bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population coding of auditory space in the dorsal inferior colliculus persists with altered binaural cues
Authors: Rogalla Meike M. , Quass Gunnar L. , Yardley Harry , Martinez-Voigt Clara , Ford Alexander N. , Wallace Gunseli , Dileepkumar Deepak , Corfas Gabriel , Apostolides Pierre F.
Published: September 2024

Sound localization is critical for real-world hearing, such as segregating overlapping sound streams. For optimal flexibility, central representations of auditory space must adapt to peripheral changes in binaural cue availability, such as following asymmetric hearing loss in adulthood. However, whether the mature auditory system can reliably encode spatial auditory representations upon abrupt changes in binaural input is unclear. Here we use 2-photon Ca2+imaging in awake head-fixed mice to determine how the higher-order "shell" layers of the inferior colliculus (IC) encode sound source location in the frontal azimuth, under binaural conditions and after acute monaural hearing loss induced by an ear plug ipsilateral to the imaged hemisphere. Spatial receptive fields were typically broad and not exclusively contralateral: Neurons responded reliably to multiple positions in the contra- and ipsi-lateral hemifields, with preferred positions tiling the entire frontal azimuth. Ear plugging broadened receptive fields and reduced spatial selectivity in a subset of neurons, in agreement with an inhibitory influence of ipsilateral sounds. However ear plugging also enhanced spatial tuning and/or unmasked receptive fields in other neurons, shifting the distribution of preferred angles ipsilaterally with minimal impact on the neuronal population’s overall spatial resolution; these effects occurred within 2 hours of ear plugging. Consequently, linear classifiers trained on fluorescence data from control and ear-plugged conditions had similar classification accuracy when tested on held out data from within, but not across hearing conditions. Spatially informative neuronal population codes therefore arise rapidly following monaural hearing loss, in absence of overt experience.
Charge radii of thallium isotopes near the
N=126
shell closure
Authors: Yue Z. , Barzakh A. E. , Andreyev A. N. , Borzov I. N. , Cubiss J. G. , Algora A. , Au M. , Balogh M. , Bara S. , Bark R. A. , Bernerd C. , Borge M. J. G. , Brugnara D. , Chrysalidis K. , Cocolios T. E. , De Witte H. , Favier Z. , Fraile L. M. , Fynbo H. O. U. , Gottardo A. , Grzywacz R. , Heinke R. , Illana A. , Jones P. M. , Judson D. S. , Korgul A. , Köster U. , Labiche M. , Le L. , Licǎ R. , Madurga M. , Marginean N. , Marsh B. A. , Mihai C. , Nácher E. , Neacsu C. , Nita C. , Olaizola B. , Orce J. N. , Page C. A. A. , Page R. D. , Pakarinen J. , Papadakis P. , Perea A. , Piersa-Siłkowska M. , Podolyák Zs. , Reis E. , Rothe S. , Sedlak M. , Sotty C. , Stegemann S. , Tengblad O. , Tolokonnikov S. V. , Udías J. M. , Van Duppen P. , Warr N. , Wojtaczka W. ,   IDS Collaboration
Published: September 2024

The changes in the mean-squared charge radius of Tlg209 (N=128) and Tlm207 (N=126) relative to Tl205 have been measured for the first time using the in-source laser resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique with the Laser Ion Source and Trap (LIST) at ISOLDE (CERN). The application of the LIST suppresses the dominant background from isobaric francium isotopes and allows access to thallium nuclides with A⩾207. The characteristic kink in the charge radii at the N=126 neutron shell closure, as well as the odd-even effect similar to that in the adjacent bismuth, lead, and mercury isotopic chains, have been observed. The self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems based on the energy density functional by Fayans reproduces the behavior of charge radii in these isotopic chains near N=126. The comparison with calculations in the framework of the relativistic mean field (RMF) approach is also presented. In the case of the Fayans functional it is a specific form of pairing interaction with the dependence on the density gradient that is essential to provide agreement with the experimental charge radii. In particular, the kink is reproduced without the inversion of g9/2 and i11/2 neutron single-particle states, which is a prerequisite to correctly describe the kink in the RMF models.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Strong decays of the isovector-scalar
D*D¯*
hadronic molecule
Authors: Deng Jin-Cheng , Wang Bo
Published: September 2024

