bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Filling the gaps of microresistivity imaging data by combining structure dual generative adversarial networks and diffusion models
Authors: Xu Zhaohui , Liu Jiakang , Mao Qi , Peng Qiangqiang
Published: February 2025

Gaps in microresistivity imaging data pose challenges for reservoir characterization and formation analysis. To address this, we propose a novel approach that employs two cascaded deep-learning algorithms to fill these gaps. First, a conditional texture and structure dual generative (CTSDG) adversarial network is used to reconstruct the missing portions of the microresistivity imaging data. Next, a diffusion model with enhanced loss functions is employed to improve the resolution of gaps-filled imaging data. The new loss function stabilizes the training process by combining traditional reconstruction loss with a weighted contrastive loss that adapts over time. Given the persistent gaps in microresistivity imaging data, we utilize acoustic borehole imaging and core data as training datasets for the CTSDG network. The trained models are then applied to microresistivity imaging data to produce microresistivity imaging data without gaps. This method was tested on data from a gas field, successfully restoring key geological features such as lithology, formation boundaries, fractures, and borehole collapse within the previously incomplete areas. The results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively recovers missing geological features, providing enhanced data for reservoir characterization and formation analysis.
Improving topic modeling for literary studies: a hybrid model combined with Word2Vec visualization in the case of Robinson Crusoe
Authors: Hui Haifeng
Published: February 2025

Topic modeling techniques, initially developed for the analysis of short texts, often face challenges when applied to literary research due to the complexity of the literary language and length of the text. Algorithms that typically yield clear and distinct topics for concise informative or opinionated texts often produce ambiguous and overlapping results in literary contexts. This article explores the application of one of the most popular topic modeling techniques, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), in the analysis of fiction and addresses these central questions regarding the effectiveness and interpretation of LDA topics through a case study of Robinson Crusoe. It proposes combining the Word2Vec method with LDA analysis to render topic modeling results more readable by mapping topics words in a three-dimensional space where semantically related words are placed close to each other. Furthermore, this integrated approach undergoes validation using various children’s editions of the novel and other works by the same author to assess its effectiveness. It is found that the combined method is capable of differentiating subtle changes in children’s editions and other novels. This study highlights the promising potential of LDA in literary research and underscores the importance of visualization techniques for nuanced interpretations of LDA topics.
Spectral energy distributions of disc-embedded accreting protoplanets
Authors: Choksi Nick , Chiang Eugene
Published: February 2025

Many dozens of circumstellar discs show signatures of sculpting by planets. To help find these protoplanets by direct imaging, we compute their broadband spectral energy distributions, which overlap with the JWST and ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) passbands. We consider how circumplanetary spherical envelopes and circumplanetary discs are heated by accretion and irradiation. Searches with JWST’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and the blue portion of MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) are most promising since $\sim$300–1000 K protoplanets outshine their $\sim$20–50 K circumstellar environs at wavelengths of $\sim$2–10 $\mu$m. Detection is easier if circumplanetary dust settles into discs (more likely for more massive planets) or is less abundant per unit mass gas (because of grain growth or aerodynamic filtration). At wavelengths longer than 20 $\mu$m, circumplanetary material is difficult to see against the circumstellar disc’s surface layers that directly absorb starlight and reprocess it to the far-infrared. Such contaminating circumstellar emission can be serious even within the evacuated gaps observed by ALMA. Only in strongly depleted regions, like the cavity of the transitional disc PDS 70 where two protoplanets have been confirmed, may long-wavelength windows open for protoplanet study. We compile a list of candidate protoplanets and identify those with potentially the highest accretion luminosities, all peaking in the near-infrared.
Exploring the link between galaxy assembly and dark matter halo assembly in IllustrisTNG: Insights from the Mutual Information
Authors: Camargo Y D , Casas-Miranda R A
Published: February 2025

