bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Audio-Visual Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Tabacof Laura , Howard Rebecca , Bower Jeffrey , Breyman Erica , Dewil Sophie , Tosto-Mancuso Jenna , Hanbury Richard , Carmouche Brandon , Robberson Mark , Fry Adam , Putrino David
Published: August 2024

Neuropathic Pain (NP) affects 10% of the general population, decreasing quality of life for millions of Americans and contributing to higher physical and mental health care costs. The most widely used treatments for NP involve medications that show limitations in efficacy and burdensome side effects. This randomized controlled trial explored the efficacy of a wearable Audio-Visual Stimulation neuromodulation device (Sana) as a novel intervention for chronic NP in 64 participants. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 8-weeks of daily use of the assigned Sana or Sham device, and after 4 weeks of discontinued use. For the main outcome (Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory total), there were statistically significant improvements in the Active arm that were greater than those in the Sham Arm at Week-14 (Mean Difference = 10.04, p = 0.01). Both groups showed significant improvements at the end of the treatment period (Week-10), and the Active arm maintained this improvement after an additional 4 weeks of non-use, while the Sham arm almost returned to baseline (Active Change = 13.26, p <=0.001 | Sham Change = 3.22, p = 0.214). Participants in the Active arm had significant decreases in use of anxiolytic, opiate, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant medications compared to the Sham arm. The study provides strong evidence supporting the efficacy of a novel AVS Device in generating durable improvements in NP, with superiority over Sham at 14 weeks. The Sana device may also reduce the reliance on pain medications and is a safe and easy to use treatment option for patients.
Spatiotemporal Trends of Birth Defects in North Carolina, 2003-2015
Authors: Lu Haidong , Olshan Andrew F. , Serre Marc L. , Anthony Kurtis M. , Fry Rebecca C. , Forestieri Nina E. , Keil Alexander P.
Published: August 2024

Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States, but little is known about causes of many types of birth defects. Spatiotemporal disease mapping to identify high-prevalence areas, is a potential strategy to narrow the search for potential environmental and other causes that aggregate over space and time. We described the spatial and temporal trends of the prevalence of birth defects in North Carolina during 2003-2015, using data on live births obtained from the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program. By employing a Bayesian space-time Poisson model, we estimated spatial and temporal trends of non-chromosomal and chromosomal birth defects. During 2003-2015, 52,524 (3.3%) of 1,598,807 live births had at least one recorded birth defect. The prevalence of non-chromosomal birth defects decreased from 3.8% in 2003 to 2.9% in 2015. Spatial modeling suggested a large geographic variation in non-chromosomal birth defects at census-tract level, with the highest prevalence in south-eastern North Carolina. The strong spatial heterogeneity revealed in this work allowed to identify geographic areas with higher prevalence of non-chromosomal birth defects in North Carolina. This variation will help inform future research focused on epidemiologic studies of birth defects to identify etiologic factors.
A Metabolic Epidemic? Prevalence and Sex-Based Disparities of Metabolic Alterations in the Peruvian Population Using Multiple Diagnostic Criteria
Authors: Vera-Ponce Víctor Juan , Vásquez-Romero Luisa Erika Milagros , Zuzunaga-Montoya Fiorella E. , Loayza-Castro Joan A. , Astucuri Hidalgo Jhonatan Roberto , Gutierrez De Carrillo Carmen Inés
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Metabolic alterations constitute a growing challenge for global public health, with significant implications for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early identification of these alterations, even from the presence of a single component, is crucial for effectively preventing and managing chronic diseases. Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolic states based on one or more alterations in the Peruvian population and to evaluate possible sex disparities. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study used data from two Peruvian national databases: Surveillance of Nutritional Indicators by Life Stages (VIANEV) and PERU MIGRANT. Graphs were generated to illustrate metabolic states according to different combinations of diagnostic criteria and even definitions. Bar charts were created to visualize the individual prevalences of each state. Ordinal logistic regression was employed to examine sex disparities and the outcome. Results: The prevalence of metabolic alterations (at least one alteration) ranged from 87.04% to 87.55%, depending on the criteria used. Significant discrepancies were found in the prevalences of hyperglycemia and abdominal obesity according to the different diagnostic criteria applied. In both studies, men showed a lower probability of presenting metabolic alterations than women, regardless of the diagnostic method used. Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of metabolic alterations in the Peruvian population, with notable variations depending on the diagnostic criteria employed. The observed discrepancies underscore the need to re-evaluate and possibly adapt these criteria for the Peruvian and Latin American populations. The identified disparities between sexes suggest the importance of developing differentiated prevention and management strategies.
Effectiveness of XBB.1.5 monovalent COVID-19 vaccine against COVID-19 mortality in Australians aged 65 years and older during August 2023 to February 2024
Authors: Liu Bette , Scaria Anish , Stepien Sandrine , Macartney Kristine
Published: August 2024

