bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-sectional Study on Sex Disparities among Japanese and Korean University School of Pharmacy Professors
Authors: Soh Hyunseo , Ohno Eri , Hashimoto Mayu , Han Euna , Maeda Hideki
Published: January 2025

Japan and South Korea are ranked low in the Gender Gap Index, and the ratio of female faculty members at universities is low. The ratio of female professors at universities is assumed to be lower than the ratio of female medical professionals; however, the details remain unknown. Consequently, this study aimed to examine sex disparity among professors in the pharmacy departments of universities in Japan and South Korea. Furthermore, the characteristics of Japanese and South Korean pharmacy departments were examined to explore the differences and sex disparity.

This study was conducted based on publicly available information from the websites of each university’s pharmacy department as of November 1, 2023. Sex was determined from first names or photographs. This study was conducted following the STROBE guidelines, and no ethical review or consent was required.

This study included 73 universities in Japan and 35 universities in South Korea. The proportion of female professors in university pharmacy departments was 12.5% in Japan and 32.9% in South Korea. A total of 1,965 pharmacy professors were identified in Japan and South Korea. Of these, 1,527 were from Japan and 438 were from South Korea. The estimated ratio of professors to million individuals in Japan was 12.28, compared to 8.51 in South Korea. This indicated that Japan had approximately 1.4 times as many professors as South Korea after correction for population.

The proportion of female professors in both countries was <50%. Japan had significantly fewer female professors than South Korea, suggesting that women’s advancement in university pharmacy departments was lagging in Japan. Additionally, South Korea’s higher number of female professors specializing in clinical research may suggest that women with clinical practice experience in hospitals or pharmacies were becoming university professors.
A Comparative Environmental Impact Analysis of Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rudrapatna Vivek A. , Wang Tzu An , Vazirnia Parsia , Wang Kaiyi , Alhalel Nathan , Slatter Shadera , Mattson Gunnar , Becker Amy , Oon Ching-Ying , Wang Shan , Karlon William , Pasternak Scott , Thiel Cassandra L. , Gandhi Seema , Woolen Sean
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Healthcare is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is one of the most widely used healthcare services in the US, indicated for approximately 134 million adults. Recommended screening options include fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) every year, CT colonographies (CTCs) every 5 years, or colonoscopies every 10 years. We compared the environmental impacts of these tests and identified opportunities for impact reduction.

METHODS

We conducted a comparative life cycle assessment of three CRC screening strategies at the University of California, San Francisco. We performed on site audits to document the materials and energy used for each screening test. We used the ReCiPe 2016 method to estimate the environmental impacts of these procedures, measured by global warming potential (GWP) and damage to human health. We estimated the 10-year cumulative impacts of each screening strategy using a Markov reward model. We accounted for model uncertainty using hierarchical Monte Carlo simulations.

FINDINGS

FIT-based screening had the lowest environmental impacts, with a roughly 20% margin of superiority over colonoscopies, and this finding was robust in sensitivity analyses. Across tests, the biggest cause of environmental harm was car-based transportation of patients and staff. Prioritizing FITs over screening colonoscopies in the US could enhance population health by roughly 5.2 million disability adjusted life years per decade. Transitioning to electric vehicles could reduce the GWP of all screening tests by 15-20%.

INTERPRETATION

Given the similar efficacy and safety of these tests, payors should prioritize FITs for low-risk patients. Government initiatives to decarbonize transportation, incentivize telehealth, and mandate environmental product declarations will help reduce the environmental impacts of healthcare more generally. Our results call for a closer look at resource-intensive preventative health strategies, which could result in more harm than good if applied to a low-risk population.

FUNDING

NIH, UCSF
Privacy-preserving AUC Computation in Distributed Machine Learning with PHT-meDIC
Authors: de Arruda Botelho Herr Marius , Baykara Cem Ata , Ünal Ali Burak , Pfeifer Nico , Akgün Mete
Published: January 2025

Ensuring privacy in distributed machine learning while computing the Area Under the Curve (AUC) is a significant challenge because pooling sensitive test data is often not allowed. Although cryptographic methods can address some of these concerns, they may compromise either scalability or accuracy. In this paper, we present two privacy-preserving solutions for secure AUC computation across multiple institutions: (1) an exact global AUC method that handles ties in prediction scores and scales linearly with the number of samples, and (2) an approximation method that substantially reduces runtime while maintaining acceptable accuracy. Our protocols leverage a combination of homomorphic encryption (modified Paillier), symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, and randomized encoding to preserve the confidentiality of true labels and model predictions. We integrate these methods into the Personal Health Train (PHT)-meDIC platform, a distributed machine learning environment designed for healthcare, to demonstrate their correctness and feasibility. Results using both real-world and synthetic datasets confirm the accuracy of our approach: the exact method computes the true AUC without revealing private inputs, and the approximation provides a balanced trade-off between computational efficiency and precision. All relevant code is publicly available athttps://github.com/PHT-meDIC/PP-AUC, facilitating straightforward adoption and further development within broader distributed learning ecosystems.

