasis.
Assessing the efficacy of therapeutically promising combination of polymyxin B and triclosan against colistin resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Biswas Soumya , Ghosh Soujanya , Patra Saumya Darshana , Mahapatra Pushney , Verma Gaurav , Misra Namrata , Kushwaha Gajraj Singh , Suar Mrutyunjay
Published: December 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health challenges of current time and it is majorly associated with Gram-negative bacterial infections. Among these infections,Klebsiella pneumoniaeis the most notorious bacterial pathogen in the context of AMR. The inefficiency of currently available antibacterial drugs is becoming common in hospitalized patients and clinicians feel hopeless during treatment. Eventually, clinicians explore old regimes such as colistin to treat these multidrug resistance infections, however, unfortunately, the resistance towards these last-resort drugs is also emerging rapidly. In this study, we examined the occurrence of colistin resistance inKlebsiella pneumoniaeconcerning its mechanism of resistance, chronology, and geographical distribution. We found that resistance, towards these last-resort drugs, colistin and polymyxin B, is emerging rapidly with evolving multiple mechanisms of resistance. Although various attempts are being made to find a solution for this crisis, a combination therapy comprising approved antibacterial drugs may be one of the most suitable strategies to fight against AMR in the current time-ticking situation. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of a therapeutically viable combination of polymyxin B and triclosan using a set of standard antibacterial assays forin vitropreclinical efficacy. We found that the combination is highly effective in a colistin-resistant clinical strain ofKlebsiella pneumoniaeas triclosan sensitizes the pathogen towards polymyxin B. Furthermore, the results of additional complementary experiments such as time-kill kinetics, biofilm inhibition, frequency of resistance, cell viability, and cytotoxicity assays show very encouraging results for the feasibility and validation of this combination. Finally, we examined the presence of mutations in field isolates ofKlebsiella pneumoniaeFabI enzyme as it has been hypothesized previously that triclosan may cause mutation in its binding target, FabI. Interestingly, we could not detect any mutation in the triclosan binding site of FabI in the genome of field isolates. Altogether, this study provides an overview of the current situation on colistin resistance, a promising solution for colistin resistance comprising a combination of two already being used antibacterial ingredients based onin vitropreclinical efficacy studies.
Salt-induced reduction of hyperswarming motility inBacillus cereusMHS is associated with reduced flagellation, reduced nanotube formation and reduction in expression of quorum sensing regulator
Authors: Bhadani Nirbhay Kumar , Sarmah Hemanta , Prasad Kritika , Gupta Nisha , Sengupta Tapas K
Published: December 2024

Bacteria have been known to thrive in challenging environmental niches through diverse phenomena. Swarming is one such favourable adaptation that could help bacteria survive extreme conditions. Therefore, targeting swarming is crucial for improving our understanding of bacterial motility and preventing related infections.Bacillus cereus,which causes food poisoning, has been shown to perform swarming, and salts like NaCl can act as a food preservative to control bacterial growth. In order to explore the possible alterations in the swarming ofBacillus cereusin the presence of salt, the present study encompasses the effect of NaCl on the swarming characteristics of a natural bacterial isolate,Bacillus cereusMHS, with a hyperswarming phenotype. Here we report that the presence of an increased amount of NaCl in growth media could induce a reduction in swarming motility and swarming pattern of MHS on Luria agar plates and the observed reduction in swarming was associated with the reduced flagellation and reduction in bacterial nanotube formation. Gene expression studies supported the phenotypic and ultrastructure observations as the expressions ofbflaandymdbgenes, involved in formations of flagella and nanotubes respectively, were found to be reduced in the swarming MHS cells in the presence of increased NaCl in swarm media. It was also observed that the salt-induced reduction in swarming of MHS is associated with the reduced expression of the quorum sensing regulator geneplcR.This study first time reports the bacterial nanotubes in aBacillus cereusstrain and indicates a possible link between the bacterial nanotube formation and hyperswarming phenotype inBacillus cereusMHS.
Enhanced identification of small molecules binding to hnRNPA1 via cryptic pockets mapping coupled with X-Ray fragment screening
Authors: Dunnett Louise , Das Sayan , Venditti Vincenzo , Prischi Filippo
Published: December 2024