Background

There is limited data on the effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 monovalent XBB.1.5 variant vaccine against COVID-19 mortality

Methods

We used Australian census data linked to the Australian Immunisation Register and death registrations to estimate COVID-19 booster effectiveness according to booster type and recency in adults aged 65+ years in Australia during August 2023-February 2024, a period dominated firstly by XBB-related SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants and then the BA.2.86-related JN.1. Survival analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and other sociodemographic and health measures, was used to estimate vaccine effectiveness.

Results

We followed 4.12 million adults aged 65+ years from 1 August 2023 to 29 February 2024. By 29 February, 581146 doses of the XBB.1.5 vaccine were administered, and 1620 COVID-19-specific deaths occurred. COVID-19 mortality rates were 72/100000 person-years in people who received a COVID-19 booster >365 days earlier, and 21/100000 in those who received the XBB.1.5 booster in the last 3 months. The relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of XBB.1.5 booster receipt in the last 3 months against COVID-19 mortality was 74.7% (95%CI 59.9-84.1%). The rVE for those receiving other booster types in the last 3 months was 51.6% (39.3-61.4%). Booster rVE against COVID-19 mortality waned. Compared to those who received a COVID-19 booster >365 days earlier, rVE for a booster within 3-6 months earlier was 31.2% (18.9-41.6%) and for a booster received 6-12 months earlier rVE was 13.1% (1.8-23.2%). rVE estimates were similar in analyses restricted to 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 when the dominant Omicron subvariant was JN.1.

Conclusions

Recent booster vaccination with the XBB.1.5 monovalent COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 mortality including in the period when the JN.1 subvariant circulated, supporting recommendations for 6-monthly boosting in older adults. Evaluation of vaccination effectiveness against other health outcomes, such as COVID-19 hospitalisations and ICU admission, would help further document vaccination benefits.
Commensal-derived short-chain fatty acids disrupt lipid membrane homeostasis inStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Fletcher Joshua R. , Hansen Lisa A. , Martinez Richard , Freeman Christian D. , Thorns Niall , Villareal Alex R. , Penningroth Mitchell R. , Vogt Grace A. , Tyler Matthew , Hines Kelly M. , Hunter Ryan C.
Published: August 2024

The role of commensal anaerobic bacteria in chronic respiratory infections is unclear, yet they can exist in abundances comparable to canonical pathogensin vivo. Their contributions to the metabolic landscape of the host environment may influence pathogen behavior by competing for nutrients and creating inhospitable conditions via toxic metabolites. Here, we reveal a mechanism by which the anaerobe-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) propionate and butyrate negatively affectStaphylococcus aureusphysiology by disrupting branched chain fatty acid (BCFA) metabolism. In turn, BCFA impairment results in impaired growth, diminished expression of the agr quorum sensing system, as well as increased sensitivity to membrane-targeting antimicrobials. Altered BCFA metabolism also reducesS. aureusfitness in competition withPseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting that airway microbiome composition and the metabolites they produce and exchange directly impact pathogen succession over time. The pleiotropic effects of these SCFAs onS. aureusfitness and their ubiquity as metabolites in animals also suggests that they may be effective as sensitizers to traditional antimicrobial agents when used in combination.
Arabidopsisnatural variation induces complex transcriptomic heterochronies at the floral transition and perturbs the coupling between leaf and flower development by an unexpected genetic control
Authors: Sana Dieudonné , Ruth Kristianingsih , Stéphanie Laine , Béline Jesson , Véronique Vidal , Rachel Wells , Richard Morris , Fabrice Besnard
Published: August 2024