We employed Mutual Information (MI) analysis to investigate the relationship between galaxy properties and the assembly history of their host dark matter (DM) haloes from the IllustrisTNG simulations. Focusing on central and satellite galaxies with stellar masses between 109 − 1011.5  h−1 M⊙ , we examined the correlation between halo assembly time and galaxy assembly time, specific star formation rate (sSFR), color (g − i), and galaxy formation efficiency F⋆. Our results indicate a strong correlation between F⋆ and the halo assembly time for low-mass central galaxies, suggesting a co-evolutionary relationship. In contrast, sSFR and color (g − i) exhibit weaker correlations with halo assembly time, indicating that additional factors should influence these galaxy properties. Satellite galaxies show negligible correlation between their properties and halo assembly time, highlighting the impact of environmental processes on their evolution. We further extended our analysis to cluster observables, including the magnitude gap, the satellite richness, and the distances to the satellites. Although these cluster properties display weak overall correlations with halo assembly time, the richness consistently increases with stellar mass. This trend suggests that richness is more closely linked to formation history in more massive haloes, where satellite accretion dominates the growth of their host DM haloes. These findings establish F⋆ as a more sensitive indicator of halo assembly history than colour (g − i), sSFR, or cluster observables, offering new insights into the complex interplay between galaxy evolution and the hierarchical growth of their host dark matter haloes.
The Hierarchical Growth of Bright Central Galaxies and Intracluster Light as Traced by the Magnitude Gap
Authors: Golden-Marx Jesse B , Zhang Y , Ogando R L C , Yanny B , Pereira M E S , Hilton M , Aguena M , Allam S , Andrade-Oliveira F , Bacon D , Brooks D , Rosell A Carnero , Carretero J , Cheng T-Y , da Costa L N , De Vicente J , Desai S , Doel P , Everett S , Ferrero I , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gatti M , Giannini G , Gruen D , Gruendl R A , Gutierrez G , Hinton S R , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , Kuehn K , Lee S , Mena-Fernández J , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Mohr J , Palmese A , Pieres A , Malagón A A Plazas , Samuroff S , Sanchez E , Schubnell M , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Smith M , Suchyta E , Tarle G , Vikram V , Walker A R , Weaverdyck N , Wiseman P
Published: February 2025

Using a sample of 2800 galaxy clusters identified in the Dark Energy Survey across the redshift range 0.20 < z < 0.60, we characterize the hierarchical assembly of Bright Central Galaxies (BCGs) and the surrounding intracluster light (ICL). To quantify hierarchical formation we use the stellar mass - halo mass (SMHM) relation, comparing the halo mass, estimated via the mass-richness relation, to the stellar mass within the BCG+ICL system. Moreover, we incorporate the magnitude gap (M14), the difference in brightness between the BCG (measured within 30 kpc) and 4th brightest cluster member galaxy within 0.5 R200, c, as a third parameter in this linear relation. The inclusion of M14, which traces BCG hierarchical growth, increases the slope and decreases the intrinsic scatter, highlighting that it is a latent variable within the BCG+ICL SMHM relation. Moreover, the correlation with M14 decreases at large radii. However, the stellar light within the BCG+ICL transition region (30 kpc - 80 kpc) most strongly correlates with halo mass and has a statistically significant correlation with M14. Since the transition region and M14 are independent measurements, the transition region may grow due to the BCG’s hierarchical formation. Additionally, as M14 and ICL result from hierarchical growth, we use a stacked sample and find that clusters with large M14 values are characterized by larger ICL and BCG+ICL fractions, which illustrates that the merger processes that build the BCG stellar mass also grow the ICL. Furthermore, this may suggest that M14 combined with the ICL fraction can identify dynamically relaxed clusters.
The rebound curve is a poor model of resilience
Authors: Eisenberg Daniel A , Seager Thomas P , Alderson David L
Published: February 2025

The rebound curve remains the most prevalent model for conceptualizing, measuring, and explaining resilience for engineering and community systems by tracking the functional robustness and recovery of systems over time. (It also goes by many names, including the resilience curve, the resilience triangle, and the system functionality curve, among others.) Despite longstanding recognition that resilience is more than rebound, the curve remains highly used, cited, and taught. In this article, we challenge the efficacy of this model for resilience and identify fundamental shortcomings in how it handles system function, time, dynamics, and decisions — the key elements that make up the curve. These oversimplifications reinforce misconceptions about resilience that are unhelpful for understanding complex systems and are potentially dangerous for guiding decisions. We argue that models of resilience should abandon the use of this curve and instead be reframed to open new lines of inquiry that center on improving adaptive capacity in complex systems rather than functional rebound. We provide a list of questions to help future researchers communicate these limitations and address any implications on recommendations derived from its use.
The global, regional, and national disease burden and risk factors of male breast cancer from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study
Authors: Qu Jia-Yan , Lu Jing-Bo , Sun Hui-Jun , Meng Cai-Ping , Rong Li-Yuan
Published: February 2025

Male breast cancer (MBC) contributes to approximately 1% of total breast cancer diagnoses, with rapidly rising incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Since most breast cancer research has focused on women, this study intended to report the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of MBC to aid in its control and prevention. The data on the incidence, DALYs, deaths, and age-standardized rates of MBC between 1990 and 2021 in different countries and territories were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. In 1990 and 2021, Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest incidence, DALYs, and mortality rates. Countries in the middle socio-demographic index quintile showed the fastest growth in age-standardized incidence rate, ASDR, and ASMR. From 1990 to 2021, the incidence, mortality rate, and DALYs of MBC increased worldwide. Alcohol use, dietary risks, and tobacco use were risk factors for ASMR, with dietary risks ranking first in all GBD regions. The rise in the number of cases of breast cancer in men places substantial stress on humans. Hence, policymakers should establish effective interventions and strategies for patients with MBC in accordance with the local situation.
Long-Term Changes in Corneal Power in Young Patients With Progressive and Nonprogressive Keratoconus
Authors: Kinoshita Masaki , Koh Shizuka , Inoue Ryota , Ambrósio Renato , Jhanji Vishal , Maeda Naoyuki , Nishida Kohji
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

