bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the diversity and composition of tree-related microhabitats across climate and human impact gradients on a tropical mountain
Authors: Bianco Giovanni , Hemp Andreas , Schleuning Matthias
Published: May 2024

Tree-related microhabitats (TReMs) have been proposed as important indicators of biodiversity to guide forest management. However, their application has been limited mostly to temperate ecosystems, and it is largely unknown how the diversity of TReMs varies along environmental gradients. In this study, we assessed the diversity of TReMs on 180 individual trees and 44 plots alongside a large environmental gradient on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. We used a typology adjusted to tropical ecosystems and a tree-climbing protocol to obtain quantitative information on TreMs on large trees and dense canopies. We computed the diversity of TReMs for each individual tree and plot and tested how TReM diversity was associated with properties of individual trees and environmental conditions in terms of climate and human impact. We further used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to investigate the composition of TReM assemblages alongside the environmental gradients. We found that diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of the first branch were the most important determinants of TReM diversity on individual trees, with higher DBH and lower first branch height promoting TReM diversity. At the plot level, we found that TReM diversity increased with mean annual temperature and decreased with human impact. The composition of TReMs showed high turnover across ecosystem types, with a stark difference between forest and non-forest ecosystems. Climate and the intensity of human impact were associated with TReM composition. Our study is a first test of how TReM diversity and composition vary along environmental gradients in tropical ecosystems. The importance of tree size and architecture in fostering microhabitat diversity underlines the importance of large veteran trees in tropical ecosystems. Because diversity and composition of TReMs are sensitive to climate and land-use effects, our study suggests that TReMs can be used to efficiently monitor consequences of global change for tropical biodiversity.
ForSys: non-invasive stress inference from time-lapse microscopy
Authors: Borges Augusto , Miranda-Rodríguez Jerónimo R. , Ceccarelli Alberto Sebastián , Ventura Guilherme , Sedzinski Jakub , López-Schier Hernán , Chara Osvaldo
Published: May 2024

During tissue development and regeneration, cells interpret and exert mechanical forces that are challenging to measure in vivo. Therefore, stress inference algorithms have emerged as powerful tools to estimate tissue stresses. However, how to incorporate tissue dynamics effectively into the inference remains elusive. Here, we present ForSys, a Python-based software that estimates intercellular stresses and intracellular pressures using time-lapse microscopy. We validated ForSys in silico and in vivo using the well-characterized mucociliary epithelium of the Xenopus embryo. We applied ForSys to study the migrating zebrafish lateral line primordium. We found that stress increases during cell rounding just before cell division and predicted the onset of epithelial rosettogenesis with high accuracy. Finally, we analyzed the development of the zebrafish neuromast and inferred mechanical asymmetries in a cell type-specific adhesion pattern. The versatility and simplicity of ForSys enhance the toolkit for studying spatiotemporal patterns of mechanical forces during tissue morphogenesis in vivo.
The ontogeny of play in a highly cooperative monkey, the common marmoset
Authors: Godard Alice M. , Burkart Judith M. , Brügger Rahel K.
Published: May 2024

Play is mostly observed in juveniles in mammals, and the type of play (social, locomotor and object play) tends to mirror adult function. In some species, also adults play with immatures, in particular if same-aged play partners are lacking and adults also invest in caretaking. We studied the ontogeny of play in cooperatively breeding common marmoset groups composed of parents and twin offspring between the age of two to six months. Social play was by far the most prevalent and increased with age. Adults were important play partners: Before 19 weeks old, the play partners of immatures was an adult in 54% of the time spent playing socially. After week 19, this proportion decreased to 29%. The rest of the social play time was spent playing with their twin. Thus, despite the constant presence of a twin, adult-immature play remained considerable, with equal contributions by mothers and fathers and no trade-offs with other care-taking behaviours (i.e., carrying and food sharing) for either of the parents. Notably, parents avoided playing simultaneously, presumably to avoid periods when no one could be vigilant. Together, these results resonate strongly with the highly interdependent and cooperative lifestyle of common marmosets.

Highlights

Social play is the predominant form of play in marmosets and increases between the age of 2 to 6 months

Parents are important play partners for immatures during ontogeny

The odds of playing with the twin rather than a parent increases with age

Mothers and fathers play at similar amounts with the immatures

Mothers and fathers take turns and almost never play simultaneously with the immatures
Transfer learning reveals sequence determinants of the quantitative response to transcription factor dosage
Authors: Naqvi Sahin , Kim Seungsoo , Tabatabaee Saman , Pampari Anusri , Kundaje Anshul , Pritchard Jonathan K , Wysocka Joanna
Published: May 2024