Plant development may be viewed as a sequence of tightly orchestrated events in space and time. The coordination of developmental stages gives rise to various organs, such as leaves or flowers. For instance, inArabidopsis thaliana, leaf/bract development ceases once the first flower emerges. Unravelling the mechanisms of this regulation is, therefore, key for understanding how developmental programs are coordinated during the floral transition. In this study, we take advantage of a previously overlooked natural variation that desynchronizes bract repression from the initiation of the first flowers. We found that prolonged bract formation after the floral transition depends on complex genetic interactions, involving at least four loci. Surprisingly, none of these loci contained the floral identity genes previously implicated in bract repression, suggesting that other genes are involved in the synchronisation of bract and flower programs. Furthermore, although ectopic bracts in inflorescences have been interpreted as a prolonged vegetative state, time-series transcriptomics and curve registration revealed a more complex scenario whereby many genes desynchronize in terms of expression between these developmental programs. As a consequence, transcriptional differences peak at the floral transition when bract development is prolonged, affecting a wide variety of biological processes not necessarily associated with vegetative state. A transient increase in transcriptome divergence has been proposed to account for morphological variation between species in animals and plants under the “inverse hourglass” model. Our results suggest that such a model could also explain the sensitivity of certain developmental transitions to phenotypic variation within species, as reported here for the floral transition.
Diversity in Chemical Subunits and Linkages: A Key Molecular Determinant of Microbial Richness, Microbiota Interactions, and Substrate Utilization
Authors: McCullough Hugh C. , Song Hyun-Seob , Auchtung Jennifer M.
Published: August 2024

Dietary fibers play a significant role in shaping the composition and function of microbial communities in the human colon. Our understanding of the specific chemical traits of dietary fibers that influence microbial diversity, interactions, and function remains limited. Towards filling this knowledge gap, we developed a novel measure, termed Chemical Subunits and Linkages (CheSL) Shannon diversity, to characterize the effects of carbohydrate complexity on human fecal bacteria culturedin vitrounder controlled, continuous flow conditions using media that systematically varied in carbohydrate composition. Our analysis revealed that CheSL Shannon diversity demonstrated a strong Pearson correlation with microbial richness across multiple fecal samples and study designs. Additionally, we observed that microbial communities in media with higher CheSL Shannon diversity scores exhibited greater peptide utilization, and more connected, reproducible structures in computationally inferred microbial interaction networks. Together, these findings demonstrate that CheSL Shannon diversity can be a useful tool to quantify the effects of carbohydrate complexity on microbial diversity, metabolic potential, and interactions. Furthermore, our work highlights how robust and stable community data can be generated by engineering media composition and structure. These studies provide a valuable framework for future research on microbial community interactions and their potential impacts on host health.

IMPORTANCE

For the human adult gut microbiota, higher microbial diversity strongly correlates with positive health outcomes. This correlation is likely due to increased community resilience that results from functional redundancy that can occur within diverse communities. While previous studies have shown that dietary fibers influence microbiota composition and function, we lack a complete mechanistic understanding of how differences in the composition of fibers are likely to functionally impact microbiota diversity. To address this need, we developed Chemical Subunits and Linkages (CheSL) Shannon diversity, a novel measure that describes carbohydrate complexity. Using this measure, we were able to correlate changes in carbohydrate complexity with alterations in microbial diversity and interspecies interactions. Overall, these analyses provide new perspectives on dietary optimization strategies to improve human health.
Post-eclosion growth in theDrosophilaEjaculatory Duct is driven by Juvenile Hormone signaling and is essential for male fertility
Authors: Ramesh Navyashree A. , Box Allison M. , Buttitta Laura A.
Published: August 2024