We adopt the effective Lagrangian approach to study the strong decays of the 1−(0++)D*D¯* molecular state [denoted as Tψ0a(4010) according to the LHCb naming convention] through triangle diagrams. The decay channels include the open-charm DD¯, and the hidden-charm ηcπ, J/ψρ, and χc1π. The coupling between the Tψ0a(4010) and its constituents D*D¯* is obtained by solving for the residue of the scattering T-matrix at the pole. Our calculations yield a total width of few tens MeV for the Tψ0a(4010) state using three different form factors, with its main decay channels being ηcπ and χc1π. The X(4100) and X(4050) have similar masses and widths, with both masses being close to the D*D¯* threshold. Additionally, their decay final states are consistent with those of the Tψ0a(4010). Therefore, it is likely that they represent the same state and both potentially correspond to the Tψ0a(4010). We suggest that future experiments focus on searching for the Tψ0a(4010) signal in the final states ηcπ−, χc1π−, and D0D− of the B0→ηcπ−K+, χc1π−K+, and D0D−K+ processes, respectively, as well as further investigating its resonance parameters with Flatté-like formula.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Coherent photo- and electroproduction of charmonia on nuclear targets revisited: Green function formalism
Authors: Nemchik J. , Óbertová J.
Published: September 2024

We study for the first time the production of charmonia in nuclear ultraperipheral and electron-ion collisions based on a rigorous Green function formalism. Such formalism allows to incorporate properly formation effects (color transparency), as well as the quantum coherence inherent in higher-twist shadowing corrections related to the |QQ¯⟩ Fock component of the photon. The leading twist gluon shadowing associated with multigluon photon fluctuations is also included within the same formalism. The later effect represents the dominant source of shadowing at midrapidities in the LHC kinematic region, while the reduced effect of quark shadowing leads to a significant modification of differential cross sections dσ/dy at forward and/or backwards rapidities. Model calculations for dσ/dy are in a good agreement with available ultraperipheral nuclear Pb−Pb collisions data on coherent charmonium production at RHIC and the LHC. In addition, we also perform predictions for nuclear effects in the electroproduction of charmonia, which can be verified by new data from electron-ion colliders.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nonperturbative phase diagram of two-dimensional
N=(2, 2)
super-Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Dhindsa Navdeep Singh , Jha Raghav G. , Joseph Anosh , Schaich David
Published: September 2024

We consider two-dimensional N=(2,2) Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(N) in Euclidean signature compactified on a torus with thermal fermion boundary conditions imposed on one cycle. We perform nonperturbative lattice analyses of this theory for large 12≤N≤20. Although no holographic dual of this theory is yet known, we conduct numerical investigations to check for features similar to the two-dimensional N=(8,8) Yang–Mills theory, which has a well-defined gravity dual. We perform lattice field theory calculations to determine the phase diagram, observing a spatial deconfinement transition similar to the maximally supersymmetric case. However, the transition does not continue to low temperature, implying the absence of a topology-changing transition between black hole geometries in any holographic dual for this four-supercharge theory.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
RD(*)
and survival of the fittest scalar leptoquark
Authors: Bečirević Damir , Fajfer Svjetlana , Košnik Nejc , Pavičić Lovre
Published: September 2024

Motivated by the long-standing discrepancy in lepton flavor universality ratios RD and RD* we assess the status of scalar leptoquark states R2, R˜2 and S1 which can in principle provide a desired enhancement of B(B→D(*)τν) in a minimal setup with two Yukawa couplings only. We consider unavoidable low-energy constraints, Z-pole measurements as well as high-pT constraints. After setting the mass of each leptoquark to 1.5 TeV we find that of all considered states only S1 leptoquark, coupled to both chiralities of leptons and quarks, is still a completely viable solution while the scenario with R2 is in growing tension with Γ(Z→ττ) and with the LHC constraints on the ditau tails at high-pT. We comment on the future experimental tests of the S1 scenario.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Genuine lepton-flavor-universality-violating observables in the
τ−μ
sector of
B→(K,K*)ℓℓ
decays
Authors: Alok Ashutosh Kumar , Chundawat Neetu Raj Singh , Kumar Jitendra , Mandal Arindam , Tamponi Umberto
Published: September 2024

It was previously shown that unlike the ratios RKμe≡RK≡Γ(B→Kμ+μ−)/Γ(B→Ke+e−) and RK*μe≡RK*≡Γ(B→K*μ+μ−)/Γ(B→K*e+e−), the ratios RKτμ and RK*τμ can deviate from their Standard Model (SM) predictions even with universal new physics couplings. This observation highlights the critical need to identify and establish genuine lepton flavor universality violating (LFUV) observables in the τ−μ sector. This work embarks on establishing genuine LFUV ratio observables in B→Kℓℓ and B→K*ℓℓ decays through comprehensive analysis of their angular distributions. We find that like RK*τμ, the ratios RAFBτμ and RfLτμ do not qualify as genuine LFUV observables, whereas the ratios of all optimized observables in B→K*ℓℓ decays within the τ−μ sector definitively do. In the case of B→Kℓℓ decays, similar to RKτμ, the ratio RFH is influenced by mass effects and therefore cannot be considered a genuine LFUV observable in the τ−μ sector. However, the ratio Γτ(1−FHτ)/Γμ(1−FHμ) stands as the sole genuine LFUV observable in B→Kℓℓ decays. Furthermore, by making use of new physics Lorentz structures which provide a better fit to the current b→sℓℓ data as compared to the SM, we demonstrate how the nongenuine LFUV ratios RAFBτμ and RfLτμ can be employed to distinguish between framework with solely universal lepton couplings and those with both universal and nonuniversal couplings.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gravitational form factors and mechanical properties of quarks in protons: A basis light-front quantization approach
Authors: Nair Sreeraj , Mondal Chandan , Xu Siqi , Zhao Xingbo , Mukherjee Asmita , Vary James P. ,   BLFQ Collaboration
Published: September 2024