Deep learning approaches have made significant advances in predicting cell type-specific chromatin patterns from the identity and arrangement of transcription factor (TF) binding motifs. However, most models have been applied in unperturbed contexts, precluding a predictive understanding of how chromatin state responds to TF perturbation. Here, we used transfer learning to train and interpret deep learning models that use DNA sequence to predict, with accuracy approaching experimental reproducibility, how the concentration of two dosage-sensitive TFs (TWIST1, SOX9) affects regulatory element (RE) chromatin accessibility in facial progenitor cells. High-affinity motifs that allow for heterotypic TF co-binding and are concentrated at the center of REs buffer against quantitative changes in TF dosage and strongly predict unperturbed accessibility. In contrast, motifs with low-affinity or homotypic binding distributed throughout REs lead to sensitive responses with minimal contributions to unperturbed accessibility. Both buffering and sensitizing features show signatures of purifying selection. We validated these predictive sequence features using reporter assays and showed that a biophysical model of TF-nucleosome competition can explain the sensitizing effect of low-affinity motifs. Our approach of combining transfer learning and quantitative measurements of the chromatin response to TF dosage therefore represents a powerful method to reveal additional layers of the cis-regulatory code.
Role of the CTCF Binding Site in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus-1 Pathogenesis
Authors: Joseph Ancy , Cheng Xiaogang , Harding John , Al-Saleem Jacob , Green Patrick , Veis Deborah , Rauch Daniel , Ratner Lee
Published: May 2024

During HTLV-1 infection, the virus integrates into the host cell genome as a provirus with a single CCCTC binding protein (CTCF) binding site (vCTCF-BS), which acts as an insulator between transcriptionally active and inactive regions. Previous studies have shown that the vCTCF-BS is important for maintenance of chromatin structure, regulation of viral expression, and DNA and histone methylation. Here, we show that the vCTCF-BS also regulates viral infection and pathogenesisin vivoin a humanized (Hu) mouse model of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Three cell lines were used to initiate infection of the Hu-mice, i) HTLV-1-WT which carries an intact HTLV-1 provirus genome, ii) HTLV-1-CTCF, which contains a provirus with a mutated vCTCF-BS which abolishes CTCF binding, and a stop codon immediate upstream of the mutated vCTCF-BS which deletes the last 23 amino acids of p12, and iii) HTLV-1-p12stop that contains the intact vCTCF-BS, but retains the same stop codon in p12 as in the HTLV-1-CTCF cell line. Hu-mice were infected with mitomycin treated or irradiated HTLV-1 producing cell lines. There was a delay in pathogenicity when Hu-mice were infected with the CTCF virus compared to mice infected with either p12 stop or WT virus. Proviral load (PVL), spleen weights, and CD4 T cell counts were significantly lower in HTLV-1-CTCF infected mice compared to HTLV-1-p12stop infected mice. Furthermore, we found a direct correlation between the PVL in peripheral blood and death of HTLV-1-CTCF infected mice. In cell lines, we found that the vCTCF-BS regulates Tax expression in a time-dependent manner. The scRNAseq analysis of splenocytes from infected mice suggests that the vCTCF-BS plays an important role in activation and expansion of T lymphocytesin vivo. Overall, these findings indicate that the vCTCF-BS regulates Tax expression, proviral load, and HTLV pathogenicityin vivo.

Author Summary

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a cause of leukemia and lymphoma, and several inflammatory medical disorders. The virus integrates in the host cell DNA, and it includes a single binding site for a cellular protein designated CTCF. This protein is important in regulation of many viruses, as well as properties of normal and malignant cells. In order to define the role of CTCF in HTLV-1 pathogenesisin vivo, we analyzed a mutant virus lacking the binding site in humanized mice. We found that this mutation slowed virus spread and attenuated the development of disease. Gene expression studies demonstrated a dynamic role of CTCF in regulating viral gene expression and T lymphocyte activation.
New isolates refine the ecophysiology of the Roseobacter CHAB-I-5 lineage
Authors: Lanclos V. Celeste , Feng Xiaoyuan , Cheng Chuankai , Yang Mingyu , Hider Cole J. , Coelho Jordan T. , Kojima Conner Y. , Barnes Shelby J. , Cleveland Catie S. , Xie Mei , Zhao Yanlin , Luo Haiwei , Thrash J. Cameron
Published: May 2024

The CHAB-I-5 cluster is a pelagic lineage that can comprise a significant proportion of all roseobacters in surface oceans and have predicted roles in biogeochemical cycling via heterotrophy, aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis (AAnP), CO oxidation, DMSP degradation, and other metabolisms. Though cultures of CHAB-I-5 have been reported, none have been explored and the best known representative, strain SB2, was lost from culture after obtaining the genome sequence. We have isolated two new CHAB-I-5 representatives, strains US3C007 and FZCC0083, and assembled complete, circularized genomes with 98.7% and 92.5% average nucleotide identities with the SB2 genome. Comparison of these three with 49 other unique CHAB-I-5 metagenome-assembled and single-cell genomes indicated that the cluster represents a genus with two species, and we identified subtle differences in genomic content between the two species subclusters. Metagenomic recruitment from over fourteen hundred samples expanded their known global distribution and highlighted both isolated strains as representative members of the clade. FZCC0083 grew over twice as fast as US3C007 and over a wider range of temperatures. The axenic culture of US3C007 occurs as pleomorphic cells with most exhibiting a coccobacillus/vibrioid shape. We propose the nameThalassovivens spotae, gen nov., sp. nov. for the type strain US3C007T.
Punctuated and continuous structural diversity of S-layers across the prokaryotic tree of life
Authors: Johnston Edward , Isbilir Buse , Alva Vikram , Bharat Tanmay A.M. , Doye Jonathan P. K.
Published: May 2024