The human heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 is a prototypical RNA-binding protein essential in regulating a wide range of post-transcriptional events in cells. As a multifunctional protein with a key role in RNA metabolism, deregulation of its functions has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, tumour aggressiveness and chemoresistance, which has fuelled efforts to develop novel therapeutics that modulates its RNA binding activities. Here, using a combination of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and graph neural network pockets predictions, we showed that hnRNPA1 N-terminal RNA binding domain (UP1) contains several cryptic pockets capable of binding small molecules. To identify chemical entities for development of potent drug candidates and experimentally validate identified druggable hotspots, we carried out a large fragment screening on UP1 protein crystals. Our screen identified 36 hits which extensively samples UP1 functional regions involved in RNA recognition and binding, as well as mapping hotspots onto novel protein interaction surfaces. We observed a wide range of ligand-induced conformational variation, by stabilisation of dynamic protein regions. Our high-resolution structures, the first of an hnRNP in complex with a fragment or small molecule, provides rapid routes for the rational development of a range of different inhibitors and chemical tools for studying molecular mechanisms of hnRNPA1 mediated splicing regulation.
Conserved protein Seb1 that interacts with RNA polymerase II and RNA is a bona fide transcription elongation factor
Authors: Kuś Krzysztof , Nielsen Soren , Zenkin Nikolay , Vasiljeva Lidia
Published: December 2024

Maturation of protein-coding precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) is closely linked to RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. However, the mechanistic understanding of how RNA processing is coordinated with transcription is incomplete. Conserved proteins interacting with the C-terminal domain of the largest catalytic subunits of Pol II and nascent RNA (CID-RRM factors) were demonstrated to play a role in mRNA 3’-end processing and termination of Pol II transcription. Here, we employ a fully reconstituted system to demonstrate that fission yeast CID-RRM factor Seb1 acts as abona fideelongation factorin vitro. Our analyses show that Seb1 exhibits context-dependent regulation of Pol II pausing, capable of either promoting or inhibiting pause site entry. We propose that CID-RRM factors coordinate Pol II transcription and RNA 3’-end processing by modulating the rate of Pol II transcription.
Reciprocal cooperation can be stable when the presence of defectors selects for discrimination
Authors: Roberts Gilbert
Published: December 2024

Reciprocity is a pillar of our understanding of how cooperation works. However, this paradigm has been challenged by Efferson et al (Efferson et al., 2024) who claim that repeated interaction is insufficient to support cooperation. The authors base their conclusion on a model in which reciprocators use a novel function to determine their response. They find that cooperation through repeated interaction breaks down. I point out here that the collapse of cooperation is not the result of the novel strategy set. Instead, it is a standard result in models of cooperation when a benign environment allows drift towards undiscriminating strategies. I show how and when introducing an element of defection into a cooperative environment provides selection for the maintenance of discrimination. Discriminating strategies can resist invasion by strategies that would exploit undiscriminating cooperation. In consequence, cooperation is stabilized. I conclude that Efferson et al.’s results can readily be explained by existing theory and that repeated interaction can support cooperation without additional processes such as between group competition.
Combined biosynthesis and site-specific incorporation of phenylalanine derivatives from aryl aldehydes or carboxylic acids in engineered bacteria
Authors: Anderson Shelby R. , Spangler Abigail P. , Jones Michaela A. , Dickey Roman M. , Kunjapur Aditya M.
Published: December 2024

Applications of genetic code expansion in live cells are widespread and continually emerging, yet they have been limited by their reliance on the supplementation of non-standard amino acids (nsAAs) to cell culturing media. While advances in cell-free biocatalysis are improving nsAA synthesis cost and sustainability, such processes remain reliant on multi-step processes of product isolation followed by supplementation to engineered cells. Here, we report the design of a modular and genetically encoded system that combines the steps of biosynthesis of diverse phenylalanine derivatives, which are the most frequently used family of nsAAs for genetic code expansion, and their site-specific incorporation within target proteins using a single engineered bacterial host. Unlike previous demonstrations in which individual nsAAs were targeted for biosynthesis and site-specific incorporation, our system serves as a platform that exhibits broad substrate specificity towards commercially ubiquitous, achiral building blocks of aryl aldehydes or carboxylic acids. We demonstrate that this modular system enables high fidelity biosynthesis and incorporation of nsAAs for multiple industrially relevant nsAAs, such as the incorporation of 4,4-L-biphenylalanine within proteins after supplementation with biphenylaldehyde and the incorporation of 4-azido-L-phenylalanine within proteins after supplementation with 4-azido-benzoic acid. Finally, we show that the combination of nsAA biosynthesis and incorporation steps can extend the chemical reach of the intrinsic biological containment strategy of synthetic auxotrophy from nsAAs to low-cost and achiral building blocks. We anticipate that our system will aid industrial-scale manufacturing of proteins that contain nsAAs and democratize access to expensive or commercially unavailable chemistries for labs that lack separations or synthesis expertise.
Stochastic Growth Bursts Enable Burden-Free Flagellum Production in a Single Bacterium
Authors: Garcia-Alcala Mayra , Cluzel Philippe
Published: December 2024