To investigate the long-term changes in corneal power in young patients with keratoconus (KC) and compare corneal power between eyes with and without progression by Fourier analysis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods:

Clinical records containing OCT data were retrospectively reviewed in patients with KC younger than 25 years at the first visit with a minimum follow-up duration of 2 years and at least one eye with abnormal KC findings. Eyes were divided into progressive (P) and nonprogressive (NP) groups using the ABCD grading system of Scheimpflug-based tomography. Baseline values and changes in Fourier components (spherical, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order [HO] irregularity components) from the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces between the initial and last visits obtained with OCT were compared between both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with stepwise selection was performed for baseline values to determine predictive baseline factors.

Results:

Twenty-three and 16 eyes were assigned to the P and NP groups, respectively. Changes in the anterior spherical and HO irregularity and posterior spherical components were significantly greater in the P group than in the NP group (P<0.05). Baseline HO irregularity, regular astigmatism, and asymmetry components from the posterior cornea were predictive of KC progression, with the highest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.796, 0.760, and 0.740, respectively.

Conclusions:

Indices of regular and irregular astigmatism (asymmetry and HO irregularity) from the posterior corneal surface component can be potential prognostic indicators of KC progression in young patients.
The lived experiences of Ugandan community health workers engaged in prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and a capacity-building intervention.
Authors: Mocanu Victor , Brooks Hannah M , Namasopo Sophie , Opoka Robert O. , Hawkes Michael T
Published: February 2025

Objective:

To explore the lived experiences of community health workers (CHW) engaged in efforts toward the elimination of vertical transmission (EVT) of HIV and to assess the impact of a capacity-building training intervention.

Design:

The study consisted of: (1) a qualitative assessment of lived experiences of CHWs; (2) a capacity-building training intervention responsive to identified needs; and (3) assessment of the training intervention using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires.

Methods:

Focus group discussions (FGD) and semi-structured key informant interviews (KII) in addition to CHW training sessions for HIV/EVT were held in one rural and one semi-urban setting in Uganda, based on training materials developed by the WHO and USAID. We used standardized pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to assess comprehensive knowledge and accepting attitudes toward HIV.

Results:

Qualitative exploration of the lived experience of 152 CHWs in ten FGDs and four KIIs revealed several themes: (1) CHWs as bridges between health system and community; (2) CHW assets (tacit knowledge and shared social networks); (3) CHW challenges (stigma, secrecy, and ethical quandaries); (4) favorable community reception; and (5) need for continuing education and reinforcement of skills. In response to identified needs, a capacity-building intervention was designed and implemented with 143 CHWs participating in 10 sessions. The proportion of participants with comprehensive knowledge of HIV increased from 45% to 61% (p=0.006) and the proportion endorsing accepting attitudes increased from 63% to 76% (p=0.013).

Conclusion:

CHWs are potentially valuable players in global EVT efforts. Ongoing training is needed to support community-level initiatives.
Upper Extremity Surgery in Hirayama Disease
Authors: Holzer Elad Y. , Clark Tod A. , Giuffre Jennifer L.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Hirayama disease (HD) is a rare, nonfamilial, monomelic amyotrophy in which patients present with muscle atrophy and weakness of the forearms and hands, either unilateral or bilateral, and without sensory loss. Current treatment guidelines describe the role of conservative treatments including cervical collars and neurotropic medications, as well as spinal surgery in select patients. Upper extremity surgery has not yet been incorporated into the treatment algorithm of HD. The objective of this study is twofold: to present a case series of HD patients treated with the incorporation of nerve and tendon transfers and joint fusions into the existing treatment algorithm and to perform a literature review of interventions.

Methods

Three cases (4 limbs) of HD treated surgically with nerve and tendon transfers and fusion are retrospectively reviewed. The subjective and objective results from surgery are reported. A literature review is performed on PubMed using “Hirayama disease” and “peripheral nerve surgery,” “nerve transfer,” “tendon transfer,” “hand surgery,” or “upper extremity surgery” as search terms to identify studies describing surgical treatment of HD outside of spinal surgery.