Surface layers (S-layers) are two-dimensional (2D) crystalline lattices that frequently coat prokaryotic cells, playing a crucial role in protection, maintaining cellular integrity, and mediating environmental interactions. However, the molecular landscape of these abundant proteins has remained underexplored due to a lack of structural data. By employing AlphaFold2multimer together with planar symmetry constraints in a workflow validated by electron cryomicroscopy structure determination, we have elucidated the lattice structures of over 150 S-layers from diverse archaea and bacteria. Our findings unveil a multifaceted evolutionary landscape for S-layer proteins, highlighting key differences in the evolution of bacterial and archaeal S-layers. Our study allows us to discover underlying patterns in S-layer structure, organisa-tion, and cell anchoring mechanisms across the prokaryotic tree of life, deepening our understanding of the intricately complex microbial cell surfaces, which appear to have evolved proteinaceous S-layers independently on multiple occasions. This work will open avenues for rational manipulation of prokaryotic cellular interactions in multicellular microbiomes, as well as for innovative 2D biomaterial design.
Molecular Basis of β2 Integrin Activation by Talin Unveils Species-Specific Mechanisms of Integrin Signaling
Authors: Gao Tong , Maskalenko Nicholas A. , Kabir Salvin , Campbell Kerry S. , Wu Jinhua
Published: May 2024

Integrins consist of 24 species, each with unique tissue-expression profiles and distinct biological functions. The β subunit of integrin interacts with the FERM-folded head domain of talin through an N-P-x-Y/F motif, triggering integrin activation. Although this motif is conserved across most integrin-β subunits, the precise molecular mechanisms governing talin’s selective recognition of different integrin species remains unclear. We determined the crystal structure of talin head in complex with the β2-integrin tail. The structure reveals a two-mode configuration featuring a “rocking” motion of the talin head FERM domain compared with its interaction with β3 integrin, resulting in distinct inter-subdomain interactions and unique cavities. Switching of the talin:β2 binding mode to the talin:β3 binding mode enhances β2-integrin affinity and boosts LFA-1-mediated natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, stabilizing of the C-terminal α-helix in the talin head enhances its affinity to integrin and its activation. Together, our data elucidate the structural basis by which talin orchestrates its function in mediating integrin activation in a species-specific manner.

Significance statement

Talin exhibits significantly lower affinity with lymphocyte-rich β2 integrins compared with β3 integrins. Our results unveil the configurational preferences of the talin head when engaged β2 and β3 integrins. We introduce a two-mode seesaw model wherein the talin head adapts specific binding modes in response to distinct integrin species. The two configurations differ in inter-subdomain interactions, revealing unique cavities and distinct binding dynamics in each binding mode. Thus, our findings present exciting opportunities of the development of species-specific therapeutic agents targeting integrin activity more precisely by orchestrating the structural dynamics of talin.
Erythrocyte membrane protein 3 (EMAP3) is exposed on the surface of thePlasmodium bergheiinfected red blood cell
Authors: Hernandez Sophia , Rashpa Ravish , Jonsdottir Thorey K. , Paoletta Martina S. , Diaz Maria Rayón , Chevalley-Maurel Severine , Ishizaki Takahiro , Janse Chris J. , Franke-Fayard Blandine , Brochet Mathieu , Bushell Ellen SC
Published: May 2024

The human malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparuminvades red blood cells (RBC) and exports parasite proteins to transform the host cell for its survival. These exported proteins facilitate uptake of nutrients and cytoadherence of the infected RBC (iRBC) to endothelial cells of small blood vessels, thus protecting the iRBC from splenic clearance. The parasite protein PfEMP1 and the host protein CD36 play a major role inP. falciparumiRBC cytoadherence. The murine parasitePlasmodium bergheiis a widely used experimental model that combines high genetic tractability with access toin vivostudies.P. berghei iRBC also sequesters in small blood vessels, mediated by binding to CD36. However, the parasite proteins binding to CD36 are unknown and only very few parasite proteins, including EMAP1 and EMAP2, have been identified that are present at the iRBC membrane. We have identified a new protein named EMAP3 and demonstrated its export to the iRBC membrane where it interacts with EMAP1, with only EMAP3 exposed on the outer surface of the iRBC. Parasites lacking EMAP3 display no significant reduction in growth or sequestration, indicating that EMAP3 is not the major CD36-binding protein. The outer-surface location of EMAP3 offers a new scaffold for displayingP. falciparumproteins on the surface of theP. bergheiiRBC, providing a platform to screenin vivoputative inhibitors ofP. falciparumcytoadherence.
The Impact of Preprints on COVID-19 Research Dissemination: A Quantitative Analysis of Journal Publications
Authors: Tsunoda Hiroyuki , Sun Yuan , Nishizawa Masaki , Liu Xiaomin , Amano Kou , Kominami Rie
Published: May 2024