It is widely recognized from population-level measurements that increased production of unnecessary proteins leads to reduced bacterial growth rate, with this effect being particularly severe for flagellum synthesis. Here, we track the relationship between instantaneous growth rate variations and the activity of flagellar genes in lineages of single growing cells of E. coli. Surprisingly, we find that when flagellar gene expression is active, it is also coupled with increased growth rate. We determine that this phenomenon arises from growth bursts after divisions, which drive flagellar expression and temporarily alleviate the associated growth burden. Similar effects were observed with constitutive synthetic expression systems suggesting that an out-of-balance growth process may constitute a general strategy for mitigating the cost of expressing biosynthetically demanding genes in the single cell.
Online reinforcement learning control for maintaining an optimum beam collision on an electron-positron collider
Authors: Fan Jiaqi , Wang Jiuqing
Published: December 2024

For double-ring colliders, it is a vital task to make the two beams meeting each other properly at the interaction point. BEPCII is a double-ring collider that operates in the decay mode, as the beam currents decrease over time, the beam orbits need to be continuously adjusted to maintain the optimum collision conditions. Originally, this task was carried out manually, with operators adjusting three offset control knobs (x,y,y′) according to the luminosity. There is a crucial necessity to implement advanced automated control approaches. However, the feedback methods are ineffective due to the constraints imposed by machine characteristics. Nevertheless, the optimization methods are also limited by the slow response speed of BEPCII and have intrinsic limitations. Reinforcement learning (RL), which learns from past experiences, provides a new approach for handling such problems. In this paper, we implemented two automated control methods: the dither method and the deep Q-network (DQN) RL method. The dither method is a numerical optimization method used to provide more online data for DQN training. With the help of the historical data from the dither method, we successfully trained a DQN agent to control the offset knobs to optimize the luminosity. The DQN method exhibited significantly better performance than the dither method, achieving faster optimization speeds and yielding higher integral luminosity. Furthermore, the DQN method has been integrated into the daily operations of BEPCII, achieving long-term stable deployment and effectively substituting manual labor.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Measuring photon correlation using imperfect detectors
Authors: Clark Rachel N. , Bishop Sam G. , Cannon Joseph K. , Hadden John P. , Dolan Philip R. , Sinclair Alastair G. , Bennett Anthony J.
Published: December 2024

Single-photon detectors are “blind” after the detection of a photon, and thereafter display a characteristic recovery in efficiency, during which the number of undetected photons depends on the statistics of the incident light. We show how the efficiency recovery, photon statistics, and intensity have an interdependent relationship which suppresses a detector’s ability to count photons and measure correlations. We also demonstrate this effect with an experiment using n such detectors to determine the nth-order correlation function with pseudothermal light.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Transition route to elastic and elasto-inertial turbulence in polymer channel flows
Authors: Beneitez M. , Page J. , Dubief Y. , Kerswell R. R.
Published: December 2024

Viscoelastic shear flows support additional chaotic states beyond simple Newtonian turbulence. In vanishing Reynolds number flows, the nonlinearity in the polymer evolution equation alone can sustain inertialess “elastic” turbulence (ET) while “elasto-inertial” turbulence (EIT) appears to rely on an interplay between elasticity and finite-Re effects. Despite their distinct phenomenology and industrial significance, transition routes and possible connections between these states are unknown. We identify here a common Ruelle-Takens transition scenario for both of these chaotic regimes in two-dimensional direct numerical simulations of FENE-P fluids in a straight channel. The primary bifurcation is caused by a recently discovered “polymer diffusive instability” associated with small but nonvanishing polymer stress diffusion which generates a finite-amplitude, small-scale traveling wave localized at the wall. This is found to be unstable to a large-scale secondary instability which grows to modify the whole flow before itself breaking down in a third bifurcation to either ET or EIT. The secondary large-scale instability waves resemble “center” and “wall” modes, respectively—instabilities which have been conjectured to play a role in viscoelastic chaotic dynamics but were previously only thought to exist far from relevant areas of the parameter space.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Enhanced Quantum State Transfer via Feedforward Cancellation of Optical Phase Noise
Authors: Maddox Benjamin P. , Mortlock Jonathan M. , Hepworth Tom R. , Raghuram Adarsh P. , Gregory Philip D. , Guttridge Alexander , Cornish Simon L.
Published: December 2024