TheDrosophilaEjaculatory duct (ED) is a secretory tissue of the somatic male reproductive system. The ED is involved in the secretion of seminal fluid components and ED-specific antimicrobial peptides that aid in fertility and the female post-mating response. The ED is composed of secretory epithelial cells surrounded by a layer of innervated contractile muscle. The ED grows in young adult males during the first 24h post-eclosion, but the cell cycle status of the ED secretory cells and the role of post-eclosion ED growth have been unexplored. Here, we show that secretory cells of the adultDrosophilaED undergo variant cell cycles lacking mitosis called the endocycle, that lead to an increase in the cell and organ size of the ED post eclosion. The cells largely exit the endocycle by day 3 of adulthood, when the growth of the ED ceases, resulting in a tissue containing cells of ploidies ranging from 8C-32C. The size of the ED directly correlates with the ploidy of the secretory cells, with additional ectopic endocycles increasing organ size. When endoreplication is compromised in ED secretory cells, it leads to reduced organ size, reduced protein synthesis and compromised fertility. We provide evidence that the growth and endocycling in the young adult male ED is dependent on Juvenile hormone (JH) signaling and we suggest that hormone-induced early adult endocycling is required for optimal fertility and function of the ED tissue. We propose to use the ED as a post-mitotic tissue model to study the role of polyploidy in regulating secretory tissue growth and function.
Spatio-temporal Reconstruction of Gene Expression Patterns in Developing Mice
Authors: Aviñó-Esteban Laura , Sharpe James
Published: August 2024

Understanding gene regulation in organism development is crucial in biology. Techniques like whole-mountin situhybridization can reveal spatial gene expression in organs and tissues. However, capturing time-lapse images of gene expression dynamics in embryos developingin utero, such as mice, remains technically challenging beyond the early stages. To address this, we present a method to integrate static snapshots of gene expression patterns across limb developmental stages, creating a continuous 2D reconstruction of gene expression patterns over time. This method interpolates small tissue regions over time to create smooth temporal trajectories of gene expression. We successfully applied it to a number of key genes in limb development, includingSox9,Hand2, andBmp2. This approach enables a detailed spatio-temporal mapping of gene expression, providing insights into developmental mechanisms. By estimating Gene Expression Patterns at previously unobserved time points, it facilitates the comparison of these patterns across samples. The reconstructed trajectories offer high-quality data that will be useful to guide computational modeling and machine learning, advancing the study of developmental biology in systems where real-time imaging is technically difficult or impossible.
One-dimensional Dexter-type excitonic topological phase transition
Authors: Zhu Jianhua , Chen Haoxiang , Chen Ji , Wu Wei
Published: August 2024

The concept of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, which was successfully introduced in topological photonics, can also be applied to the study of topological excitonics. Here we study the topological properties of a one-dimensional excitonic tight-binding model formed by two-level systems by taking into account the charge transfer and local excitations. The interactions between the two types of excitons give rise to a rich spectrum of physics, including the nontrivial topological phase in the uniform chain, unlike the conventional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, the topologically nontrivial flat bands, and, most importantly, the excitonic topological phase transition assisted by the Dexter electron exchange process. The excitonic topological phase leads to the development of “chiral superposition.” The topological edge states are robust because they are protected by the inversion symmetry. Based on our calculations, experiments for observing the edge states optically in a molecular chain are proposed.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Noncanonical nucleon decays as window into light new physics
Authors: Fridell Kåre , Hati Chandan , Takhistov Volodymyr
Published: August 2024

Nucleon decays are generic predictions of motivated theories, including those based on the unification of forces and supersymmetry. We demonstrate that noncanonical nucleon decays offer a unique opportunity to broadly probe light new particles beyond the Standard Model with masses below ∼ few GeV over decades in mass range, including axion-like particles, dark photons, sterile neutrinos, and scalar dark matter. Conventional searches can misinterpret and even completely miss such new physics. We propose a general strategy based on momenta of visible decay final states to probe these processes, offering a rich physics program for existing and upcoming experiments such as Super-Kamiokande, Hyper-Kamiokande, DUNE, and JUNO.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ultra-high-amplitude Peregrine solitons induced by helicoidal spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Ding Cui-Cui , Zhou Qin , Malomed B. A.
Published: August 2024

In the framework of the model of a spatially nonuniform Bose-Einstein condensate with helicoidal spin-orbit (SO) coupling, we find abnormal Peregrine solitons (PSs) on top of flat and periodic backgrounds, with ultrahigh amplitudes. We explore the roles of the SO coupling strength and helicity pitch in the creation of these anomalously tall PSs and find that their amplitude, normalized to the background height, attains indefinitely large values. The investigation of the modulation instability (MI) in the same system demonstrates that these PSs exist in a range of relatively weak MI, maintaining the feasibility of their experimental observation.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Resources and dynamic capabilities in startups
Authors: Hiroshi Usirono Carlos , Laureano Paiva Ely , Beal Partyka Raul
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Operating in a market of scarcity and uncertainty, the startups have stood out by contributing to changing the economy and society, a new type of management. This study analyses how startup companies may develop dynamic capabilities from the resources present in their ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a qualitative content analysis, we show different startup management and environmental features when compared with established companies.