Results

Three HD patients (4 limbs) were identified. The average age was 23 years old (range, 16–33 years). Patients presented with intrinsic muscle atrophy, hypothenar, and thenar atrophy. The disease had been present for an average of 6.5 years (range, 1.5–15 years) prior to referral. Two patients had unilateral involvement, whereas one had bilateral involvement. Two patients (3 limbs) were treated with an anterior interosseous (AIN) to ulnar motor nerve transfer, whereas a patient with delayed presentation underwent thumb metacarpophalangeal joint fusion and a Zancolli lasso to the fingers. All patients had subjective and objective improvements postoperation.

The literature reveals three independent case reports of HD patients treated with upper extremity surgery. Two papers describe using a tendon transfer, whereas one paper describes an AIN to ulnar motor nerve transfer. All patients demonstrated functional improvements in follow-up.

Conclusions

HD can be successfully treated with a combination of upper extremity surgery and nerve transfers. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first literature review and the largest case series presenting such interventions in HD.
The 1st London Head and Neck Reconstruction Course
Authors: Williams Mariella , Gundle Leo , Cereceda-Monteoliva Nicholas
Published: February 2025

Performing free flap microsurgery is an important skill in head and neck reconstruction and is associated with a steep learning curve. Learning to raise free flaps can be challenging, and opportunities can be limited in early surgical training. Surgical trainees may wish to undertake a course to develop these fundamental skills outside of clinical practice. The London Head and Neck Reconstruction Course (LHNRC) provided an excellent educational experience for surgical trainees with an interest in head and neck reconstruction. Focused on raising four commonly used free flaps (radial forearm, anterolateral thigh, fibular, and scapular), this course featured 14 hours of training including lectures, demonstration, and simulated practice on cadaveric specimens. Highlights included a high faculty-to-delegate ratio, fresh cadaveric material, and ample time for simulated practice. The LHNRC in its inaugural year was well received and is recommended for surgical trainees interested in head and neck reconstruction.
Early primary care follow-up is associated with improved long-term functional outcomes among injured older adults
Authors: Tillmann Bourke W. , Yee Elliott K. , Guttman Matthew P. , Mason Stephanie A. , Jaakkimainen Liisa , Pequeno Priscila , Nathens Avery B. , Haas Barbara
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Older adults who survive injury frequently experience functional decline, and interventions preventing this decline are needed. We therefore evaluated the association between early primary care physician (PCP) follow-up and nursing home admission or death among injured older adults.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective, population-based cohort study of community-dwelling older adults (65 years or older) discharged alive after injury-related hospitalization (2009–2020). The exposure of interest was early PCP visit (within 14 days of discharge). The primary outcome was time to death or nursing home admission in the year after discharge. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between early PCP visit and this outcome, adjusting for baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 93,482 patients (63.7% female; mean age, 79.8 years), 24,167 (25.9%) had early follow-up with their own PCP and 6,083 (6.5%) with a different PCP. In the year after discharge, 16,676 patients (17.8%) died or were admitted to a nursing home. After risk adjustment, early follow-up with one's own PCP was associated with a 15% reduction in the hazard of death or nursing home admission relative to no follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.87). Follow-up with a different PCP was not associated with the outcome (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.03). These relationships were consistent across all age, sex, frailty, and injury severity strata.

CONCLUSION

Among injured older adults, early follow-up with their own PCP was associated with increased time alive and at home. These findings suggest strategies to integrate PCPs into postinjury care of older adults should be explored.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.
Evaluating trauma awareness in health care: Insights from the AAST and Trauma Prevention Coalition Survey
Authors: Yao June , Nahmias Jeffry , Tinkoff Glen , Kuhls Deborah A. , Diaz Graal , Bonne Stephanie , Tatebe Leah , Moren Alexis , Carter Kristen , Castater Christine , Palacio-Lascano Carlos , Prentiss Sue , Duncan Thomas K.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework designed to understand and address the impacts of trauma, ensuring physical, psychological, and emotional safety for all involved. It seeks to prevent retraumatization and promote a sense of control and empowerment across diverse populations.

METHOD

This Trauma Prevention Coalition survey study assessed TIC implementation among members from 13 of the 16 participating organizations, focusing on prevalence, awareness, and training gaps.