Many experimental platforms for quantum science depend on state control via laser fields. Frequently, however, the control fidelity is limited by optical phase noise. This is exacerbated in stabilized laser systems where high-frequency phase noise is an unavoidable consequence of feedback. Here we implement an optical feedforward technique to suppress laser phase noise in the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage state transfer of ultracold RbCs molecules, across 114 THz, from a weakly bound Feshbach state to the rovibrational ground state. By performing over 100 state transfers on single molecules, we measure a significantly enhanced transfer efficiency of 98.7(1)% limited only by available laser intensity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ground-state magnetic structures of topological kagome metals
RV6Sn6

(R=Tb,Dy,Ho,Er)
Authors: Zhou Yishui , Lee Min-Kai , Hammouda Sabreen , Devi Sheetal , Yano Shin-Ichiro , Sibille Romain , Zaharko Oksana , Schmidt Wolfgang , Schmalzl Karin , Beauvois Ketty , Ressouche Eric , Chang Po-Chun , Huang Chun-Hao , Chang Lieh-Jeng , Brückel Thomas , Su Yixi
Published: December 2024

Magnetic kagome metals have attracted tremendous research interests recently, because they represent an ideal playground for exploring the fascinating interplay between their intrinsically inherited topologically nontrivial electron band structures, magnetism and electronic correlation effects, and the resultant novel electronic/magnetic states and emergent excitations. In this work, we report a comprehensive single-crystal neutron diffraction investigation of the ground-state magnetic structures of the recently discovered V-based topological kagome metals RV6Sn6 ( = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er). Furthermore, the sample synthesis details and our systematic studies of crystal structure, low-temperature magnetic and thermodynamic properties of these compounds via various in-house characterization techniques are also reported. Our single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements confirm that the long-range magnetic order forms below 4.3 K for R=Tb, 3.0 K for R=Dy, 2.4 K for R=Ho, and 0.6 K for R=Er, respectively. The ground-state magnetic structures of the studied compounds are comprehensively determined via the magnetic crystallography approaches. It can be revealed that RV6Sn6 (R = Tb, Dy, Ho) have a collinear ferromagnetic order in the ground state, with the ordered magnetic moment aligned along the c axis for R = Tb, Ho, while approximately 20∘ tilted off from the c axis for R = Dy. In contrast, ErV6Sn6 shows an A-type antiferromagnetic structure with a magnetic propagation vector = (0, 0, 0.5), and with the ordered magnetic moment aligned in the

a

b

plane. The ordered magnetic moments are determined as 9.4(2) µB, 6.6(2) µB, 6.4(2) µB, and 6.1(2) µB for R = Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er, respectively. A comparison of the low-temperature magnetic structures for both the extensively investigated topological kagome metal series of RV6Sn6 and RMn6Sn6 is given in detail. This allows to gain new insights into the complex magnetic interactions, diverse single-ion magnetic anisotropies and spin dynamics in these compounds. The reported ground-state magnetic structures in RV6Sn6 (R = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) can pave the way for further explorations of the possible interplay between magnetism and topologically nontrivial electron band structures in the magnetically ordered phase regime.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Theory of quantum circuits with Abelian symmetries
Authors: Marvian Iman
Published: December 2024