Preprints have played an unprecedented role in disseminating COVID-19-related science results to the public. The study aims to elucidate the role of preprints during the COVID-19 public health emergency (2020-2023) through a quantitative analysis of journal papers. Among the 247,854 COVID-19-related papers published in PubMed, 12,152 were initially released as preprints and were eventually published in 1,380 journals. This number is more than five times the 246 journals to which submissions can be made directly from bioRxiv through the B2J program. Journals with higher impact factors and Normalized Eigenfactor scores tend to publish a larger number of preprint-derived articles. The proportion of preprints among PubMed papers was 0.049, but this varies significantly by journal. In the top 30 journals, most exceed this proportion, indicating that these journals are preferred by authors for submitting their work. These findings highlight the growing acceptance and impact of preprints in the scientific community, particularly in high-impact journals.
Semaphorin Receptors Antagonize Wnt Signaling Through Beta-Catenin Degradation
Authors: Hoard Tyler M. , Liu Katie , Cadigan Kenneth M. , Giger Roman J. , Allen Benjamin L.
Published: May 2024

Precise control of morphogen signaling levels is essential for proper development. An outstanding question is: what mechanisms ensure proper morphogen activity and correct cellular responses? Previous work has identified Semaphorin (SEMA) receptors, Neuropilins (NRPs) and Plexins (PLXNs), as positive regulators of the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. Here, we provide evidence that NRPs and PLXNs antagonize Wnt signaling in both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Further,Nrp1/2deletion in fibroblasts results in elevated baseline Wnt pathway activity and increased maximal responses to Wnt stimulation. Notably, and in contrast to HH signaling, SEMA receptor-mediated Wnt antagonism is independent of primary cilia. Mechanistically, PLXNs and NRPs act downstream of Dishevelled (DVL) to destabilize β-catenin (CTNNB1) in a proteosome-dependent manner. Further, NRPs, but not PLXNs, act in a GSK3b/CK1-dependent fashion to antagonize Wnt signaling, suggesting distinct repressive mechanisms for these SEMA receptors. Overall, this study identifies SEMA receptors as novel Wnt pathway antagonists that may also play larger roles integrating signals from multiple inputs.
Interaction-driven first-order and higher-order topological superconductivity
Authors: Bonetti Pietro M. , Chakraborty Debmalya , Wu Xianxin , Schnyder Andreas P.
Published: May 2024

We investigate topological superconductivity in the Rashba-Hubbard model, describing heavy-atom superlattice and van der Waals materials with broken inversion. We focus in particular on fillings close to the van Hove singularities, where a large density of states enhances the superconducting transition temperature. To determine the topology of the superconducting gaps and to analyze the stability of their surface states in the presence of disorder and residual interactions, we employ an fRG+MFT approach, which combines the unbiased functional renormalization group (fRG) with a real-space mean-field theory (MFT). Our approach uncovers a cascade of topological superconducting states, including A1 and B1 pairings, whose wave functions are of dominant p- and d-wave character, respectively, as well as a time-reversal breaking A1+iB1 pairing. While the A1 and B1 states have first-order topology with helical and flat-band Majorana edge states, respectively, the A1+iB1 pairing exhibits second-order topology with Majorana corner modes. We investigate the disorder stability of the bulk superconducting states, analyze interaction-induced instabilities of the edge states, and discuss implications for experimental systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Production of
Xb
via radiative transition of
ϒ(10753)
Authors: Liu Shi-Dong , Cai Hao-Dong , Cai Zu-Xin , Gao Hong-Shuo , Li Gang , Wang Fan , Xie Ju-Jun
Published: May 2024

We studied the radiative transitions between the ϒ(10753), the S−D mixed state of the ϒ(4S) and ϒ1(3D13), and the Xb, the heavy quark flavor symmetry counterpart of the X(3782) in the bottomonium sector. The radiative transition was assumed to occur through the intermediate bottom mesons, including P-wave B1(′) mesons as well as the S-wave B(*) ones. The consideration of the B1(′) mesons leads to the couplings to be in S-wave, and hence enhances the contributions of the intermediate meson loops. The radiative decay width for the ϒ(10753)→γXb is predicted to be order of 10 keV, corresponding to a branching fraction of 10−4. Based on the theoretical results, we strongly suggest to search for the Xb in the e+e−→γXb with Xb→ππχb1 near s=10.754  GeV, and it is hoped that the calculations here could be tested by the future Belle II experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
B→D*
and
Bs→Ds*
vector, axial-vector and tensor form factors for the full
q2
range from lattice QCD
Authors: Harrison Judd , Davies Christine T. H. ,   HPQCD Collaboration
Published: May 2024