RESULTS

Out of 948 participants, 91% (n = 861) were affiliated with trauma centers. In adult trauma centers: 19.3% were from Level I, 9.4% from Level II, 5.4% from Level III, 3.1% from Level IV, and 1.2% from Level V. In addition, 1.2% were from nonadult trauma centers, and 2.5% worked in centers serving both adult and pediatric patients. In pediatric centers: 18.6% were from Level I, 13.0% from Level II, 1% from Level III, and 67.0% from nonpediatric centers. Trauma-informed care principles were integrated into the core values of 35.5% of trauma centers, while 64.5% had not adopted them. Only 17.0% had TIC training plans, with 57.7% lacking or unaware of such plans. Bivariate regression analysis indicated that TIC integration decreased for Level II, Level IV, and nontrauma centers compared with Level I adult trauma centers, but increased for Level III. In pediatric centers, TIC integration decreased for Level II, Level III, Level IV, and nontrauma centers compared with Level I. Pediatric trauma centers showed a higher TIC integration rate (71.6%) compared with adult centers (39.4%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

TIC adoption varies significantly across trauma center levels, with higher prevalence in pediatric and Level I centers. The study underscores the need for comprehensive TIC training within trauma care systems.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/care management; Level III.
The Ellis–Baldwin test
Authors: Secrest Nathan J.
Published: February 2025

The standard cosmological model ΛCDM is described by the Friedman–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric, which requires that the universe be isotropic and homogeneous on large scales, an assumption called the Cosmological Principle. If this assumption is accurate, then the dipole anisotropy observed in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) corresponds to our motion with respect to large-scale structure at approximately 370 km s
−1
, which can be tested by measuring the corresponding dipole predicted in counts of cosmologically distant sources. This consistency test, first proposed in 1984 by Ellis & Baldwin, became possible in the twenty-first century with the advent of large catalogues of radio sources and quasars. Subsequent Ellis–Baldwin tests have consistently shown an anomalously large dipole, two to three times larger than predicted by the kinematic interpretation of the CMB dipole, which has recently reached a statistical significance of over

5
σ

. In these proceedings, I review the Ellis–Baldwin test, the key results that revealed this anomaly, and comment on the status of research on this problem, which threatens a foundational assumption underpinning FLRW-based cosmologies such as ΛCDM.

This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Challenging the standard cosmological model’.
Galaxy clusters as probes of cosmic isotropy
Authors: Migkas Konstantinos
Published: February 2025

Scaling relations of galaxy clusters are a powerful probe of cosmic isotropy in the late Universe. Owing to their strong cosmological dependence, galaxy cluster scaling relations can obtain tight constraints on the spatial variation of cosmological parameters, such as the Hubble constant (

H
0

), and detect large-scale bulk flow motions. Such tests are crucial to scrutinise the validity of

Λ

CDM in the local Universe and determine at what cosmic scales (if any) extra-galactic objects converge to isotropy within the cosmic microwave background rest frame. This review describes the methodology for conducting cosmic isotropy tests with cluster scaling relations and examines possible systematic biases. We also discuss the results of past studies that reported statistically significant observed anisotropies in the local Universe. Finally, we explore the future potential of cluster scaling relations as a cosmic isotropy probe given the large amount of multi-wavelength cluster data expected in the near future.

This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Challenging the standard cosmological model’.
A common algorithm for confidence judgements across visual, auditory and audio-visual decisions
Authors: West Rebecca K , Matthews Natasha , Mattingley Jason B , Sewell David K
Published: February 2025

Most studies investigating the computational basis of decision confidence have focused on simple visual perceptual tasks, leaving open questions about how confidence is formed in decisions involving other sensory modalities or those requiring the integration of information across modalities. To address these gaps, we used computational modelling to analyse confidence judgements in perceptual decisions involving visual, auditory, and audio-visual stimuli. Drawing on research into visual confidence, we adapted models from the literature to evaluate their fit to our data, comparing three popular classes: unscaled evidence strength, scaled evidence strength, and Bayesian models. Our results show that the scaled evidence strength models consistently outperformed the other model classes across all tasks and could also be used to predict behaviour in the audio-visual task from the unidimensional auditory and visual model fits. These findings suggest that confidence judgements across different perceptual decisions rely on a shared algorithm that dynamically accounts for both sensory uncertainty and evidence strength, without the computation of posterior probabilities. Additionally, we investigated the algorithms used for multidimensional (audio-visual) confidence judgements specifically, showing that participants integrated both the visual and auditory dimensions of the stimulus, rather than relying solely on the most informative modality, and used a modality-independent measure of sensory uncertainty to adjust their confidence. Overall, our findings provide evidence for a common algorithm underlying confidence judgements across modalities and demonstrate the broad applicability of the scaled evidence strength algorithm, even in tasks requiring the integration of distinct sensory information.
High-dimensional subspace expansion using classical shadows
Authors: Boyd Gregory , Koczor Bálint , Cai Zhenyu
Published: February 2025