Quantum circuits with gates (local unitaries) respecting a global symmetry have broad applications in quantum information science and related fields, such as condensed-matter theory and quantum thermodynamics. However, despite their widespread use, fundamental properties of such circuits are not well understood. Recently, it was found that generic unitaries respecting a global symmetry cannot be realized, even approximately, using gates that respect the same symmetry. This observation raises important open questions: What unitary transformations can be realized with k-local gates that respect a global symmetry? In other words, in the presence of a global symmetry, how does the locality of interactions constrain the possible time evolution of a composite system? In this work, we address these questions for the case of Abelian (commutative) symmetries and develop constructive methods for synthesizing circuits with such symmetries. Remarkably, as a corollary, we find that, while the locality of interactions still imposes additional constraints on realizable unitaries, certain restrictions observed in the case of non-Abelian symmetries do not apply to circuits with Abelian symmetries. For instance, in circuits with a general non-Abelian symmetry such as SU(d), the unitary realized in a subspace with one irreducible representation (charge) of the symmetry dictates the realized unitaries in multiple other sectors with inequivalent representations of the symmetry. Furthermore, in certain sectors, rather than all unitaries respecting the symmetry, the realizable unitaries are the symplectic or orthogonal subgroups of this group. We prove that none of these restrictions appears in the case of Abelian symmetries. This result suggests that global non-Abelian symmetries may affect the thermalization of quantum systems in ways not possible under Abelian symmetries.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Room-Temperature Solid-State Maser Amplifier
Authors: Day Tom , Isarov Maya , Pappas William J. , Johnson Brett C. , Abe Hiroshi , Ohshima Takeshi , McCamey Dane R. , Laucht Arne , Pla Jarryd J.
Published: December 2024

Masers once represented the state of the art in low-noise microwave amplification technology but eventually became obsolete due to their need for cryogenic cooling. Masers based on solid-state spin systems perform most effectively as amplifiers, since they provide a large density of spins and can, therefore, operate at relatively high powers. While solid-state maser oscillators have been demonstrated at room temperature, continuous-wave amplification in these systems has only ever been realized at cryogenic temperatures. Here, we report on a continuous-wave solid-state maser amplifier operating at room temperature. We achieve this feat using a practical setup that includes an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy center spins in a diamond crystal, a strong permanent magnet, and a simple laser diode. We describe important amplifier characteristics including gain, bandwidth, compression power, and noise temperature and discuss the prospects of realizing a room-temperature near-quantum-noise-limited amplifier with this system. Finally, we show that in a different mode of operation the spins can be used to reduce the microwave noise in an external circuit to cryogenic levels, all without the requirement for physical cooling.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Numerical Study of Neutral and Charged Microgel Suspensions: From Single-Particle to Collective Behavior
Authors: Del Monte Giovanni , Zaccarelli Emanuela
Published: December 2024

We perform extensive molecular dynamics simulations of an ensemble of realistic microgel particles in swollen conditions in a wide range of packing fractions ζ. We compare neutral and charged microgels, where we consider charge distribution adherent to experimental conditions. Through a detailed analysis of single-particle behavior, we are able to identify the different regimes occurring upon increasing concentration: from shrinking to deformation and interpenetration, always connecting our findings with available experimental observations. We then link these single-particle features with the collective behavior of the suspension, finding evidence of a structural reentrance that has no counterpart in the dynamics. Hence, while the maximum of the radial distribution function displays a nonmonotonic behavior with increasing ζ, the dynamics, quantified by the microgels’ mean-squared displacement, always slows down. This behavior, at odds with the simple Hertzian model, can be described by a phenomenological multi-Hertzian model, which takes into account the enhanced internal stiffness of the core. However, also this model fails when deformation enters into play, whereby more realistic many-body models are required. Thanks to our analysis, we are able to unveil the key physical mechanisms, shrinking and deformation, giving rise to the structural reentrance that holds up to very large packing fractions. We further identify key similarities and differences between neutral and charged microgels, for which we detect at high enough ζ the fusion of charged shells, previously invoked to explain key experimental findings, and responsible for the structural reentrance. Overall, our study establishes a powerful framework to uncover the physics of microgel suspensions, paving the way to tackle different regimes, e.g., high temperature, and internal architectures, such as for hollow and ultralow-cross-linked microgels, where experimental evidence is still limited.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Picometre-level surface control of a closed-loop, adaptive X-ray mirror with integrated real-time interferometric feedback
Authors: Nistea Ioana-Theodora , Alcock Simon G. , Foster Andrew , Badami Vivek , Signorato Riccardo , Fusco Matteo
Published: December 2024