We compute the complete set of Standard Model (SM) and tensor B→D*ℓν¯ and Bs→Ds*ℓν¯ semileptonic form factors across the full kinematic range of the decays using second generation MILC nf=2+1+1 highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) gluon field configurations and HISQ valence quarks, with the method. Lattice spacings range from 0.09 to 0.044 fm with pion masses from ≈300  MeV down to the physical value and heavy quark masses ranging between ≈1.5mc and 4.1mc≈0.9mb; currents are normalized nonperturbatively. Using the recent untagged B→D*ℓν¯ℓ data from Belle and Bs→Ds*μν¯μ from LHCb together with our form factors, we determine a model independent value of Vcb=39.03(56)exp(67)latt×10−3, in agreement with previous exclusive determinations and in tension with the most recent inclusive result at the level of 3.6σ. We also observe a ≈1σ tension between the shape of the differential decay rates computed using our form factors and those measured by Belle. We compute a purely theoretical Standard Model value for the ratio of semitauonic and semimuonic decay rates, R(D*)=0.273(15), which we find to be closer to the recent Belle measurement and heavy flavor averaging group average than theory predictions using fits to experimental differential rate data for B→D*ℓν¯ℓ. Determining Vcb from our form factors and the experimental total rate for B→D*ℓν also gives a value in agreement with inclusive results. We also compute the longitudinal polarization fraction for the semitauonic mode, FLD*=0.395(24), which is in tension at the level of 2.2σ with the recent Belle measurement. Our calculation combines B→D* and Bs→Ds* lattice results in a simultaneous chiral continuum extrapolation, maintaining correlations between both modes. We then give results for both B→D* and Bs→Ds*, with the Bs→Ds* results superseding our previous lattice computation. We also give the chiral perturbation theory needed to analyze the tensor form factors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Note on the bispectrum and one-loop corrections in single-field inflation with primordial black hole formation
Authors: Kristiano Jason , Yokoyama Jun’ichi
Published: May 2024

Primordial black holes can be formed from the collapse of large-amplitude perturbation on small scales in the early Universe. Such an enhanced spectrum can be realized by introducing a flat region in the potential of single-field inflation, which makes the inflaton go into a temporary ultraslow-roll period. In this paper, we calculate the bispectrum of curvature perturbation in such a scenario. We explicitly confirm that bispectrum satisfies Maldacena’s theorem. At the end of the ultraslow-roll period, the bispectrum is generated by bulk interaction and field redefinition. At the end of inflation, bispectrum is generated only by bulk interaction. We also calculate the one-loop correction to the power spectrum from the bispectrum, called the source method. We find it consistent with the calculation of the one-loop correction from the second-order expansion of in-in perturbation theory.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
One-loop Bern-Carrasco-Johansson numerators on quadratic propagators from the worldsheet
Authors: Dong Jin , Zhang Yao-Qi , Zhang Yong
Published: May 2024

We introduce a novel approach for deriving one-loop Bern-Carrasco-Johansson (BCJ) numerators and reveal the world-sheet origin of the one-loop double copy. Our work shows that expanding Cachazo-He-Yuan half-integrands into generalized Parke-Taylor factors intrinsically generates BCJ numerators on quadratic propagators satisfying Jacobi identities. We validate our methodology by successfully reproducing one-loop BCJ numerators for the nonlinear sigma model as well as those of pure Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions with all-plus or single-minus helicities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Constraining Primordial Black Hole Formation from Single-Field Inflation
Authors: Kristiano Jason , Yokoyama Jun’ichi
Published: May 2024

The most widely studied formation mechanism of a primordial black hole is collapse of large-amplitude perturbation on small scales generated in single-field inflation. In this Letter, we calculate one-loop correction to the large-scale power spectrum in a model with sharp transition of the second slow-roll parameter. We find that models producing an appreciable amount of primordial black holes induce nonperturbative coupling on a large scale probed by cosmic microwave background radiation. Our result implies that a small-scale power spectrum can be constrained by large-scale cosmological observations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Utilizing network analysis to explore student qualitative inferential reasoning chains
Authors: Speirs J. Caleb , Stetzer MacKenzie R. , Lindsey Beth A.
Published: May 2024