We introduce a postprocessing technique for classical shadow measurement data that enhances the precision of ground state estimation through high-dimensional subspace expansion; the dimensionality is only limited by the amount of classical postprocessing resources rather than by quantum resources. Crucial steps of our approach are the efficient identification of useful observables from shadow data, followed by our regularized subspace expansion that is designed to be numerically stable even when using noisy data. We analytically investigate noise propagation within our method, and upper bound the statistical fluctuations due to the limited number of snapshots in classical shadows. In numerical simulations, our method can achieve a reduction in the energy estimation errors in many cases, sometimes by more than an order of magnitude. We also demonstrate that our performance improvements are robust against both coherent errors (bad initial state) and gate noise in the state-preparation circuits. Furthermore, performance is guaranteed to be at least as good—and in many cases better—than direct energy estimation without using additional quantum resources, and the approach is thus a very natural alternative for estimating ground state energies directly from classical shadow data.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Deciphering the antecedents of ethical fashion consumption and its linkage with consumer purchase intention
Authors: Garg Priyanka , Garg Yakshi , Singh Sumanjeet , Chamola Pankaj , Kumar Vimal , Raj Rohit , Kumar Amit , Paliwal Minakshi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Conscious consumers have been influenced to either cut back on their fashion consumption or switch to ethical clothing (EC) as a result of the detrimental social effects of fast fashion that have been seen over the past 10 years. It also reflects how the ethical belief of the young generation influences them to be conscious of the ill effects of their fashion choices or behave like an ignorant irresponsible buyer. This study aims to examine this issue in detail to find out the prevalence and impact of such beliefs on consumption choices over a period of time.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the cross-sectional data of 525 respondents from India to explore and unearth the EC phenomenon in emerging markets. It follows a two-step approach consisting of confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to examine the proposed hypotheses using AMOS 22 software.

Findings

It was found that consumers in developing economies are concerned about the ethical standards followed by the fashion industry (FI), which is reflected in the form of inhuman working conditions for FI workers.

Research limitations/implications

This study emphasizes understanding attitude, subjective norms, behavioral control and EC related to ethical buying behavior and their interaction mechanisms that transform it into the actual buying intention of EC.

Originality/value

It was an eye-opener that collective societal culture and standards do not influence ethical purchase decisions but it is rather the individual’s own ethical rules which is a result of established core family values that significantly shape fashion consumption. This study advances existing literature by empirically verifying the relationship between consumer attitude, consumers’ subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, environmental concern with ethical buying behavior and ethical purchase intention. It could provide insightful information and support academic research as well as real-world marketing and environmental initiatives.
Understanding how perceived value enhances consumer loyalty toward energy-efficient appliances: the role of satisfaction and product category
Authors: Le Bao Ngoc , Nguyen Hoang Viet , Nguyen Dung Minh
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Over energy consumption is one of the causes of global warming and climate change. To deal with this issue, using energy-efficient appliances is strongly encouraged and cultivating consumer loyalty toward energy-efficient appliances is crucial for long-term sustainability. This study investigates the effects of multiple dimensions of perceived value on consumer satisfaction and three outcomes of consumer loyalty (i.e. willingness to pay a premium, repurchase intention and word-of-mouth intention), considering the moderating role of the product category.

Design/methodology/approach

Quota sampling based on age and gender and snowball sampling methods were applied to recruit 423 participants for this study. A combination of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) was employed to examine the proposed model.

Findings

Functional, price, emotional and environmental values positively impact consumer satisfaction, enhancing the three dimensions of consumer loyalty. The product category moderates the effects of perceived value dimensions on consumer satisfaction. Moreover, the IPMA results highlight that functional value and environmental value are the most essential but underperforming value attributes. The NCA results indicate that social value is a necessary condition for consumer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study is one of the pioneers in integrating PLS-SEM, IPMA and NCA approaches to comprehensively unpack the relationships between perceived value dimensions, consumer satisfaction and consumer loyalty in the context of energy-efficient appliances. The findings offer theoretical and practical importance for academics, retailers, producers and policymakers to encourage consumer loyalty toward energy-efficient appliances.
Predictive roles of environment, social, and governance scores on firms’ diversity: a machine learning approach
Authors: Koseoglu Mehmet Ali , Arici Hasan Evrim , Saydam Mehmet Bahri , Olorunsola Victor Oluwafemi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores are compelling for firm strategy and performance. Thus, this study aims to explore ESG scores’ predictive roles on global firms’ diversity scores.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,114 global firm-year data from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database was analyzed using machine learning algorithms like rpart, support vector machine, partykit and evtree.

Findings

The results reveal a positive association between diversity, resulting in greater comprehensiveness and relevance. Broadly speaking, the two factors with the most significant values for calculating the overall diversity scores of businesses are ESG scores and social scores. ESG scores and environmental scores are the most effective predictors for the diversity pillar and people development scores. In contrast, community and social scores are the most important predictor factors for the inclusion scores.