Findings

Unlike mature and established companies, startups develop innovative businesses, raise funds and develop competences quickly, anchoring themselves in differentiation and innovation. Results show different startup management and environmental features when compared with established companies.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the literature by identifying management elements in dynamic environments, thus expanding the application of the theory of dynamic and managerial capabilities.

Practical implications

The study contributes to generating an instrument that assists entrepreneurs in the operationalization of their strategies through the use and development of their managerial capabilities and the orchestration of resources with the help of ecosystem actors.

Originality/value

We propose a framework with the main elements identified in the cases analyzed. Those elements may assist managers in orchestrating their resources in order to support ecosystem actors.
A scientometric analysis and critical review of digital twin applications in project operation and maintenance
Authors: Lu Meiqi , Antwi-Afari Maxwell Fordjour
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Recent emerging information technologies like digital twin (DT) provide new concepts and transform information management processes in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Although numerous articles are pertinent to DT applications, existing research areas and potential future directions related to the state-of-the-art DT in project operation and maintenance (O&M) are yet to be studied. Therefore, this paper aims to review the state-of-the-art research on DT applications in project O&M.

Design/methodology/approach

The current review adopted four methodological steps, including literature search, literature selection, science mapping analysis and qualitative discussion to gain a deeper understanding of DT in project O&M. The impact and contribution of keywords and documents were examined from a total of 444 journal articles retrieved from the Scopus database.

Findings

Five mainstream research topics were identified, including (1) DT-based artificial intelligence technology for project O&M, (2) DT-enabled smart city and sustainability, (3) DT applications for project asset management, (4) Blockchain-integrated DT for project O&M and (5) DT for advanced project management. Subsequently, research gaps and future research directions were proposed.

Originality/value

This study intends to raise awareness of future research by summarizing the current DT development phases and their impact on DT implementation in project O&M among researchers and practitioners.
Artificial intelligence-based droplet size prediction for microfluidic system
Authors: Dubey Sameer , Vishwakarma Pradeep , Ramarao TVS , Dubey Satish Kumar , Goel Sanket , Javed Arshad
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a vision-based model to generate droplets with auto-tuned parameters. The model can auto-adjust the inherent uncertainties and errors involved with the fabrication and operating parameters in microfluidic platform, attaining precise size and frequency of droplet generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The photolithography method is utilized to prepare the microfluidic devices used in this study, and various experiments are conducted at various flow-rate and viscosity ratios. Data for droplet shape is collected to train the artificial intelligence (AI) models.

Findings

Growth phase of droplets demonstrated a unique spring back effect in droplet size. The fully developed droplet sizes in the microchannel were modeled using least absolute shrinkage and selection operators (LASSO) regression model, Gaussian support vector machine (SVM), long short term memory (LSTM) and deep neural network models. Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.05 and R2 = 0.93 were obtained with a deep neural network model on untrained flow data. The shape parameters of the droplets are affected by several uncontrolled parameters. These parameters are instinctively captured in the model.

Originality/value

Experimental data set is generated for varying viscosity values and flow rates. The variation of flow rate of continuous phase is observed here instead of dispersed phase. An automated computation routine is developed to read the droplet shape parameters considering the transient growth phase of droplets. The droplet size data is used to build and compare various AI models for predicting droplet sizes. A predictive model is developed, which is ready for automated closed loop control of the droplet generation.
A comparative evaluation of multi-criteria decision-making framework for armed unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Keleş Nuh
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study focuses on the selection of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (AUAV), which have recently taken an important place on the world agenda, are used effectively in the defense industry and change the war systems of countries. This study aims to select the most suitable armed AUAV by using and comparing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods.