Over the course of the introductory calculus-based physics course, students are often expected to build conceptual understanding and develop and refine skills in problem solving and qualitative inferential reasoning. Many of the research-based materials developed over the past 30 years by the physics education research community use sequences of scaffolded questions to step students through a qualitative inferential reasoning chain. It is often tacitly assumed that, in addition to building conceptual understanding, such materials improve qualitative reasoning skills. However, clear documentation of the impact of such materials on qualitative reasoning skills is critical. New methodologies are needed to better study reasoning processes and to disentangle, to the extent possible, processes related to physics content from processes general to all human reasoning. As a result, we have employed network analysis methodologies to examine student responses to reasoning-related tasks in order to gain deeper insight into the nature of student reasoning in physics. In this paper, we show that network analysis metrics are both interpretable and valuable when applied to student reasoning data generated from . We also demonstrate that documentation of improvements in the articulation of specific lines of reasoning can be obtained from a network analysis of responses to reasoning chain construction tasks.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Deterministic Generation of Qudit Photonic Graph States from Quantum Emitters
Authors: Raissi Zahra , Barnes Edwin , Economou Sophia E.
Published: May 2024

We propose and analyze deterministic protocols to generate qudit photonic graph states from quantum emitters. We show that our approach can be applied to generate any qudit graph state and we exemplify it by constructing protocols to generate one- and two-dimensional qudit cluster states, absolutely maximally entangled states, and logical states of quantum error-correcting codes. Some of these protocols make use of time-delayed feedback, while others do not. The only additional resource requirement compared to the qubit case is the ability to control multilevel emitters. These results significantly broaden the range of multiphoton entangled states that can be produced deterministically from quantum emitters.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Postselection-Free Learning of Measurement-Induced Quantum Dynamics
Authors: McGinley Max
Published: May 2024

We address how one can empirically infer properties of quantum states generated by dynamics involving measurements. Our focus is on many-body settings where the number of measurements is extensive, making brute-force approaches based on postselection intractable due to their exponential sample complexity. We introduce a general-purpose scheme that can be used to infer any property of the postmeasurement ensemble of states (e.g., the average entanglement entropy, or frame potential) using a scalable number of experimental repetitions. We first identify a general class of “estimable properties” that can be directly extracted from experimental data. Then, based on empirical observations of such quantities, we show how one can indirectly infer information about any particular given nonestimable quantity of interest through classical postprocessing. Our approach is based on an optimization task, where one asks what are the minimum and maximum values that the desired quantity could possibly take, while ensuring consistency with observations. The true value of this quantity must then lie within a feasible range between these extrema, resulting in two-sided bounds. Narrow feasible ranges can be obtained by using a classical simulation of the device to determine which estimable properties one should measure. Even in cases where this simulation is inaccurate, unambiguous information about the true value of a given quantity realized on the quantum device can be learned. As an immediate application, we show that our method can be used to verify the emergence of quantum state designs in experiments. We identify some fundamental obstructions that in some cases prevent sharp knowledge of a given quantity from being inferred, and discuss what can be learned in cases where classical simulation is too computationally demanding to be feasible. In particular, we prove that any observer who cannot perform a classical simulation cannot distinguish the output states from those sampled from a maximally structureless ensemble.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Unveiling optimal half-cell potentials in RCC slabs through cutting-edge ANFIS, ANN and genetic algorithm integration
Authors: Pandey Shikha , Gandhi Sumit , Murthy Yogesh Iyer
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the prediction models for half-cell potential (HCP) of RCC slabs cathodically protected using pure magnesium anodes and subjected to chloride ingress.The models for HCP using 1,134 data set values based on experimentation are developed and compared using ANFIS, artificial neural network (ANN) and integrated ANN-GA algorithms.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, RCC slabs, 1000 mm × 1000 mm × 100 mm were cast. Five slabs were cast with 3.5% NaCl by weight of cement, and five more were cast without NaCl. The distance of the point under consideration from the anode in the x- and y-axes, temperature, relative humidity and age of the slab in days were the input parameters, while the HCP values with reference to the Standard Calomel Electrode were the output. Experimental values consisting of 80 HCP values per slab per day were collected for 270 days and were averaged for both cases to generate the prediction model.

Findings

In this study, the premise and consequent parameters are trained, validated and tested using ANFIS, ANN and by using ANN as fitness function of GA. The MAPE, RMSE and MAE of the ANFIS model were 24.57, 1702.601 and 871.762, respectively. Amongst the ANN algorithms, Levenberg−Marquardt (LM) algorithm outperforms the other methods, with an overall R-value of 0.983. GA with ANN as the objective function proves to be the best means for the development of prediction model.

Originality/value

Based on the original experimental values, the performance of ANFIS, ANN and GA with ANN as objective function provides excellent results.
Do board networks matter for corporate cash holdings? Evidence from Australian firms
Authors: Rumokoy Lawren Julio , Liu Benjamin , Chung Richard
Published: May 2024

Purpose

In today’s interconnected world, social capital has emerged as a crucial business competence, drawing significant attention in recent literature. Using social network analysis, this study aims to investigate the impact of network centrality, established by a firm through its board members (i.e. boardroom networks), on corporate cash holdings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses extensive panel data comprising 36,963 firm-year observations of firms listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, spanning a 22-year period (2001–2022). The study uses firm fixed-effect regression along with several alternative specifications and an instrumental variable approach to ensure the robustness of the results. Boardroom network centrality is quantified by five measures that capture different perspectives on networks as viable conduits for resource exchange and information flow: degree, two-step reach, closeness, eigenvector and betweenness.