Author summary

A commonly used metric to evaluate the performance of machine learning models is the Area Under the Curve (AUC). Calculating the AUC in distributed machine learning settings is challenging because data cannot be shared between institutions due to privacy concerns. To address this, we developed two privacy-preserving methods: one that calculates the exact AUC securely and another that provides faster approximations with high accuracy. These methods use advanced encryption techniques to protect sensitive data while enabling secure collaboration. We tested them in a real-world healthcare platform called PHT-meDIC and demonstrated their effectiveness. The code is publicly available athttps://github.com/PHT-meDIC/PP-AUCto support wider adoption.
Specialized response of default mode subnetworks and multiple-demand regions to transitions of person, place and time
Authors: Zhou Ashley X , Duncan John , Mitchell Daniel J
Published: January 2025

This study used functional MRI data from theStudyForrestdataset to investigate the role of subnetworks of the default mode network (DMN) during naturalistic stimulus transitions of different types and magnitudes. We found distinct activation profiles within the DMN: the dmPFC subnetwork was specifically associated with character and location transitions, the MTL subnetwork preferred location and temporal transitions, while the Core DMN subnetwork responded to all three transition types. The multiple-demand network instead responded selectively to temporal transitions. These distinct response profiles appeared largely invariant to the semantic distance implied by the transitions. All subnetworks also responded significantly, and in a graded manner, to subjective event boundaries. Results suggest specific roles of the DMN subnetworks in perceiving and segmenting naturalistic events, supporting the view that DMN subnetworks cooperate in interpreting continuous external events and maintaining an updated contextual model of the world.
Permissive central tolerance plus defective peripheral checkpoints licence pathogenic memory B cells in CASPR2-antibody encephalitis
Authors: Sun Bo , Fernandes Dominique , Kienzler Anne-Kathrin , Paneva Sofija , Harrison Ruby , Ramanathan Sudarshini , Harrison Anna L , Makuch Mateusz , Fichtner Miriam L , Donat Robert F. , Akdeniz Deniz , Bayuangga Halwan , Im Min Gyu , Williams Robyn , Vasconcelos Ana , Thomsen Selina , Fower Andrew , Sun Ruyue , Fox Hannah , Mgbachi Victor , Davies Alexander , Tseng Mandy , Handel Adam , Kelly Mark , Zhao Meng , Bancroft James , Bashford-Rogers Rachael , Pluvinage John V , Dandekar Ravi , Alvarenga Bonny D. , Dustin Lynn , Rinaldi Simon , Owens Ray , Anthony Daniel , Bennett David L , Waters Patrick , Davis Simon J. , Wilson Michael R , O’Connor Kevin C , Soltys John , Carvalho Ana Luisa , Irani Sarosh R
Published: January 2025

Autoimmunity affects 10% of the population. Within this umbrella, autoantibody-mediated diseases targeting one autoantigen provide a unique opportunity to comprehensively understand the developmental pathway of disease-causing B cells and autoantibodies. While such autoreactivities are believed to be generated during germinal centre reactions, the roles of earlier immune checkpoints in autoantigen-specific B cell tolerance are poorly understood. We address this concept in patients with CASPR2-autoantibody encephalitis and healthy controls. In both groups, comparable and high (∼0.5%) frequencies of unmutated CASPR2-reactive naïve B cells were identified. By contrast, CASPR2-reactive memory B cells were exclusive to patients, and their B cell receptors demonstrated affinity-enhancing somatic mutations with heterogenous binding kinetics. These effector molecules possessed epitope-dependent pathogenic effectsin vitroneuronal cultures andin vivo.The unmutated common ancestors of these memory B cells showed a distinctive balance between strong CASPR2 reactivity and very limited binding across the remaining human proteome. Our results are the first to propose mechanisms underlying autoantigen-specific tolerance in humans. We identify permissive central tolerance, defective peripheral tolerance and heterogenous autoantibody binding properties as sequential pathogenic steps which licence CASPR2-directed pathology. By leveraging the basic immunobiology, we rationally direct tolerance-restoring approaches in CASPR2-antibody diseases. This paradigm is applicable across autoimmune conditions.
Extensive length and homology dependent chimerism in pool-packaged AAV libraries
Authors: Lalanne Jean-Benoît , Mich John K. , Huynh Chau , Hunker Avery C. , McDiarmid Troy A. , Levi Boaz P. , Ting Jonathan T. , Shendure Jay
Published: January 2025

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have emerged as the foremost gene therapy delivery vehicles due to their versatility, durability, and safety profile. Here we demonstrate extensive chimerism, manifesting as pervasive barcode swapping, among complex AAV libraries that are packaged as a pool. The observed chimerism is length- and homology-dependent but capsid-independent, in some cases affecting the majority of packaged AAV genomes. These results have implications for the design and deployment of functional AAV libraries in both research and clinical settings.
Targeted Sortase A Inhibition by Novel Peptidomimetic Antivirulents against Staphylococcal Infections
Authors: Hintzen Jordi C. J. , Rahimi Shadi , Tietze Daniel , Zhang Jian , Mijakovic Ivan , Tietze Alesia A.
Published: January 2025