We compute the gravitational form factors (GFFs) and study their applications for the description of the mechanical properties such as the pressure, shear force distributions, and the mechanical radius of the proton from its light-front wave functions (LFWFs) based on basis light-front quantization (BLFQ). The LFWFs of the proton are given by the lowest eigenvector of a light-front effective Hamiltonian that incorporates a three-dimensional confining potential and a one-gluon exchange interaction with fixed coupling between the constituent quarks solved in the valence Fock sector. We find acceptable agreement between our BLFQ computations and the lattice QCD for the GFFs. Our D-term form factor also agrees well with the extracted data from the deeply virtual Compton scattering experiments at Jefferson Lab, and the results of different phenomenological models. The distributions of pressures and shear forces are similar to those from different models.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
p
-adic reconstruction of rational functions in multiloop amplitudes
Authors: Chawdhry Herschel A.
Published: September 2024

Numerical reconstruction techniques are widely employed in the calculation of multiloop scattering amplitudes. In recent years, it has been observed that the rational functions in multiloop calculations greatly simplify under partial fractioning. In this article, we present a technique to reconstruct rational functions directly in partial-fractioned form, by evaluating the functions at special integer points chosen for their properties under a p-adic metric. As an application, we apply this technique to reconstruct the largest rational function in the integration-by-parts reduction of one of the rank-5 integrals appearing in two-loop five-point full-color massless amplitude calculations in quantum chromodynamics. The number of required numerical probes (per prime field) is found to be around 25 times smaller than in conventional techniques, and the obtained result is 130 times smaller. The reconstructed result displays signs of additional structure that could be used to further reduce its size and the number of required probes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Memory burden effect in black holes and solitons: Implications for PBH
Authors: Dvali Gia , Valbuena-Bermúdez Juan Sebastián , Zantedeschi Michael
Published: September 2024

The essence of the memory burden effect is that a load of information carried by a system stabilizes it. This universal effect is especially prominent in systems with a high capacity of information storage, such as black holes and other objects with maximal microstate degeneracy, the entities universally referred to as “saturons.” The phenomenon has several implications. The memory burden effect suppresses a further decay of a black hole, the latest, after it has emitted about half of its initial mass. As a consequence, the light primordial black holes that previously were assumed to be fully evaporated are expected to be present as viable dark matter candidates. In the present paper, we deepen the understanding of the memory burden effect. We first identify various memory burden regimes in generic Hamiltonian systems and then establish a precise correspondence in solitons and in black holes. We make transparent, at a microscopic level, the fundamental differences between the stabilization by a quantum memory burden versus the stabilization by a long-range classical hair due to a spin or an electric charge. We identify certain new features of potential observational interest, such as the model-independent spread of the stabilized masses of initially degenerate primordial black holes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Two-loop electroweak corrections to the Higgs boson rare decay process
H→Zγ
Authors: Chen Zi-Qiang , Chen Long-Bin , Qiao Cong-Feng , Zhu Ruilin
Published: September 2024

Recently, the ATLAS and CMS collaborations jointly announced the first evidence of the rare Higgs boson decay channel H→Zγ, with a ratio of 2.2±0.7 times the leading order standard model (SM) prediction. In order to face this challenge, it is urgent to produce an even more accurate calculation within the SM. To this end, we calculate in this paper the next-to-leading order (NLO) electroweak (EW) corrections to the H→Zγ process, in which the NLO quantum chromodynamics (QCD) corrections were found tiny. Our calculation finds that the inclusion of NLO EW corrections greatly enhances the prediction reliability. To tame the theoretical uncertainty, we adopt five different renormalization schemes. Combining our result with previous NLO QCD corrections and the signal-background interference, we conclude that the excess in H→Zγ cannot be explained within the SM. In fact, the incompatibility between the SM prediction and the LHC measurement of the concerned process is exacerbated upon considering the higher order EW corrections, which implies that something beyond the SM could be involved.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Superrotations at spacelike infinity
Authors: Fiorucci Adrien , Matulich Javier , Ruzziconi Romain
Published: September 2024