We provide a technical description and experimental results of the practical development and offline testing of an innovative, closed-loop, adaptive mirror system capable of making rapid, precise and ultra-stable changes in the size and shape of reflected X-ray beams generated at synchrotron light and free-electron laser facilities. The optical surface of a piezoelectric bimorph deformable mirror is continuously monitored at 20 kHz by an array of interferometric sensors. This matrix of height data is autonomously converted into voltage commands that are sent at 1 Hz to the piezo actuators to modify the shape of the mirror optical surface. Hence, users can rapidly switch in closed-loop between pre-calibrated X-ray wavefronts by selecting the corresponding freeform optical profile. This closed-loop monitoring is shown to repeatably bend and stabilize the low- and mid-spatial frequency components of the mirror surface to any given profile with an error <200 pm peak-to-valley, regardless of the recent history of bending and hysteresis. Without closed-loop stabilization after bending, the mirror height profile is shown to drift by hundreds of nanometres, which will slowly distort the X-ray wavefront. The metrology frame that holds the interferometric sensors is designed to be largely insensitive to temperature changes, providing an ultra-stable reference datum to enhance repeatability. We demonstrate an unprecedented level of fast and precise optical control in the X-ray domain: the profile of a macroscopic X-ray mirror of over 0.5 m in length was freely adjusted and stabilized to atomic level height resolution. Aside from demonstrating the extreme sensitivity of the interferometer sensors, this study also highlights the voltage repeatability and stability of the programmable high-voltage power supply, the accuracy of the correction-calculation algorithms and the almost instantaneous response of the bimorph mirror to command voltage pulses. Finally, we demonstrate the robustness of the system by showing that the bimorph mirror's optical surface was not damaged by more than 1 million voltage cycles, including no occurrence of the `junction effect' or weakening of piezoelectric actuator strength. Hence, this hardware combination provides a real time, hyper-precise, temperature-insensitive, closed-loop system which could benefit many optical communities, including EUV lithography, who require sub-nanometre bending control of the mirror form.
Integrated reporting: developing an injustice assessment framework and a research agenda
Authors: Beretta Valentina , Demartini Maria Chiara , de Villiers Charl
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Integrated reporting (IR) provides a joint overview of an organisation’s financial and sustainability performance and strategies. While the prior literature often critiques IR’s potential to entrench injustice, a systematic approach has not been followed. Therefore, this paper provides a systematic literature review, uncovering IR injustices, informing the development of an IR injustice assessment framework to identify injustices and a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining Flyvbjerg’s phronetic social science and the phases of the IR idea journey to focus on injustice, this paper reviews published IR articles to inform a critique of IR. As a result, we identify specific injustice(s), the actors responsible for them, as well as the victims, as a basis for recommendations for praxis through the development of an IR injustice assessment framework and a research agenda.

Findings

We find that different approaches are needed in each phase of the IR idea journey. In the (re)generation phase, a pluralistic approach to IR is needed from the very beginning of the decision-making process. In the elaboration phase, the motivations and the features of IR are assessed. In the championing phase, IR champions support radical innovation, whereas IR opponents are obstructing its spread. In the production phase, the extent to which IR and integrated thinking are linked to the business model is assessed. Finally, we find that IR’s impact is often limited by the symbolic implementation of its tenets.

Practical implications

The findings suggest a need for companies to rethink the ways in which IR is implemented and used to analyse the ways in which IR is supported and disseminated within and outside the organisation, to focus on internal processes and to reflect on the expected impact of IR on the company’s stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study represents the first systematic approach to identifying IR-related injustices, involving how IR adoption might create injustices and marginalise certain stakeholder groups, and offering recommendations for praxis. Furthermore, the paper details the role of IR in either mitigating or amplifying these injustices and develops a research agenda.
Preparation and characterization of trivalent chromium conversion films containing Cr(NO3)3 and Co(NO3)2 on Zn-Ni electroplated films of 2024 aluminum alloy substrates
Authors: Chen Tingyi , Ma Yaqi , Zhu Hongtao , Huang Qiming
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to prepare trivalent chromium conversion (TCC) film on the Zn-Ni electrodeposited film on the surface of 2024 aluminum alloy and to ensure that the TCC film has good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The morphology of the TCC film was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the elemental composition of the TCC film was characterized by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The TCC film was tested and the roughness was analyzed by 3D morphology (white light interference). The electrochemical behavior and corrosion resistance of TCC films were studied by the Tafel polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the conductivity was tested.