Antibiotic resistance is a critical public health issue, causing resistant bacterial strains to be increasingly difficult to control. Antivirulence therapies, which target bacterial virulence factors rather than kill bacteria, present a promising approach. Sortase enzymes, particularly SrtA, are crucial for Gram-positive bacterial virulence by anchoring surface proteins essential for bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation to the bacterial outer cell wall. This study evaluates the selectivity of the peptidomimetic inhibitor BzLPRDSar towards various Gram-positive bacteria. The BzLPRDSar significantly inhibited biofilm formation in multidrug-resistantS. aureusandS. epidermidis. Conversely, it showed variable and generally lower selectivity to Gram-positive species such asE. faecalis, B. cereusandS. agalactiae. The selectivity towards Staphylococcus species is attributed to conserved structural elements in the SrtA enzyme, particularly the β7/β8 loop region with a key tryptophan, likely facilitating strong binding interactions with the inhibitor.

Importance

This study addresses the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance by exploring antivirulence therapy as an innovative alternative to conventional antibiotics, focusing on inhibiting bacterial virulence rather than bacterial growth. By evaluating the selectivity of the peptidomimetic inhibitor BzLPRDSar against various Gram-positive bacteria, the study highlights its potent selectivity in inhibiting biofilm formation in multidrug-resistantS. aureusandS. epidermidis. The findings underscore the potential of targeting conserved structural elements in bacterial Sortase enzymes, particularly in Staphylococcal species, to develop more selective and effective antivirulence therapies.
Characterization of the ligand binding pocket of the virulence regulator Rns, a Member of the AraC/XylS family of transcription factors
Authors: Tolbert Jessica D , Talbot Kacey M , Kull F. Jon , Munson George P , Midgett Charles R
Published: January 2025

Diarrheal disease caused by Gram-negative enteric pathogens such as enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC),Vibrio cholerae,Shigella spp., and,Salmonella spp.are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality of children; especially, in low resource nations. While progress has been made in reducing this burden, there remains a need to develop efficacious therapies.

Recently, we determined the structure of Rns, a member of the AraC/XylS family that regulates the expression of pili and other virulence factors in ETEC. The structure revealed decanoic acid bound between the N- and C-terminal domains. To test the hypothesis that bound decanoic acid directly inhibits Rns, we used its structure to identify residues that are necessary for ligand binding. Removal of the positive side chains of R75 and H20 rendered Rns insensitive to fatty acid inhibition. Additionally, mutations designed to occlude decanoic acid binding also produced a variant that was fatty acid insensitive. We also observed that this variant is structurally more flexible than wildtype Rns with decanoic acid; suggesting that bound fatty acid contributes to structural rigidity.

These studies precisely demonstrate Rns binding pocket residues critical for binding fatty acids and inhibition of DNA binding. This supports our hypothesis that fatty acids must bind in the binding pocket to inhibit AraC regulators. Further work by us and others suggests inhibition of AraC virulence regulators by fatty acids is a common paradigm among many bacterial pathogens. Therefore, understanding the molecular basis of this inhibition lays the groundwork for the development of small molecule therapeutics targeting enteric disease.
KAT6A acetylation drives metabolic adaptation to mediate cellular growth and mitochondrial metabolism through AMPK interaction
Authors: Keller Mariko Aoyagi , Ivessa Andreas , Liu Tong , Li Hong , Romanienko Peter J , Nakamura Michinari
Published: January 2025

Diets influence metabolism and disease susceptibility, with lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) serving as key regulators through acetyl-CoA. We have previously demonstrated that a ketogenic diet alleviates cardiac pathology, though the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we show that KAT6A acetylation is crucial for mitochondrial function and cell growth. Proteomic analysis revealed that KAT6A is acetylated at lysine (K)816 in the hearts of mice fed a ketogenic diet under hypertension, which enhances its interaction with AMPK regulatory subunits. RNA-sequencing analysis demonstrated that the KAT6A acetylation-mimetic mutant stimulates AMPK signaling in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, the acetylation-mimetic mutant mitigated phenylephrine-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via AMPK activation. However, KAT6A-K816R acetylation-resistant knock-in mice unexpectedly exhibited smaller hearts with enhanced AMPK activity, conferring protection against neurohumoral stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. These findings indicate that KAT6A regulates metabolism and cellular growth by interacting with and modulating AMPK activity through K816-acetylation in a cell type-specific manner.
Overcoming Fluorescence Loss in mEOS-based AAA+ Unfoldase Reporters Through Covalent Linkage
Authors: Walter Isabella R. , Smith Baylee A. , Castanzo Dominic , Wohlever Matthew L.
Published: January 2025