Design/methodology/approach

There are various types of (unmanned aerial vehicles) UAVs, and some of them are Armed UAVs. This study used the criteria obtained from the market and previous UAV studies and ranked/selected various AUAVs produced in line with the determined criteria. The AHP method was used to prioritize the criteria, and the PROMETHEE method, a powerful ranking method, was used to rank/select the alternatives.

Findings

By the expert judgments, the payload capacity (28.2%) criteria took first rank by far as the most important criteria. The AUAV alternatives are listed as 1-6-5-2-7-3-4, respectively.

Practical implications

UAVs around the world have been showing significant and rapid developments recently, and those concerned closely follow developments in this field. Depending on the development of the aviation industry and technology, UAVs provide services to individuals or institutions in various ways for civil or military use.

Originality/value

The difference from similar studies is the research of Armed UAVs. Sensitivity analysis was performed and alternatives were analyzed by their weights. Comparisons were made using the MEREC, LOPCOW, and ELECTRE methods.
Study of the sealing performance of a high-speed deep groove mechanical seal thermodynamic lubrication model
Authors: Zhang Weizheng , Han Dongmin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sealing performance of different deep groove mechanical seals by considering the changing law of dynamic pressure effect and temperature gradient caused by high speed and high pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

A thermohydrodynamic lubrication model (THD) of the mechanical seal was constructed and solved using the commercial software FLUENT. The pressure and temperature distributions of the fluid under different groove types, as well as the sealing performance under different pressures, rotational speeds and sealing gaps, are obtained.

Findings

The annular groove (AG) can effectively reduce the temperature, and the T-type spiral groove (STG) can effectively inhibit the leakage. The increase of pressure and rotational speed leads to the enhancement of dynamic pressure effect and the increase of leakage, while the sealing gap increases and the leakage increases while taking away more heat. The choice of groove type is very important to the impact of sealing performance.

Originality/value

In consideration of the beneficial effect of deep grooves on cooling performance, the viscous temperature equation and the impact of the thermodynamic lubrication model are evaluated in conjunction with the sealing performance of four distinct groove types. This approach provides a theoretical basis for the optimal design of mechanical seals.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0184/
Optimization of cutting parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) in milling Inconel 718 superalloy using Borax-added nanofluid in (MQL) system
Authors: Kurşuncu Bilal
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The need for materials with superior mechanical and physical properties has recently increased. Inconel 718, one of these superalloys, is frequently used in the aviation and space industry. However, during Inconel 718 superalloy machining, cutting tools and cutting fluid were excessively consumed. This study aims to investigate using an innovative and environmentally friendly cutting fluid in milling the Inconel 718 superalloy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a Borax- (BX-)added cutting nanofluid was prepared and used for the first time as a coolant in the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) system of Inconel 718’s face milling process. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the effect of the BX element on cutting performance. Face milling operations were carried out by adding BX elements at 1.5% and 3% at two different rates.

Findings

As the BX additive ratio in the cutting fluid used in the MQL system increased, the cutting force values decreased. The lowest cutting force value was measured in the tests with cutting fluid containing 1.5% BX. In addition, a smoother surface was obtained by adding 1.5% BX to the cutting fluid. Furthermore, cutting tool life increased by 20% compared to 0% by 3% BX nanofluid concentration.

Originality/value

The study is innovative regarding the material processed, the cutting fluid used and the method used for the aerospace industry.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0191/
Family business culture: a strategic resource and driver of firm performance
Authors: Alipour Kent K. , Barber Dennis , Batchelor John H. , Peake Whitney , Jones Seth , McIlveene Tim
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Through a resource-based theoretical lens, we elucidate conditions under which family business culture (FBC) amplifies the positive effects of high-performance work systems (HPWS) intensity and exacerbates the negative effects of low human capital uniqueness (HCU) on firm performance. By doing so, we answer the call for more research on the conditions under which FBC influences firm outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study sampled 226 small business owners across the USA, who provided their responses to online survey questions. Hypotheses were assessed via path analysis in MPlus 8.8, using maximum likelihood estimation.

Findings

FBC, HPWS intensity and HCU were positively associated with firm performance. Further, the HPWS intensity – firm performance and HCU – firm performance links were moderated by FBC. Specifically, increased levels of HPWS intensity were associated with greater firm performance when FBC was high, and firms with low levels of HCU tended to have particularly decreased levels of firm performance when FBC was low.