Findings

The TCC films were uniformly black and bright in appearance and were mainly compounds of Zn, Ni and Cr with O. The electrochemical impedance of the TCC film is larger than that of the Zn-Ni film, the corrosion current (Icorr) is smaller than that of the Zn-Ni film and the corrosion potential (Ecorr) is larger than that of the Zn-Ni film, which has excellent corrosion resistance. TCCs were performed on the appropriate size of the shell sample, and the resistance of the shells was 1.5 mVDC, which meets the total resistance requirements of the test standard for composite connector accessories.

Originality/value

In this study, TCC film was successfully prepared on the Zn-Ni coating on the surface of 2024 aluminum alloy. The TCC film has good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity.
How can health look tasty? Effects of packaging color saturation on beverage health and taste expectations depend on color match
Authors: Steiner Katharina , Kunz Sonja , Florack Arnd
Published: December 2024

Purpose

It is of significant interest to marketers to identify visual product cues that signal high tastiness and healthiness, as both characteristics are of substantial importance to consumers. One such cue is the saturation of the packaging color. However, past studies found diverging effects of packaging color saturation on consumer tastiness and healthiness judgments. In this study, we investigated a possible moderator of the saturation effect: the match between the primary packaging color and the color of the main product ingredient.

Design/methodology/approach

In two online studies, participants viewed pictures of fruit juices (Study 1) and hydration drinks (Study 2). For each product, participants rated the expected taste and healthiness. We manipulated the color saturation and color match of the product pictures.

Findings

When the packaging color matched the main ingredient (e.g. orange juice in an orange package), consumers expected products in normal versus low saturated packages to be healthier and tastier. When the packaging color did not match the color of the main ingredient (e.g. orange juice in a red package), the positive effects of saturation on health and taste were reduced or even disappeared.

Practical implications

The results suggest that managers can optimize product health and taste perceptions by using moderately saturated packaging colors, particularly when the packaging color aligns with the main ingredient’s color.

Originality/value

Our research offers a possible explanation for diverging effects of color saturation on product judgments. We show that whether and to what extend color saturation affects health and taste judgments might depend on the match between the packaging and ingredient color.
Digital innovation and automation of business processes using quick response code: advancing the means-end chain theory
Authors: Rai Krupa , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Vrontis Demetris , Galati Antonino
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the research is to investigate customer shopping behaviour for Italian market, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) using the quick response (QR) code. The study uses means-end chain (MEC) theory to explore the connections between product attributes, personal values and consumer preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

The theory of means-end chain helps to uncover the underlying reasons why consumers choose specific products by examining the links between tangibles. There is a conceptual model developed with the help of MEC. The conceptual framework comprises product information and marketing communication, which constitute the sensory and non-sensory aspects of consumption behaviour, and it is empirically tested by CB-SEM technique. QR code usefulness and loyalty are treated as mediators to evaluate shopping behaviour to purchase EVOO.

Findings

The study has used MEC theory and has extended this theory. This study found that there is a profound impact of technology (QR code) on the buying behaviour of EVOO for the Italian customers. This study has also found that product information and product communication play a critical role towards shopping behaviour of Italian consumers regarding EVOO related products.

Research limitations/implications

Innovation and technology adoption, especially the use of QR codes in understanding product features, has been an attractive area for research exploration. This could include details about the product’s origin, production methods and nutritional information. Such technology and innovation can change the business process management landscape of food-product distribution process. Not many studies are available which examine customers’ interest and shopping behaviour using QR codes, especially in the context of EVOO. Thus, this research study has a profound impact on the Italian and other European market.

Originality/value

In the Italian market, EVOO is more than just a product, it is a symbol of tradition, quality and cultural heritage. EVOO is not just a condiment, it is an essential ingredient that contributes to the overall flavour of dishes. This study explores the usage of QR code for EVOO related products. This is a unique study as there are a very few research studies available in this area of business process management and technology usage related to EVOO products. Moreover, this research study adds values to the body of literature of business process management, technology usage, innovation and food technology. Thus, this study is unique and adds value to the existing literature.
Cross-cultural perceptions and tourist satisfaction in the Middle Eastern context: a case study of Abu Dhabi’s destination image
Authors: Shakeela Aishath , Jose Saju
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examines the cross-cultural perceptions and satisfaction of international tourists visiting Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, focusing on how cultural backgrounds influence destination image and tourist experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative, interpretivist approach was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 international tourists between November 2021 and March 2022. A non-probability purposive sampling was used to select participants who had previously visited key attractions in Abu Dhabi. Thematic analysis was applied to extract key insights.