Recent work has demonstrated that the soluble photoconvertable fluorescent protein mEOS can be a reporter for AAA+ (ATPases Associated with diverse cellular Activities) unfoldase activity. Given that many AAA+ proteins process membrane proteins, we sought to adapt mEOS for use with membrane protein substrates. However, direct genetic fusion of mEOS to a membrane protein completely abolished fluorescence, severely limiting the utility of mEOS for studying AAA+ proteins. To circumvent this challenge, we separately purified mEOS and a AAA+ degron, covalently linked them via Sortase, and photoconverted the linked construct. This innovative approach preserves fluorescence and enables functional analysis, offering a broadly applicable platform for the study of membrane associated AAA+ proteins.
Reusing wasted bioresources for crop protection: Calcinated oyster shell powder enhances rhizospheric microbial-mediated suppression of root-knot nematodes
Authors: Jiang Qipeng , Wang Yong , Yu Jiamin , Wang Jinfeng , Jiang Lianqiang , Guo Shiping , Qian Yu , Yu Xiangwen , Liu Dongyang , Xi Daojiang , Deng Quan , Ding Wei , Li Shili
Published: January 2025

The root-knot nematode (RKN)Meloidogyne incognitais one of the most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) affecting crop production worldwide. Our earlier study revealed that calcinated oyster shell powder (OSP) effectively suppressed tobacco RKN disease. However, the suppression mechanism of OSP against RKNs remain unknown. Our study revealed that calcinated OSP reduced the tobacco root–knot index by more than 38% by inhibiting the migration of second-stage juveniles ofMeloidogyne incognita(J2) in the soil. Furthermore, OSP reduced the J2 density in the tobacco rhizosphere by 43.69% and significantly increased the soil pH by 0.68; moreover, OSP increased the contents of soil exchangeable calcium (ExchCa) and exchangeable magnesium (ExchMg) by more than 50%. Moreover, soil properties, including ExchMg, ExchCa and pH, enhanced the microbial-mediated suppression of J2. Specifically, Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadota dominated the microbial community suppressing RKN, and fungal richness contributed to the suppression of RKNs; in addition, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria dominated the microbial community promoting RKN prosperity. Our study revealed that the reuse of wasted oyster shell powder as an innovative antagonist is a promising avenue for ecofriendly RKN management strategies.

IMPORTANCE

There is increased demand for ecofriendly RKN management strategies, and this study is the first to propose that the reuse of wasted oyster shell powder as an innovative antagonist against RKNs is effective, and calcinated oyster shell powder can reduce tobacco root-knot index andMeloidogyne incognita(J2) density by inhibiting the migration of J2s and enhancing the microbially mediated suppression of J2s in the tobacco rhizosphere. Moreover, several soil microbial and physicochemical indicators, including the contents of soil exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, pH and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadota, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria in plant rhizosphere were suggested to guide the development of ecofriendly PPN management strategies.
Temporal and protein-specific S-palmitoylation supports synaptic and neural network plasticity
Authors: Pyty Agata , Ijaz Rabia , Buszka Anna , Miłek Jacek , Figiel Iza , Wardaszka Patrycja , Roszkowska Matylda , Mierzwa Natalia , Wojtas Adam , Kerstein Eli , Serwa Remigiusz , Kalita Katarzyna , Dzakpasu Rhonda , Dziembowska Magdalena , Włodarczyk Jakub , Wójtowicz Tomasz
Published: January 2025

S-palmitoylation, a dynamic post-translational modification, has long been suggested to play a pivotal role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. However, its precise impact on synaptic proteins and function remains unclear. In this study, we show that acute protein depalmitoylation in the hippocampus differentially affects short- and long-term synaptic plasticity, depending on synapse type. Strikingly, depalmitoylation also reprograms neuronal spiking timing following associative network activation. Our research identifies pre- and postsynaptic proteins dynamically regulated by S-palmitoylation during synaptic plasticity and suggests this modification occurs in isolated excitatory synapses. We also demonstrate that S-palmitoylation targets specific proteins within minutes and is not proteome-wide. These findings mark a significant advance in understanding how lipid modifications drive neural adaptability, memory, and learning.
Distinct modes of dopamine modulation on striatopallidal synaptic transmission
Authors: Lee Youngeun , Reva Maria , Kim Ki Jung , Kim Yemin , Cho Eunjeong , Kim Hyun-Jin , Jeong Minseok , Myung Kyungjae , Li Yulong , Lee Seung Eun , Kim Eunjoon , Lee C. Justin , Lüscher Christian , Kim Jae-Ick
Published: January 2025