We propose a consistent set of boundary conditions for gravity in asymptotically flat spacetime at spacelike infinity, which yields an enhancement of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs group with smooth superrotations and new subleading symmetries. These boundary conditions are obtained by allowing fluctuations of the boundary structure which are responsible for divergences in the symplectic form, and a renormalization procedure is required to obtain finite canonical generators. The latter are then made integrable by incorporating boundary terms into the symplectic structure, which naturally derive from a linearized spin-two boundary field on a curved background with positive cosmological constant. Finally, we show that the canonical generators form a nonlinear algebra under the Poisson bracket and verify the consistency of this structure with the Jacobi identity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Crystal structure of guanosine 5′-monophosphate synthetase from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8
Authors: Nemoto Naoki , Baba Seiki , Kawai Gota , Sampei Gen-ichi
Published: September 2024

Guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP) synthetase (GuaA) catalyzes the last step of GMP synthesis in the purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway. This enzyme catalyzes a reaction in which xanthine 5′-monophosphate (XMP) is converted to GMP in the presence of Gln and ATP through an adenyl-XMP intermediate. A structure of an XMP-bound form of GuaA from the domain Bacteria has not yet been determined. In this study, the crystal structure of an XMP-bound form of GuaA from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 (TtGuaA) was determined at a resolution of 2.20 Å and that of an apo form of TtGuaA was determined at 2.10 Å resolution. TtGuaA forms a homodimer, and the monomer is composed of three domains, which is a typical structure for GuaA. Disordered regions in the crystal structure were obtained from the AlphaFold2-predicted model structure, and a model with substrates (Gln, XMP and ATP) was constructed for molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. The structural fluctuations of the TtGuaA dimer as well as the interactions between the active-site residues were analyzed by MD simulations.
Ways of not seeing: visibility, blindness, and the transparency game
Authors: Tweedie Jonathan , Ronzani Matteo
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To advance understanding of transparency by problematising the motivations and strategies of a so far underexplored group: its users.

Design/methodology/approach

We explore the relationship between blindness, visibility, and transparency by drawing on our analysis of Max Frisch’s experimental novel Gantenbein (1964), in which the protagonist lives a life of feigned blindness.

Findings

The accounting scholarly debate on transparency has neglected the users of transparency. We address this through a novel theorisation of transparency as a game, highlighting some of its distinctive features and paradoxes.

Originality/value

By theorising the transparency game we move beyond concerns with what transparency reveals or conceals and conceptualise the motivations and strategies of the players engaged in this game. We show how different players have something to gain from the transparency game and warn of its emancipatory limits.
Effect of graphene on mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of TiO2-SiO2 sol-gel coating
Authors: Kovalenko Dmitry Leonidovich , Uong Van Vy , Mac Van Phuc , Nguyen Thien Vuong , Pham Thi Lan , Nguyen Tuan Anh , Gaishun Vladimir Evgenevich , Vaskevich Vasili Vasilievich , Tran Dai Lam
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how graphene can improve the mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of TiO2-SiO2 sol-gel coating. This sol-gel coating has been prepared on aluminum alloy substrate using graphene as both nano-filler and corrosion inhibitor.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the effect of graphene on mechanical properties of sol-gel coating, the abrasion resistance, adhesion strength and scratch resistance of coating have been evaluated. To reveal the effect of graphene on the anti-corrosion property of coating for aluminum alloy, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been conducted in 3.5 Wt.% NaCl medium.

Findings

Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been homogeneously dispersed into the sol-gel coating matrices (at the contents from 0.1 to 0.5 Wt.%). Mechanical tests of coatings indicate that the graphene content of 0.5 Wt.% provides highest values of adhesion strength (1.48 MPa), scratch resistance (850 N) and abrasion strength (812 L./mil.) for the sol-gel coating. The EIS data show that the higher content of GNPs improve both R1 (coating) and R2 (coating/Al interface) resistances. In addition to enhancing the coating barrier performance (graphene acts as nanofiller/nano-reinforcer for coating matrix), other mechanism can be at work to account for the role of the graphene inhibitor in improving the anticorrosive performance at the coating/Al interface.

Originality/value

Application of graphene-based sol-gel coating for protection of aluminum and its alloy is very promising.
Reflexivity and interdisciplinarity: the reflexive journey of an interdisciplinary research team in disaster risk reduction
Authors: Forino Giuseppe , Barclay Jenni , Armijos M. Teresa , Phillips Jeremy , Córdova Marco , Sevilla Elisa , Filippi Maria Evangelina , Apgar Marina , Snijder Mieke , Andrade S. Daniel , Mejia Adriana , Bedoya María Elena
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Reflexivity supports research teams in developing and implementing interdisciplinarity perspectives, but there is still limited literature on this topic. To fill this gap, we explore how reflexivity can support a research team in its interdisciplinary efforts to create new knowledge for disaster risk reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

We present the reflexive journey of our interdisciplinary research team consisting of Ecuador- and UK-based researchers from the social sciences, physical sciences and the arts and humanities and conducting multi-hazard research on Quito. By triangulating data obtained from different material collected during the reflexive journey, we discuss examples of how our team employed reflexivity towards interdisciplinarity.