Findings

The authors find evidence for the benefits of board networks. Firms with well-connected boards (central firms) are more likely to have smaller cash holdings. The findings also reveal distinct effects stemming from local and global properties of centrality, with local network measures playing a more pronounced role in shaping cash-holding decisions. Overall, the evidence reflects the ability of connected directors to enhance governance by limiting managerial discretion over cash reserves, thus reducing agency conflicts associated with cash holdings.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers important insights for regulators, investors and practitioners, highlighting the potential for connected directors to effectively curtail managerial autonomy in deploying corporate cash holdings.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the advantages and drawbacks of board networks, which constitute a vibrant and burgeoning area of research in the finance literature. It also complements scanty network-based studies on firm cash holdings. Importantly, this study extends prior work by providing robust evidence and a comprehensive analysis of the nuanced roles that board networks play in affecting the level of cash reserves.
The unintended consequences of temporal leadership: a multilevel investigation of the effects of temporal leadership on employee silence
Authors: Zhu Yu , Mei Wenjuan , Nong Meilan , Wang Yanfei
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Existing research has generally viewed that temporal leadership has positive impacts on employees but ignores its potential drawbacks. This study aims to develop a model to explore its possible negative impacts on employees, drawing upon social information processing theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a multi-wave and multisource survey to test the model, and the authors test the hypotheses with multi-level analysis using Mplus 7.4 and R package for Monte Carlo.

Findings

Results suggest that temporal leadership induces employee work alienation, thus leading to employee silence. Furthermore, shared temporal cognitions moderate both the relationship between temporal leadership and work alienation and the indirect effect of temporal leadership on employee silence via work alienation.

Originality/value

Taken together, this study reveals the potential dark side of temporal leadership and provides a more comprehensive and dialectical research perspective for temporal leadership literature.
The impact of entrepreneurial marketing on new venture brand image and performance: a capability perspective
Authors: Wijekoon Sayuri , O'Cass Aron , Vesal Mahdi
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the underlying mechanisms through which entrepreneurial marketing (EM) promotes the development of a favorable brand image and enhances sales growth and market share in new ventures (NVs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested the theoretical model using a multi-informant design in which survey data were collected from NV entrepreneurs and marketing managers. Hypotheses were tested using linear regression and PROCESS analysis.

Findings

The authors demonstrate the significance of EM as comprising two NV capabilities – first, the level of complementarity between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market orientation (MO) as a dynamic capability, and second, brand management capabilities (BMCs) as an operational capability – in shaping a favorable NV brand image and promoting market performance.

Research limitations/implications

The authors offer a novel perspective by demonstrating that EO and MO yield complementarities in driving NVs’ BMCs, which, in turn, drive brand image development and market performance for NVs. In doing so, the authors demonstrate novel theoretical implications for the relevance of EM to NV branding, which, to date, has received scant attention in the literature.

Practical implications

The authors identify a potential avenue for entrepreneurs and NV managers to mitigate the potential failure rates by simultaneously pursuing a higher level of EO and MO and investing in brand-building activities. Such efforts can help enhance brand image, drive sales growth and foster long-term success.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to include brand capabilities as an element of EM, examine EM in NV brand image development and identify the role of EM capabilities relevant to NV brand building and market performance simultaneously.
Bridging theoretical abstraction to professional practice: an assessment of LIS students’ experience of their internship program
Authors: Alam Shanjida , Yesmin Shamima
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Internships are widely used as one of the best learning tools for professional practice. The purpose of this research paper is to comprehend to what extent the LIS interns become competent with practical tasks through this program, current facilities offered by the internship-offering institutions and their plan in this regard.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mixed-method approach. To examine LIS students’ practical experience, this study conducted a survey. Participants were 110 students having internship experience from the LIS bachelor’s degree offering universities of Bangladesh. For qualitative data, representatives of internship-offering institutions were interviewed.

Findings

Results indicate that there is a certain lack of coordination between theoretical knowledge with practical demonstrations. Some essential ICT-based tasks missed out from this program like library automation software (e.g. KOHA); online-based cataloging such as Machine Readable Cataloguing, Resource Description and Access; digital library software (Greenstone); Institutional Repository software (Dspace, EPrint, etc.); virtual library services; radio frequency identification, etc. which should be taken into consideration in internship modules. Including faculty members and practitioners is suggested for a model internship framework ensuring ever-advanced LIS education. There is no significant difference between interns’ gender with their satisfaction level.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of this study is the absence of coverage of faculty perceptions regarding Internships. As in the higher education institution, the three stakeholder groups’ subsets, namely, faculty members, practitioners and students are parallelly important to take any initiative.