Dopamine (DA) affects voluntary movement by modulating basal ganglia function. In the classical model, DA depletion leads to overactivity of the indirect pathway and excessively inhibits the thalamus, resulting in hypokinesia. The contribution of DA on striatopallidal synapses, an initial hub in the indirect pathway connecting the striatum to the external globus pallidus (GPe), remains poorly understood because of the sparse DA innervation. Here, we combine optogenetic projection targeting, whole cell patch clamp recordings in acute brain slices from mice, and computational modeling to overcome this limitation. We show that DA activates D2R receptors (D2Rs) and D4 receptors (D4Rs) differentially in distinct GPe subregions. In a pinwheel-like fashion, dorsolateral and ventromedial GPe expresses high levels of D2Rs, which exert presynaptic inhibition, while in dorsomedial and ventrolateral GPe D4Rs cause postsynaptic inhibition. DA depletion by 6-OHDA (6-hydroxydopamine) reverses the region- specific effect of DA, shifting it in the opposite direction and contributing to hypokinesia. These findings reveal the mechanism by which the different modality information conveyed spatially through the indirect pathway is differentially modulated by DA at striatopallidal synapses.
Imaging transverse modes in a gigahertz surface-acoustic-wave cavity
Authors: Fisicaro M. , Steenbergen T.A. , Doedes Y.C. , Heeck K. , Löffler W.
Published: January 2025

Full characterization of surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) devices requires imaging the spatial distribution of the acoustic field, which is not possible with standard all-electrical measurements where an interdigital transducer is used as a detector. Here we present a fiber-based scanning Michelson interferometer employing a strongly focused laser beam as a probe. Combined with a heterodyne circuit, this setup enables frequency- and spatially resolved measurements of the amplitude and phase of the SAW out-of-plane displacement. We demonstrate this by investigating a 1-GHz SAW cavity, revealing the presence of frequency-overlapping transverse modes, which are not resolved with an all-electrical measurement. The frequency overlap of these transverse modes leads to mode superpositions, which we analyze by quadrature decomposition of the complex acoustic field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Janus and RG-flow interfaces from matter-coupled
F(4)
gauged supergravity
Authors: Karndumri Parinya
Published: January 2025

We study supersymmetric Janus solutions from matter-coupled F(4) gauged supergravity coupled to three vector multiplets and SO(4)∼SO(3)×SO(3) gauge group. There are two supersymmetric AdS6 vacua preserving all supersymmetries with SO(3)×SO(3) and SO(3)diag symmetries dual to N=2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in five dimensions. We consider a truncation to SO(2)diag⊂SO(3)diag singlet scalars and find a number of new supersymmetric Janus solutions preserving eight supercharges. These solutions holographically describe conformal interfaces within N=2 five-dimensional SCFTs involving deformations by source terms and vacuum expectation values of relevant and irrelevant operators. Apart from the Janus solutions interpolating between SO(3)×SO(3) AdS6 vacua, some of the solutions have SO(3)diag AdS6 vacua generated by holographic renormalization group (RG) flows from the SO(3)×SO(3) phases on both sides. We also give evidence for solutions describing RG-flow interfaces with a SO(3)×SO(3) AdS6 vacuum on one side and SO(3)diag AdS6 vacuum on the other side. The solutions provide first examples of Janus solutions involving more than one AdS6 vacuum in six-dimensional gauged supergravity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Coherence of an Electronic Two-Level System under Continuous Charge Sensing by a Quantum Dot Detector
Authors: Haldar Subhomoy , Munk Morten , Havir Harald , Khan Waqar , Lehmann Sebastian , Thelander Claes , Dick Kimberly A. , Samuelsson Peter , Potts Patrick P. , Maisi Ville F.
Published: January 2025

We investigate experimentally the quantum coherence of an electronic two-level system in a double quantum dot under continuous charge detection. The charge state of the two-level system is monitored by a capacitively coupled single quantum dot detector that imposes a backaction effect on the system. The measured backaction is well described by an additional decoherence rate, approximately linearly proportional to the detector electron tunneling rate. We provide a model for the decoherence rate arising due to level detuning fluctuations induced by detector charge fluctuations. The theory predicts a factor of 2 lower decoherence rates than observed in the experiment, suggesting the need for a more elaborate theory accounting for additional sources of decoherence.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Complex-valued three-dimensional atomic spectroscopy with Gaussian-assisted inline holography
Authors: Huang Xing , Wang Yuzhuo , Zhao Jian , Wu Saijun
Published: January 2025

When a laser-cooled atomic sample is optically excited, the envelope of coherent forward scattering can often be decomposed into a few complex Gaussian profiles. The convenience of Gaussian propagation helps address key challenges in digital holography. In this paper, we develop a Gaussian-decomposition-assisted approach to inline holography for single-shot, simultaneous measurements of absorption and phase-shift profiles of small atomic samples sparsely distributed in three dimensions. The samples' axial positions are resolved with micrometer resolution and their spectroscopy are extracted from complex-valued images recorded at various probe frequencies. The phase-angle readout is not only robust against transition saturation but also insensitive to atom-number and optical-pumping-induced interaction-strength fluctuations. Benefiting from such features, we achieve hundred-kHz-level single-shot resolution to the transition frequency of a Rb87 D2 line, with merely hundreds of atoms. We further demonstrate single-shot three-dimensional field sensing by measuring local light shifts to the atomic array with micrometer spatial resolution.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Scattered waves fuel emergent activity
Authors: King Ella M. , Morrell Mia C. , Sustiel Jacqueline B. , Gronert Matthew , Pastor Hayden , Grier David G.
Published: January 2025