Findings

The reflexive journey allowed our interdisciplinary team to acknowledge and give value to its diversity; to discuss disciplinary language differences, and to gradually develop interdisciplinary working practices and conversations. The journey demonstrates how reflexive practices within research teams allow researchers to overcome disciplinary differences and promote interdisciplinarity to reach research outcomes.

Originality/value

Our reflexive experience shows that adopting reflexivity can be effective in both enhancing interdisciplinarity and addressing the complex nature of risk.
Universities as cities of flows: decoding cross-regional university partnerships for sustainable development in China
Authors: Zhong Zhou , Zong Jing
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The study conceptualises universities as “cities of flows” to examine the East-West University Partnership (EWUP) in China, which is a pioneering initiative of cross-regional university collaboration linking over 220 institutions across China since 2001. The study explores the strategic enhancement of connective and collaborative capacity of universities to facilitate diverse flows of talent, knowledge and other resources within the broader context of China's sustainable development in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a qualitative single-case study design to investigate the EWUP within its real-life context using participant observation and documentary research. As an analogical inquiry, the study merges the insider and outsider perspectives of the researchers to identify patterns between theoretical constructs and empirical evidence.

Findings

The EWUP as a policy entrepreneurship has significantly contributes to coordinated, inclusive and sustainable development. Its spatial dynamics consists of structural, temporal and collaborative dynamics. They are characterised by centrality, connectivity and adaptability which are generated through the interplay among the nodes, linkages and fields of influence within the EWUP network. These dynamics showcase EWUP as a novel approach to managing long-term university partnerships between more and less developed regions.

Originality/value

The study reimagines universities and higher education systems through vivid analogies of cities and transportation networks and elucidates connectivity as a pivotal dimension of sustainability. It advocates for reexamining spatial theories in higher education, deepens insights into the dynamics of cross-regional university partnerships in coordinating educational and territorial development, and enriches discussions on Higher Education for Sustainable Development (HESD).
The effect of minimum wage increases on the labor productivity of star-rated hotels: evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Jun , Pan Ting
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the spatial impact of an increase in the minimum wage on the labor productivity of star-rated hotels in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact is analyzed by using the dynamic spatial Durbin model.

Findings

The authors find a U-shaped link between the increase in minimum wage and labor productivity of star-rated hotels. The long-term impact of a minimum wage increase has a greater influence on labor productivity than its short-term effects. While there is no notable spatial spillover impact observed in the sample of 31 provinces in China, the authors do identify a spatial spillover effect of the minimum wage rises on the labor productivity of star-rated hotels in the central area. Furthermore, they observe heterogeneity across China. The eastern and western regions exhibit a U-shaped relationship, whereas the central region exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship.

Practical implications

The findings of this study allow government agencies to get a more comprehensive comprehension of the actual consequences of minimum wage hikes on the tourism and hospitality sector, thereby establishing a solid basis for them to develop appropriate policies. Moreover, it offers a variety of suggestions aimed at enhancing the quality and efficiency of hotel management.

Originality/value

Research on the effects of minimum wage standards is scant in the hospitality industry. Based on human capital investment theory, this study examines the effect of the minimum wage standard hikes on labor productivity of star-rated hotels from the spatial perspective, filling the existing research gap.
Does board gender diversity moderate the impact of ESG on firms' economic value added? Evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Makhija Harnesh , Raghukumari P.S. , Sethiya Anuja
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study explores the moderating effect of board gender diversity (BGD) between a firm's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and Economic value added (EVA) using NSE-listed 331 companies' data from 2015 to 2020, forming 1986 firm-year observations.

Design/methodology/approach

Our study is based on panel data; hence, we use a system GMM panel regression model to confirm whether the BGD moderates ESG and EVA. We also address the endogeneity issues.

Findings

Overall, our study reported a positive moderating effect of BGD between ESG and EVA. Similar results were observed across the chemical and financial services industries. However, in the case of the healthcare and consumer goods industries, we did not find support for the moderating effect.

Practical implications

The implications of our results are considerable and relevant for regulators, governing bodies, and corporate managers. It helps them understand how BGD plays a vital role in influencing the effect of ESG on a firm's EVA.

Originality/value

No existing research has explored the moderating effect of BGD between ESG and EVA, to the authors' best knowledge. Therefore, our study extends the existing literature and further supports resource dependency, agency, and stakeholder theories of corporate governance.
Understanding the influencing factors on firms’ social media marketing strategies development: a cross-country investigation
Authors: Li Fangfang , Silva Susana C. , Larimo Jorma
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the development of social media marketing strategy in an international context. We specifically look at the potential drivers and barriers throughout the social media marketing strategy development process and how cultural differences shape social media marketing strategy decision-making among firms in international markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is conducted with an inductive research approach involving in-depth interviews with 32 firms from Finland, China and Brazil. Using inductive data analysis, we identify both internal and external factors that drive and hinder the development of firms’ social media marketing strategies. Moreover, we explore the essential elements in social media marketing strategy development based on the key practices observed among these firms, which enables us to conduct a comparative analysis of how cultural values influence the development of social media marketing strategies.