Findings

The findings underscore the pivotal role of Schwartz’s universal values and cultural beliefs in shaping tourist perceptions and satisfaction. Distinct differences emerged among cultural groups: Asian tourists demonstrated a greater awareness of Abu Dhabi’s attributes, while Western tourists often held preconceived notions influenced by comparisons with Dubai. Tourists reported overall satisfaction with Abu Dhabi’s cultural and environmental offerings, but also highlighted gaps in marketing and infrastructure that could enhance destination appeal.

Originality/value

This study contributes novel insights to the relatively underexplored domain of cross-cultural tourism in the Middle East. By exploring the dynamic interplay between cultural values and tourist perceptions, it offers actionable recommendations to enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as a global tourism hub, bridging gaps between academic literature and industry practices.
Unleashing faculty and staff potential in medicine: an impact study of human resource development interventions at an academic medical center
Authors: Suh Boyung , Lee Andrew Sanghyun , Suh Sookyung , Sattovia Stacy , Cianciolo Anna T. , Hingle Susan Thompson
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to represent the initial impact analysis of a human resource development (HRD) intervention – the Center for Human and Organizational Potential (cHOP) – for faculty and staff at an academic medical center in the Midwestern US. cHOP seeks to unleash faculty and staff potential and advance organizational outcomes by fulfilling employees’ basic psychological needs, posited by self-determination theory (SDT, Ryan and Deci, 2000): competence, autonomy and relatedness.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Cianciolo and Regehr’s (2019) layered analysis framework as a guide, the authors conducted a program evaluation to analyze, in-depth, the nature and impact of two representative cHOP programs: Accelerate and BOOST. Specifically, the authors examined whether the implementation of these programs was consistent with SDT, as reflected in participants’ reported program experiences (i.e. “Did the intervention, in fact, occur as intended?”). The authors also examined program outcomes and opportunities for improvement based on program participants’ voices (i.e. did the intervention, implemented as intended, work?). Because SDT is a theory of individual motivation, the authors identified a need to evaluate outcomes at the individual level and beyond, broadly exploring what would happened if program participants’ basic psychological needs had been addressed. The aim was to determine the potential downstream consequences of intrinsically motivated faculty and staff, while promoting divergent thinking on program impact and sustainability.

Findings

Participants reported experiences suggest that Accelerate and BOOST addressed all three psychological needs and strengthened their intrinsic motivation to advance their leadership and career development and improve the performance of their teams and departments. These outcomes suggest the potential for impact at the individual level and beyond, such as the institution and external, professional societies.

Research limitations/implications

The study assessed two representative programs among cHOP’s many offerings. A comprehensive study of cHOP’s impact, directly linking psychological need fulfillment and organizational impact, is beyond the scope of a single study and requires further research.

Social implications

The authors suggest expanding scholarly discussions in the HRD and health professions education (HPE) literature to characterize the promise of HRD-HPE partnerships and to account for their impact more fully.

Originality/value

The study contributes to both HRD and HPE scholarship by providing a layered account of academic medical center (AMC) faculty and staff development using an HRD approach; and examining the impact of a theory- and evidence-based novel HRD intervention (i.e. cHOP) at the individual level and beyond in an AMC context.
Do cultural differences moderate the relationship between CSR and earnings quality: common law evidence pre and during COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Lajnef Karima , Ellouz Siwar
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the role of corporate social performance as a potential mechanism for reducing earnings management. This paper contributes to the existing literature by addressing the moderator effects of national culture on the relationship between CSR and earnings management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the moderating impact of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions on the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings management. The data set covers 71,893 firm-year observations spanning 2006–2022 and involving 4,229 firms listed in common law countries.

Findings

The result confirms that corporate social performance reduces the use of real earnings management and controls the change of method AEM to REM method. When testing the indirect effect, the results show that cultural dimensions moderate the relationship between CSR and earnings management. These findings have many theoretical and practical implications for researchers, investors and decision-makers.

Originality/value

This paper contributes substantially to extant literature by comprehensively exploring the moderating influence of national cultures on the intricate nexus between CSR and earnings management, encompassing the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. The implications of these findings extend to researchers, investors and policymakers, offering valuable insights for informed decision-making.