Active matter taps into external energy sources to power its own processes. Systems of passive particles ordinarily lack this capacity, but can become active if the constituent particles interact with each other nonreciprocally. By reformulating the theory of classical wave-matter interactions, we demonstrate that interactions mediated by scattered waves generally are not constrained by Newton's third law. The resulting center-of-mass forces propel clusters of scatterers, enabling them to extract energy from the wave and rendering them active. This form of activity is an emergent property of the scatterers' state of organization and can arise in any system where mobile objects scatter waves. Emergent activity flips the script on conventional active matter whose nonreciprocity emerges from its activity, and not the other way around. We combine theory, experiment, and simulation to illustrate how emergent activity arises in wave-matter composite systems and to explore the phenomenology of emergent activity in experimentally accessible models. These preliminary studies suggest that heterogeneity is a singular perturbation to the dynamics of wave-matter composite systems, and induces emergent activity under all but the most limited circumstances.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Multiband superconductors under magnetic fields: Fractional vortices and Ising superconductivity
Authors: Ji Haijiao , Yuan Noah F. Q.
Published: January 2025

Inspired by the recent experiments in monolayer iron-based superconductors, we theoretically investigate the properties of a two-dimensional multiband superconductor under magnetic fields, focusing on two aspects. First, for vortex bound states under out-of-plane magnetic fields, the spatial anisotropy and positions of electron density peaks are associated with interband couplings. Second, under in-plane magnetic fields, even with inversion symmetry, a Ising-type spin-orbit coupling is allowed, leading to an enhanced in-plane upper critical field. Applications to other two-dimensional multiband superconductors are also discussed.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Effect of employee emotional competence on customer emotional attachment: the roles of service recovery satisfaction and service failure severity
Authors: Saleem Salman , Umar Rana Muhammad , Oduro Stephen
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to enhance our understanding of employee emotional competence (EEC) in the context of service failure and recovery. Accordingly, the present study investigates the relationship between perceived EEC and customer emotional attachment (CEA) through the mediating role of service recovery satisfaction (RES). Furthermore, the study examines the moderating impact of service failure severity (SFS) on the relationship between perceived EEC and RES.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered online survey was carried out to collect data. Using a convenience sampling technique, 195 US consumers were recruited from Prolific Academic. To test the hypotheses, this study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

According to the analysis, perceived EEC impacts CEA directly and indirectly via RES. Additionally, the study finds that consumers reported feeling more emotionally connected to the restaurant when they were satisfied with service recovery. Finally, the study identified that the connection between perceived EEC and RES increases with service failure severity.

Practical implications

This study emphasizes enhancing EEC through organization-wide training to increase customer satisfaction and emotional attachment to the service organization. Furthermore, it underscores the need for comprehensive employee training to categorize service failure severity and formulate appropriate recovery strategies.

Originality/value

The authors believe this is the first RES study to examine perceived EEC’s effect on CEA. By combining the affect infusion and cognitive appraisal theories to examine recovery satisfaction, this study contributes to the existing body of research on service recovery by shedding light on the relationship between perceived EEC and CEA. Furthermore, the study offers preliminary findings indicating an increase in the impact of perceived EEC on RES during high failure severity (SFS).
The effect of third-party certifications on corporate social responsibility communication authenticity and credibility
Authors: Marschlich Sarah , Hurtado Ellis
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Accusations of greenwashing and corporate scandals have increased individuals’ skepticism of companies and their CSR claims. As a result, corporations seek to improve individuals’ perceptions of the credibility and authenticity of their CSR communication. Using signaling theory, this study tested to what extent external certifications from a non-profit organization act as a signal to affect individuals’ skepticism toward CSR, which, in turn, could influence individuals’ perceptions of CSR communication authenticity and credibility.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a one-factorial (CSR communication with or without CSR certification) between-subjects online experiment, surveying 184 individuals. Mediation analyses were performed to test our hypotheses. Participants were randomly assigned to a made-up corporate website text in which corporate efforts were either certified with the B Corporation Certification, one of the most established non-profit organization’s certifications of CSR or in which no certification was indicated.

Findings

The results demonstrate that external CSR certifications decrease individuals’ CSR skepticism and increase the perceived authenticity and credibility of CSR communication. CSR skepticism partially mediated the effect between the certification condition and CSR communication authenticity and credibility.