Findings

Our findings underscore the importance of both internal (i.e. resources and capabilities) and external (i.e. market-level and country-level) factors that influence the development of social media marketing strategy. Our analysis also unveiled four key practices throughout the social media marketing strategy development process: social selling, content marketing, risk management and relationship management. Additionally, we identified three distinct mindsets regarding firms’ social media selling objectives across companies in the three countries.

Originality/value

The comparative approach provides novel insight into firms' international social media marketing strategy. Our proposed conceptual model shows the development process of social media marketing strategy in the international context. The research propositions highlight the role of cultural values and open up new avenues for future research.
The underpricing and long-term performance of Chinese IPOs listed on the Hong Kong exchange
Authors: Deng Hua , Liu Wendong
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to inform prospective listing firms, investors and regulators of the unique drivers of Chinese initial public offering (IPO) pricing on the Hong Kong Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a hand-collected IPO dataset, we investigate whether information uncertainty or investor exuberance drives underpricing and Chinese IPOs’ performance from 2002 to 2015, including 114 state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Findings

Contrasting with the “listing bubble” in the China domestic stock market, generated by the overoptimism of retail investors, we highlight a “placing bubble” among Chinese firms listed in Hong Kong. This is driven by institutional investors’ buoyant demand for Chinese IPO shares, particularly those of SOEs. Chinese listing firms employ discreet earnings management strategies with their working capital accounts to smooth pre-IPO earnings, which becomes apparent to the market only in the long term.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the pricing of sought-after Chinese IPOs among international investors, who face various restrictions when investing in the Chinese domestic stock market. Additionally, it is the first study to measure earnings management using hand-collected pre-IPO data in IPO underpricing studies.
The effects of the functional and geographical breadth of collaborations on radical innovation performance: the moderating role of firm size
Authors: Izotova Anna , Bolívar-Ramos María Teresa
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Due to the constantly increasing competitiveness along with the complexity of knowledge, firms perceive collaboration as a key strategy that preserves firms' radical innovation performance. In this context, this paper aims to examine how firms’ partners’ diversity in open innovation activities influences the development of radical innovations, critical for social development. In particular, this study analyzes how the functional and geographical breadth of the firm’s collaboration portfolio affects its radical innovation performance. Furthermore, it also explores the role of firm size as a moderator in the relationships proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs panel data analysis, using a sample of 4,677 Spanish firms, with data sourced from the PITEC database.

Findings

The results of this study show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the functional and the geographical breadth of collaborations and the firms’ radical innovation performance. Moreover, this study finds partial support for the moderating role of firm size, in the sense that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms vary in their optimal number of diversity of partners.

Originality/value

This research provides a better understanding on how partners’ functional and geographical diversity, along with organizational characteristics such as firm size, affect how firms benefit from collaboration for innovation. This study shows that both SMEs and large firms experience diminishing returns when their collaboration networks become overly diverse in pursuit of radical innovation, due to increased costs. However, in SMEs, the turning point occurs at a later stage, consistent with the idea that small firms need broader functional networks to access complementary and novel resources they usually lack.
The potential significance of geographic information systems (GISs) and remote sensing (RS) in sustainable tourism and decent community involvement in African-rural neighborhoods
Authors: Ramaano Azwindini Isaac
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study looked at the potential applications of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) for inclusive community development and participation, sustainable tourism, and rural community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in sub-Saharan Africa and other rural areas worldwide.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate resource management systems for rural tourism and the environment in Africa and abroad. The study makes use of reviews of relevant literature and documents, and while linking applications for sustainable tourism and local community empowerment with CBNRM and GIS, vital content was manually analyzed.

Findings

The study shows a potential affinity between agricultural and tourism businesses that GIS in line with the CBNRM conception can strengthen. In many rural and underdeveloped regions of the continent, this highlights the need for a credible and varied tourism strategy to develop and empower the relevant communities.

Originality/value

Most agricultural communities in Africa are located in low-income regions. Such areas are rich in natural wildlife and have popular tourist destinations. A mix of regional community development initiatives can be built using GIS, sustainable tourism, CBNRM, and community-based tourism (CBT).
The impact of COVID on the rate of return to schooling among US industries
Authors: Chen Yanan , Kelly Kyle
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This empirical study aims to examine the COVID impact on the rate of return to schooling in 20 US industries.

Design/methodology/approach

An extended Mincer earnings equation with the COVID dummy variable and dummy interactive terms is used to examine the COVID effect on the rate of return to schooling for different industries. We use Heckman selection model to account for sample selection bias.