Practical implications

The input from interns will assist the industries in redesigning their modules in light of interns’ feedback to best prepare interns for the competitive job market.

Originality/value

Internship in LIS education is not a new research area; however, research attempts to show students’ experience along with organizations’ preparedness in offering internships is new in nature.
Improving electricity demand forecasting accuracy: a novel grey-genetic programming approach using GMC(1,N) and residual sign estimation
Authors: Sapnken Flavian Emmanuel , Diboma Benjamin Salomon , Khalili Tazehkandgheshlagh Ali , Hamaidi Mohammed , Noumo Prosper Gopdjim , Wang Yong , Tamba Jean Gaston
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper addresses the challenges associated with forecasting electricity consumption using limited data without making prior assumptions on normality. The study aims to enhance the predictive performance of grey models by proposing a novel grey multivariate convolution model incorporating residual modification and residual genetic programming sign estimation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research begins by constructing a novel grey multivariate convolution model and demonstrates the utilization of genetic programming to enhance prediction accuracy by exploiting the signs of forecast residuals. Various statistical criteria are employed to assess the predictive performance of the proposed model. The validation process involves applying the model to real datasets spanning from 2001 to 2019 for forecasting annual electricity consumption in Cameroon.

Findings

The novel hybrid model outperforms both grey and non-grey models in forecasting annual electricity consumption. The model's performance is evaluated using MAE, MSD, RMSE, and R2, yielding values of 0.014, 101.01, 10.05, and 99% respectively. Results from validation cases and real-world scenarios demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model. The combination of genetic programming and grey convolution model offers a significant improvement over competing models. Notably, the dynamic adaptability of genetic programming enhances the model's accuracy by mimicking expert systems' knowledge and decision-making, allowing for the identification of subtle changes in electricity demand patterns.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a novel grey multivariate convolution model that incorporates residual modification and genetic programming sign estimation. The application of genetic programming to enhance prediction accuracy by leveraging forecast residuals represents a unique approach. The study showcases the superiority of the proposed model over existing grey and non-grey models, emphasizing its adaptability and expert-like ability to learn and refine forecasting rules dynamically. The potential extension of the model to other forecasting fields is also highlighted, indicating its versatility and applicability beyond electricity consumption prediction in Cameroon.
Impact of certification information on consumer behaviour in hybrid retail platforms: empirical evidence from JD.com
Authors: Zhou Yongsheng , Han Li , Tian Xin , Wang Yingjun
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of logistics and merchant certification information on consumer behaviour in hybrid retail platforms. Furthermore, it explores the moderating role of online shopping experience on the certification effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilize transaction-level data from over 2.5 million consumers involving 30,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) on JD.com in March 2018. They analyse the impact of different types of certification information on consumer behaviour using ordinary linear regression and linear probability models.

Findings

The findings reveal that, compared with information without certification, (1) single logistics certification information can enhance consumers' search depth and purchase intention; (2) dual logistics and merchant certification information also has a positive impact on consumer behaviour; and (3) single certification information is more effective for inexperienced consumers, while dual certification is more effective for experienced consumers.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature on certification information in hybrid retail platforms and broadens information communication methods for online shopping. Our discovery is meaningful for managers in locating customers and allocating resources. In addition, we encourage online retailers to utilize certification information to engage consumer.
Banking competition in Indonesia: does Fintech lending matters?
Authors: Dilla Salsa , Shahrin Aidil Rizal , Zainir Fauzi
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how the rise of financial technology (Fintech) lending affects bank competition. Moreover, this study also identifies the structure of Indonesian commercial banking sector and the different behaviour of competition among bank groups (based on their size, type and ownership) and the joint impact of COVID-19 due to the rise of Fintech lending.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an unbalanced panel data set of 118 commercial banks in Indonesia over the period 2018–2022, both static panel and 2SLS/IV data analysis were used and found that random effect model is the best model.

Findings

The results show that the Indonesian commercial banking sector can be considered as monopolistic competition. Moreover, using the Lerner index reveals that the entry of the Fintech lenders increases bank competition. Furthermore, there were different responses to the impact of Fintech lending on bank competition among state-owned banks, private banks, regional development banks and foreign banks. Greater efficiency and stability lead to greater market power. In the meantime, higher level of asset growth, capitalisation and cost-to-income ratio increase the competition. Lastly, higher bank credit growth and lower inflation boost overall bank competitiveness.

Practical implications

This study highlights some policy recommendations for commercial banks to be aware of the coming of Fintech lenders because they have started to increase the market competition. The government should create a more collaborative ecosystem between banks and Fintech lending to anticipate unhealthy competition.

Originality/value

This study will contribute to the literature by expanding the determinants of bank competition by considering the rise of Fintech lending in the market.