Originality/value

The research is particularly pertinent to managers and investors considering ESG issues while making decisions. The results indicate that leaders and practitioners should prioritize ESG elements and diversity problems to enhance performance.
Factors explaining the de-internationalization of academic spin-offs
Authors: Castillo Elizabeth , Fernandez-Alles Mariluz , Sanchez Jose Manuel
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the process of academic spin-offs’ de-internationalization, examining the internal and external factors that influence this strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a conceptual methodological approach that integrates a theoretical review to examine the factors influencing academic spin-offs’ decisions to cancel or reduce their presence in international markets, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, in whole or in part, and at early or later stages of their internationalization process.

Findings

The results suggest that academic spin-offs face more significant challenges in their internationalization process than other small- and medium-sized enterprises. Each of the factors analyzed can explain the type, extent and timing of de-internationalization, and their impact may vary according to the pattern of internationalization followed by these firms. Furthermore, this paper highlights that academic spin-offs de-internationalization processes are often influenced more by internal factors than by external ones. Equally, it is recognized that these factors do not act independently in de-internationalization but are interrelated and may be conditioned by each other.

Originality/value

This study offers various perspectives by assessing the nonlinear internationalization patterns of academic spin-offs. Moreover, it contributes significantly to the literature on academic entrepreneurship and internationalization by integrating de-internationalization as an essential component of the international academic spin-off life cycle.
The impact of motivation and management system on individual and organizational performance
Authors: Madzík Peter , Soukup Petr , Zimon Dominik , Droppa Milan , Štichhauerová Eva , Šírová Eva , Lysenko-Ryba Kateryna
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The growth of interest in individual and organizational performance has elevated the importance of theories that explain their mutual relationships. The aim of this study is to thoroughly explore how different factors that boost performance, such as individual motivation and management systems, are connected to the results achieved by both individuals and the organization as a whole.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 409 employees across heterogenous companies. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the relationships among the performance enable variables and output performance variables.

Findings

The results of the final model show (1) a strong relationship between individual and organizational performance, (2) a moderate relationship between an individual’s satisfaction with the task between internal motivation and individual performance, (3) a moderate relationship between organizational skills between internal motivation and organizational performance, (4) a relationship between adherence to the principles of management systems and organizational performance. It was also found that (5) the motivation of employees mediates the relationship between adherence to the principles of management systems and individual performance.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation could be the choice of scales for individual factors, as some of them have not been validated in the past and have only been empirically examined in this study. Another limitation could be the geographical scope of the study, as the data were collected from only one country.

Originality/value

This research introduces a new approach to exploring the relationship between motivational factors, management systems and performance at both individual and organizational levels. Unlike previous studies that focused on isolated performance components, our research presents a comprehensive model integrating these factors into a unified framework. This model offers deeper insights into how the combination of internal motivations and management systems impacts performance in various contexts. The research fills a gap in the literature on the interactions between these key components and provides new empirical evidence on their influence in achieving performance goals.
Two‐Step Loss of GLUTs in the High‐Metabolism Passerines
Authors: Wu Lei , Ji Yanzhu , Lei Fumin
Published: February 2025

Glucose transporters (GLUTs) play vital roles in cellular metabolism. Understanding their evolutionary dynamics in birds is essential for elucidating avian physiology and adaptation. However, the choice of gene detection method in gene family analysis may affect the conclusion. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of methodologies and GLUT gene loss events in avian lineages, focusing on the loss of GLUT4 and GLUT8. To illustrate the effects of these methods, we first employed BUSCO‐based homolog identification, calculated pairwise evolutionary distances between different species, and performed separate blastn and blastp searches to identify homologs in two groups of animals. Our analyses revealed a significant decline in blastn accuracy with increasing evolutionary distance, represented by relative divergence times. Through a more robust blastp‐based gene detection pipeline, we provide evidence for the loss of GLUT genes in birds based on 58 vertebrate genomes, including 47 bird species. Our results support the reported early loss of GLUT4 in Aves. We also newly emphasize the absence of GLUT8 in passerines, potentially due to adaptation to high‐sugar diets in their ancestors. These findings enhance our knowledge of avian metabolism and the evolution of GLUT genes.
Moral dilemmas and slow codes
Authors: Crutchfield Parker
Published: February 2025

Slow codes—insincere attempts at resuscitation—are widely regarded in medicine and medical ethics as morally impermissible. My goal here is to enrich this special issue on the slow code with an argument for the permissibility of slow codes that is rooted in moral psychology. Specifically, if we take seriously the results from moral psychology, the slow code is not only permissible, it is often the best option. The context of the decision about whether to perform a slow code is analogous to thoroughly investigated moral dilemmas such as the trolley problem. In particular, when the trolley problem is framed as a trilemma, it becomes clear that the decisional context of the slow code is analogous to the famous moral dilemma. Since in the trolley problem the choice analogous to the slow code is the best choice, the slow code may be the best choice when facing patient or family requests for futile CPR. In establishing this claim, I address a range of objections to the slow code. I conclude with an empirically supported explanation of the conventional wisdom. Resistance to the slow code doesn't sprout from the act's moral properties, but from moral judgments influenced by other factors, such as emotion, physical distance, and personal force.
A signal transduction blind spot: the function of adenylyl cyclase transmembrane domains
Authors: Dowsell Ryan S. , Gold Matthew G.
Published: February 2025