Findings

During COVID years, the change in the wage differential between college-and-above and below-college workers is different for industries, which leads to different changes in the rate or return to schooling among the 20 industries. During COVID, the rate of return to schooling increased for seven industries, decreased for seven industries and remained the same for six industries.

Originality/value

There is a lack of empirical tests of recession effects on the rate of return to schooling focusing on industry differentials. This study fills the research gap in this field. Our results will contribute to the ongoing discussion of the COVID impact on wages and returns from human capital investment.
Auditor mood and audit quality: evidence from music sentiment measure
Authors: Xu Qiao , Chen Lele , Kalelkar Rachana
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Extant studies propose music sentiment as a novel measure of individuals’ sentiment. These studies argue that individuals’ choice of music reflects their emotional condition in real time and influences their cognitive ability, making it a powerful tool for assessing their mood. This study aims to use music sentiment as a proxy for auditors’ mood and explore its impact on audit quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of the US firms from 2017 to 2020 is used in the study. The authors apply the ordinary least squares regressions and the logit regressions to the audit quality models. The authors use absolute discretionary accruals and the propensity to meet or beat earnings forecasts as proxies for audit quality and calculate a stream-weighted average sentiment measure for Spotify’s Top-200 songs of each day during the audit period of a client firm to capture the sentiment of auditors.

Findings

The authors find that music sentiment is positively associated with audit quality. The result is consistent with the mood maintenance hypothesis, which suggests that a positive mood can induce auditors to be more careful in risky situations. Furthermore, the result is robust to various sensitivity analyses.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the scarce literature that focuses on auditors’ emotional state and highlights the importance of monitoring auditor mindset during the audit period.
Métissage – somewhere between hope and happening
Authors: Vicars Mark Aldous , Manning-Lewis Tanya , Maddalozzo Frances Macapagal , Zaid-Kilani Dima , Savage Raymond
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Within minutes, our group, who had no prior introduction, began to learn the value of emerging from a relational space of (re)presenting and (re)storying our experiences. “I” became “We”, which became “Us”

Design/methodology/approach

Recently, the seventh bi-annual conference of the World Federation for Teacher Education 2023 focused on the theme of “Re-imagining Teacher Education: From Words to Action.” During the session on métissage as methodology, participants from four different countries, three ethnic backgrounds and gender and sexual differences were invited into dialogue to explore the nuances of our identities, academic positions and life experiences.

Findings

Doing métissage as novices, our subsequent discussion problematized the perpetuation of procedural narratives that contested the Cartesian cuts of methodological normalcy.

Originality/value

Sharing our stories of self in our group we referenced how institutional frameworks had shaped and were reconstructing contexts for our being and belonging in the academy. In our narrating vulnerability we were once again located in telling relations to do with identity, power and social being. Jones (2015, p. 8) has asked. “Other than dry academic reports, how can we retell these stories in sensitive and ethical ways to wider audiences? How do the stories themselves inspire creativity in retelling them? How can we involve participants in the retelling of their stories?”
Eco-friendly functionalisation on cotton and blended textile using Annona squamosa and Moringa oleifera extracts
Authors: Sornapudi Sirisha Deepthi , Srivastava Meenu , Manchikatla Srinivas , H. Samuel Thavaraj , B. Senthil Kumar
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Natural extracts produced with Annona squamosa and Moringa oleifera leaves through the methanol-based solvent were coated on 100% cotton and 80%:20% polyester/cotton blends to improve the functional properties such as antimicrobial activity, wicking, stiffness and crease recovery of the fabric using an eco-friendly 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) crosslinking agent.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 100% cotton and 80:20% Polyester/Cotton fabrics with surface densities of 113.5 g/m2 and 101 g/m2 were treated BTCA. Eight different samples were produced by padding through the natural extracts. The FTIR investigation was performed on all the fabric samples. These coated fabrics were studied for their antimicrobial activity, wicking, stiffness and crease recovery properties.

Findings

It was found that the BTCA cross-linked fabrics showed higher antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, the percentage crease recovery angle was higher for the Annona squamosa coated sample than for Moringa Oleifera leaf extract in both cotton and polyester cotton blend samples. Furthermore, no significant variation in stiffness values was discovered between the control samples of cotton and polyester cotton blend and its treatment one. It was interesting to note that treating the fabrics with cross-linker showed improved vertical wicking properties, which were closer to control fabric values. The study confirms that crosslinking the fabrics with BTCA has improved the functional properties of the fabrics. The zone of inhibition values of BTCA cross-linked moringa methanolic leaves extract coated cotton and polyester cotton blend were 6 to 6.5 cm, which was more than 50% higher than non-BTCA cross-linked fabric, and BTCA cross-linker has improved the vertical wicking properties.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome of this study will help to gain a better understanding of BTCA cross-linkers for improving the functional coating on textile substrates.