Originality/value

The study advances CSR communication research by providing empirical evidence of the positive effect of CSR certifications on the perceived authenticity and credibility of CSR communication. Businesses can signal the veracity of their CSR claims by obtaining a CSR certification, which decreases individuals’ skepticism toward CSR.
Challenges to the implementation of design for adaptability among design professionals in Ghana
Authors: Kotei-Martin Jenefailus Nikoi , Agyekum Kofi , Salgin Burcu , Pittri Hayford , Botchway Edward Ayebeng , Gasue Rhoda , Aklashie Samuel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The increase in waste and carbon emissions from the construction industry continues to fester although sustainable design approaches such as designing for adaptability (DfA) have been approved as a viable option to minimize construction waste and greenhouse gases while providing cost savings on building projects. This paper examines the views of design professionals on the challenges to implementing DfA in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).

Design/methodology/approach

A critical comparative review of the related literature was conducted on the international challenges to implementing adaptability. After the review, 16 challenges were identified and used as the basis of the questionnaire survey in the Ghanaian context. By using a quantitative approach, a close-ended structured questionnaire was used to seek the views of 236 design professionals operating in the GCI regarding these factors. Data retrieved were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings

The findings revealed the key challenges to implementing DfA among design professionals in Ghana to include “limited funding for adaptable buildings”, “lack of collaboration between design professionals, contractors and clients towards the realization of adaptable buildings”, “limited demand for adaptable buildings” and “lack of education and training programs on design for adaptability practices”.

Originality/value

The novelty or originality of this study lies in its focus on the GCI, an area where the concept of DfA has rarely been examined in practice despite its recognized potential benefits in reducing waste and emissions. The study offers a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted challenges faced by design professionals in Ghana. This level of detail is crucial for devising targeted strategies to promote DfA in the region.
The effect of stretch goals and moral justification on counterproductive work behavior
Authors: Ferdiansah Muhammad Irdam , Chong Vincent K. , Wang Isabel Z. , Woodliff David R.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the mediating role of moral justification in the relationship between stretch goals and counterproductive work behavior (CWB).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 149 US-based middle-level managers drawn from an online survey relying on Qualtrics was used for this study.

Findings

The results show that the level of stretch goals is positively related to CWB. Furthermore, the results show that moral justification partially mediates this relationship. The results suggest that when a goal is set at low or medium levels, stretch goals are not related to CWB.

Research limitations/implications

The result has managerial implications suggesting that the senior management should avoid setting the level of stretch goals that employees would perceive as high because a high level of stretch goals could suggest extremely challenging but unattainable goals, resulting in employees engaging in CWB.

Originality/value

The “bright side” of stretch goals can enhance organizational performance however the “dark side” of stretch goals can backfire and undermine organizational performance. This paper examines the “dark side” of stretch goals that show that when employees perceive goals set are extremely challenging but unattainable, such perception of high-performance goals would induce employees’ desire to engage in CWB, especially when they could morally justify (rationalize) such behavior.
Unveiling locavorism in restaurants: understanding consumer’s intention and the dual moderating roles of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control
Authors: Essam Esraa , Abdien Mohamed Kamal , Barakat Mona Omar , Elsaqqa Mostafa Abdelaziz
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study is based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) and attempts to shed light on what influences restaurant consumers’ intentions to eat locally sourced meals.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 698 respondents were gathered through a web-based survey employing a quantitative methodology.

Findings

The findings indicated that several motivating factors, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control positively influence respondents’ attitudes toward dining at restaurants serving meals that are obtained locally. Also, attitudes significantly predicted intentions and mediated the relationship between the motivating factors and intention to consume local meals. Furthermore, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control moderated the relationship between attitude and intention.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers implications for both theory and practice. In the context of Egypt in particular, this study advocates for sustainable food production and consumption in restaurants. The study focused only on consumers; it suggests that subsequent research should examine the restaurant operators’ perspective.

Practical implications

To draw in and please more locavores, restaurant management can use buzzwords like “safe food,” “fresh food” and “environmental labels.” They should also provide their consumers with the backstory of menu items, including where food comes from, how it’s made and how it gets transported.

Originality/value

This study tests an adapted model built on TPB and advocates for sustainable production and consumption in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
“I am a clinician, but I’m also a service user…” Navigating doctoral training as a trainee clinical psychologist (TCP) with lived mental health experience (LMHE)
Authors: Bamber Grace , Caygill Lisa , Craven-Staines Sarah
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Lived mental health experience (LMHE) is a term describing the direct impact of a mental health problem or being a mental health carer. This study aims to qualitatively explore how UK-based trainee clinical psychologists with LMHE navigate doctoral training.

Design/methodology/approach

Trainee clinical psychologists (TCPs; N = 12) who self-reported LMHE completed a semi-structured interview which was analysed using constructivist grounded theory (CGT).

Findings

The end model had six main categories: the pressured system; narratives about LMHE within the profession; developing trainee identity and sense of self; disclosing LMHE within the professional context; building safe, balanced and reciprocal relationships with other professionals; drawing upon LMHE within clinical practice. The end model is visually depicted as an hourglass to represent receiving and internalising external information which influences identity development and bidirectionally filters outwards to shape interactions and relationships.