Signal transduction of external primary signals into intracellular elevations of the second messenger cyclic AMP is an ancient and universal regulatory mechanism in biology. In mammals, 9 of the 10 adenylyl cyclases (ACs) share a common topology that includes a large transmembrane (TM) domain assembled from two clusters of six helices. This domain accounts for ~ 35% of the coding sequence but, remarkably, its function is still an open question. In this viewpoint, we consider how the first primary AC sequences spurred ideas for the purpose of AC TM domains, including voltage‐sensing and transporter functions. In the original conceptions of second messenger signalling, ACs were put forward as potential receptors, and we discuss emerging evidence in support of this function. We also consider growing evidence that cyclase TM helical bundles help to organise multiprotein signalling complexes by engaging in interactions with other membrane‐embedded proteins. Cyclase TM regions are more diverse between isoforms than the catalytic domain—we conclude by considering how this might be exploited in therapeutic strategies targeting specific cyclase isoforms.
The Nexus of Corporate Disclosure and Investors’ Information Needs: An Analysis Using Topic Modeling
Authors: Lui Daphne , Moraru‐Arfire Andreea , Tao Cong
Published: February 2025

This paper identifies thematic topics that individual and institutional investors discuss about firms and investigates whether, and for which type of investors, companies incorporate in their disclosures the investors’ information needs. We use latent Dirichlet allocation to identify firm‐related topics discussed by investors and compare these topics with the content of subsequent firm disclosures. We find a positive association between the proportion of text dedicated to several firm‐related topics discussed by investors and the proportion of text on the same topics in firms’ subsequent MD&A disclosures. We also find that firms integrate much more in their disclosures institutional investors’ information needs, compared with those of individual investors. For a subset of topics, stronger associations occur for more profitable and high‐growth firms, and for firms experiencing more negative sentiment from institutional investors, subject to lower proprietary costs, and utilizing alternative communication channels. Overall, our findings extend the research on the link between individual and institutional investors’ request for information and the content of corporate disclosure.
Geometry-Driven Design of Morphable Surface Structures Using Topology Optimization and Circle Packing
Authors: Gao Lingfeng , Zhu Xiaoping , Tanaka Masato , Song Yuyang , Zhou Yuqing , Gu Xianfeng , Chen Shikui
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a new computational framework for modeling and designing morphable surface structures based on an integrated approach that leverages circle packing for surface representation, conformal mapping to link local and global kinematics, and topology optimization for actuator design. The framework utilizes a unique strategy of employing optimized compliant actuators as the basic building blocks of the morphable surface. These actuators, designed as circular elements capable of modifying their radius and curvature, are optimized using level-set topology optimization, considering both kinematic performance and structural stiffness. Circle packing is employed to represent the surface geometry, while conformal mapping guides the kinematic analysis, ensuring alignment between local actuator motions and desired global surface transformations. The design process involves mapping optimized component designs back onto the circle packing representation, facilitating coordinated control and achieving harmony between local and global geometries. This leads to efficient actuation and enables precise control over the surface morphology. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated through two numerical examples, showcasing its capability to design complex, morphable surfaces with potential applications in fields requiring dynamic shape adaptation.
Modelling context processing during sentence recognition in noise and reverberation for listeners with and without hearing loss
Authors: Sprenger Kristin , Brand Thomas
Published: February 2025

This study evaluated three models quantifying context processing in human speech recognition. We presented everyday sentences with high semantic predictability and closed word set (matrix) sentences with low semantic predictability to listeners with normal hearing and listeners with hearing loss. Sentences were presented in quiet, in steady-state noise, and in speech-like modulated noise. Reverberated and clean speech were used. We evaluated whether the models are suited for testing the following hypotheses: (1) “Listeners with hearing loss compensate reduced auditory input by relying more strongly on speech context.” (2) “Speech context is used to compensate missing information differently in modulated noise than in steady state noise or in quiet, with a smaller difference in context effects for listeners with hearing loss.” (3) “Context processing explains why matrix sentences are much more robust against reverberation than everyday sentences.” Significance testing was performed using bootstrapping. Only one of the context models showed significant differences in context processing between normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners for the different sentence types and for different listening conditions. No differences in context processing were found between stationary and modulated noise. To explain the behavior in reverberation, it is important to distinguish between a priori context and a posteriori context.