Originality/value

This study was conducted to improve the natural extract coating on textile material with eco-friendly aspects, enhancing the commercial utility of these finished fabrics
An artificial neural network-based predictive model for tensile behavior estimation under uncertainty for fused deposition modeling
Authors: Obaidat Sinan , Tamimi Mohammad Firas , Mumani Ahmad , Alkhaleel Basem
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present a predictive model approach to estimate the tensile behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) under uncertainty using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D638’s Types I and II test standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The prediction approach combines artificial neural network (ANN) and finite element analysis (FEA), Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and experimental testing for estimating tensile behavior for FDM considering uncertainties of input parameters. FEA with variance-based sensitivity analysis is used to quantify the impacts of uncertain variables, resulting in determining the significant variables for use in the ANN model. ANN surrogates FEA models of ASTM D638’s Types I and II standards to assess their prediction capabilities using MCS. The developed model is applied for testing the tensile behavior of PLA given probabilistic variables of geometry and material properties.

Findings

The results demonstrate that Type I is more appropriate than Type II for predicting tensile behavior under uncertainty. With a training accuracy of 98% and proven presence of overfitting, the tensile behavior can be successfully modeled using predictive methods that consider the probabilistic nature of input parameters. The proposed approach is generic and can be used for other testing standards, input parameters, materials and response variables.

Originality/value

Using the proposed predictive approach, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the tensile behavior of PLA is predicted for the first time considering uncertainties of input parameters. Also, incorporating global sensitivity analysis for determining the most contributing parameters influencing the tensile behavior has not yet been studied for FDM. The use of only significant variables for FEA, ANN and MCS minimizes the computational effort, allowing to simulate more runs with reduced number of variables within acceptable time.
How does tourism development affect the land market? Evidence from land transaction data in China
Authors: Song Changyao , Yin Tingting , Zhi Qian , Gu Jiaqian , Li Xinjian
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Land is the basis for economic development as well as tourism development. There is a close relationship between tourism development and the land market. However, research on the effect of tourism development on land prices is insufficient. This paper aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of tourism development on land prices.

Design/methodology/approach

The econometric paradigm is the main research method. Fixed effect models, instrumental variable models and mediating effect models are introduced to examine the impact of tourism development on land prices. The data include three types: land transaction data, city-level data and scenic spot data. More than 360,000 samples of land transactions for 284 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2021 are applied.

Findings

Tourism development can significantly increase land prices. This conclusion holds after using instrumental variables to address endogeneity and testing for robustness. Meanwhile, tourism development’s effect on land price is influenced by land type, city type, city tier and city location. The land price increase effect of tourism is more significant for tourism land, tourist cities, central cities and Western cities. The paper also reveals the mechanisms of the public service enhancement effect, infrastructure upgrading effect and environmental optimization effect in tourism development’s effect on land price.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on the relationship between tourism development and land market. The generality and specificity of tourism development’s effect on land price are revealed from the micro and macrolevel research level. The findings enrich the literature on tourism price effects, point to rational ways to optimize and regulate land prices and provide new ideas for land-market development.
Tapinarof cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: Efficacy and safety results from two Japanese phase 3 trials
Authors: Igarashi Atsuyuki , Tsuji Gaku , Fukasawa Shuichi , Murata Ryusei , Yamane Satoshi
Published: September 2024

Tapinarof is a nonsteroidal, topical, aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of tapinarof cream 1% in Japanese patients aged ≥12 years with atopic dermatitis (AD) in two phase 3 trials, ZBB4‐1 and ZBB4‐2. ZBB4‐1 (N = 216) consisted of an 8‐week, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled treatment period (period 1) and a 16‐week extension treatment period (period 2). Patients were randomized 2:1 to tapinarof or vehicle in period 1; subsequently, all patients who enrolled in period 2 received tapinarof. ZBB4‐2 (N = 291) was a 52‐week, open‐label, uncontrolled trial in which all patients received tapinarof. In period 1 of ZBB4‐1, the proportion of patients who achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) with ≥2‐grade improvement from baseline at week 8 (IGA treatment success, the primary end point) was 20.24% in the tapinarof group and 2.24% in the vehicle group (p = 0.0007). The proportion of patients with ≥75% improvement from baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score at week 8 (EASI‐75 response, the key secondary end point) was 40.3% in the tapinarof group and 4.3% in the vehicle group (p < 0.0001). In ZBB4‐2, IGA treatment success rate was 28.1% at week 16, 32.3% at week 24, and 41.3% at week 52, and EASI‐75 response rate was 53.3% at week 16, 63.7% at week 24, and 76.6% at week 52, indicating that efficacy responses improved over time and were maintained over 52 weeks. Across the two trials, most adverse events (AEs) were mild or moderate; common AEs included folliculitis, acne, and headache. In summary, tapinarof cream 1% was effective and generally safe for up to 52 weeks of treatment in Japanese patients with AD.