Social implications

Findings have implications for TCPs, course centres and using trusts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first CGT study to qualitatively explore how TCPs with LMHE navigate the holistic trajectory of doctoral clinical psychology training.
B2B sustainable ecosystems as support the “three-legged stool” in emerging countries: SMEs’ stakeholder relations in Ardakan (Iran)
Authors: Nevi Giulia , Basile Gianpaolo , Kaufmann Hans Rüdiger , Fotouhi Ardakani Mohammad
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In the context of triple-bottom-line dynamics, societal components grapple with multifaceted challenges, necessitating changing behaviours within business-to-business (B2B) processes. This study investigates how collaborative relations in B2B ecosystems can influence social, environmental and economic sustainability dynamics, exploring whether the former two positively impact economic results.

Design/methodology/approach

Validating a conceptual framework via partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling, a quantitative study on 262 Iranian SME stakeholders was conducted.

Findings

The research underscores the paramount role of B2B relations, emphasizing the shift towards interconnected relations between society, institutions, end-users and businesses. The findings suggest that B2B collaborative efforts within a broader ecosystem address social and environmental needs, thereby contributing to transforming the ecosystem’s business models. Innovatively, the research elicited that environmental and social effects have a positive mediating effect on economic results.

Originality/value

By proposing a business-social-institutional model (B2SI) grounded in relational and dynamic capabilities, this study contributes to advancing both scientific understanding and business practices, pointing to the important role of social responsibility within B2B ecosystems.
Management control system stability and change in a global corporation: the role of cultural capital
Authors: Akroyd Chris , Matsugi Satoko , Shima Yoshinobu
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the role that the “cultural capital” of managers has on the stability and change of management control systems (MCS) in the subsidiary of a global corporation.

Design/methodology/approach

A seven-year longitudinal case study was conducted at the US subsidiary of a Japanese-based global corporation. The theoretical concepts of cultural capital and MCS package typology are used to examine how management controls were understood by locally hired employees and expatriate Japanese managers at the case study site.

Findings

The findings show that the managers at the Japanese headquarters transferred an MCS package that had a high level of interdependence between cultural control and results control to their US subsidiary in the 1960s. This MCS package did not influence the behavior of locally hired employees in ways that the Japanese expatriate managers expected; instead, it led to the cultural exclusion of local employees. Even when the Japanese managers were faced with a changing environment, the MCS package did not change. When Japanese managers realized they could not achieve their goals in the USA without local managers, they slowly started to hire mid-career local managers. As the number of local managers increased, the expatriate Japanese managers started to become more aware of the impact of their cultural capital. This has resulted in changes in the MCS package for local managers in the US subsidiary.

Originality/value

This study revealed that even when the strategy of a company and the environment in which it operates changes, an MCS package may not change quickly. The authors show that the cultural capital of managers plays a role in MCS stability and change.
Sensorized laparoscopic surgical grasper with integrated capacitive force sensor for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery
Authors: Usman Muhammad Ameer , Muhammad Rehan , Shabbir Taimoor , Tiwana Mohsin Islam , Hamza Amir , Saleem Muhammad Mubasher
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce a sensorized surgical grasper with a novel flexible capacitive tactile force sensor integrated within the surgical grasper for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and robot-assisted MIS (RMIS) procedures.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed sensor offers a unique configuration of sensing electrodes with one top excitation electrode and three bottom electrodes enabling the measurement of normal and shear forces without incorporating any complex decoupling algorithms. The design of the sensor is optimized using finite-element method simulations, ensuring efficiency and reliability.

Findings

Experimental validation, real-time sensor response and application in lump detection through stiffness assessment demonstrate the decoupled force response (0–5 N normal range and 0–2 N shear range) with high sensitivity 0.0124/N, repeatability and hysteresis response with 5.65% and 4.7% errors respectively.

Originality/value

The compact design of the sensor makes it compliant with surgical graspers and therefore enhances the overall efficiency of robotic surgical procedures. The sensorized surgical grasper is fabricated using conventional machining and rapid prototyping techniques, presenting a cost-effective solution for adoption.
Documenting and responding to the views and experiences of autistic people with profound learning disabilities: community and professional perspectives on current day-service practices
Authors: Redmore Ned , Tilley Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper details research that aimed to explore how day services and their staff document and respond to the views and experiences of autistic people with profound learning disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a qualitative study involving eight interviews, seven workshops and a focus group with day-service staff, people with learning disabilities, autistic people and family members (44 participants).

Findings

This study found that day-service documenting practices focus on formal aspects of service members’ lives, such as behaviour, as opposed to their views or experiences. Support staff reported that they often gain a complex understanding of members’ views and experiences, but this understanding is not drawn upon when services make decisions about support. This study suggested including members’ views and experiences in documenting practices could improve how they are responded to in and out of service provision, though this required greater recognition of the understanding developed between them and their support workers.

Originality/value

This paper contributes knowledge of how the views and experiences of a significantly marginalised group, autistic people with profound learning disabilities, can be better represented within support provision and social care, with practical suggestions regarding how this could be realised.