Research limitations/implications

Consistent with the resource-based view, firms' unique resources and competitive advantage may be tied to the extent to which they have an established FBC. High levels of FBC, which are characterized by shared values, loyalty, proud involvement and care toward the organization, can play a significant role in enhancing organizational performance. Family business leaders should prioritize cultivating an enhanced FBC alongside investments in HPWS and unique human capital.

Originality/value

This study contributes to understanding the theoretical underpinnings of FBC and its relationship with firm performance by examining FBC’s interaction with HPWS intensity and HCU. We highlight FBC as a valuable intangible resource that can enhance or diminish the effectiveness of other strategic resources in family firms, further extending the application of resource-based view theory in family business research.
Seeing convergence in battery electric vehicle technology through patents
Authors: Srivastava Madhur , Jain Karuna
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The study assesses the most significant architectural core technological system that converges into a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptually grounded in the convergence phenomenon and utilizing the graph theory-based network construction approach, based on the Betweenness Centrality (BC) metric, core International Patent Classifications (IPCs) have been empirically identified. Based on these IPCs, the ownership structure of the patents was established through assignee analysis.

Findings

Analyzing the networks obtained at different IPC levels, we found that multiple technologies have converged in a BEV, from battery chemistry to electrical engineering and thermal management of electrical machines.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome of this work has led to the identification of BEV technologies, which can be further developed to assess the trends of technologies and associated gaps and aid technology management for the selection, acquisition, and exploitation of technology.

Practical implications

The outcome of this work will aid technology management practitioners in better planning the selection, acquisition, and exploitation of technologies associated with BEV.

Originality/value

The paper adds an evidence-based approach to the body of knowledge to identify the built-in technologies that produce a BEV.
Suit up or dress down: exploring the impact of CEO attire on corporate perceptions
Authors: Xu Xiaobing , Huang Wei , Cheng Lanping , Shi Haijiao
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of CEO attire formality on consumers’ perceptions of corporate image, drawing on first impression theory and spillover effect theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Four experimental studies were conducted to test the proposed effect, the underlying mechanism and the boundary condition.

Findings

The formality of CEO attire significantly influences consumers’ perceptions of corporate image. Specifically, formal CEO attire creates a stronger perception of corporate authority among consumers, mediated by perceived rule-following of the CEO. In contrast, informal CEO attire leads to a stronger perception of corporate friendliness, mediated by perceived psychological distance of the CEO. Moreover, a matching effect exists between the type of industry and CEO attire formality, where consumers perceive a greater match between authoritative industries and formally dressed CEOs, and between friendly industries and informally dressed CEOs. This alignment strengthens consumers’ corporate attitudes.

Practical implications

The findings offer valuable insights for CEOs aiming to foster a positive image through their attire, providing strategic guidance for aligning corporate image with industry characteristics.

Originality/value

This research extends the understanding of how consumers’ perceptions of CEO attire can spill over to affect the corporate image, offering a novel perspective on corporate image communication.
The edifying body: the role of embodied practices in the social production of servicescapes
Authors: Chronis Athinodoros
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This research aims to explore and theorize the role of embodied practices – orchestrated by service providers – in the social production of servicescapes. It is claimed that the social character of the servicescape is shaped not only by narratives and materialities but also through the body. Bodily physical behaviors like physical movements in space, gestures, facial expressions, postures and tactile engagements with the surrounding materiality constitute a body language that conveys information and expresses meanings. In this kinetic capacity, the body becomes a building agent in the social constitution of the servicescape. As the author empirically demonstrates in the context of city tourism with diverse experiential opportunities, it is due to the body’s discriminatory orientation, walking, looking, pointing and acting in selective ways that the city emerges as a servicescape of particular kind.

Design/methodology/approach

Market-oriented ethnography was conducted in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where the author observed the guiding practices of tour guides leading international tourists during two-day city excursions.

Findings

This research identifies and unpacks three clusters of embodied practices deployed by service providers as they guide customers at the servicescape: spatializing, emplacing and regulating. The role of the body and its association with narratives and materialities is identified in each cluster.

Practical implications

A number of embodied practices are provided for use by contact employees as they guide customers in the servicescape. Specific guidelines are also offered to service providers for the strategic employment of body language, their training is navigational skills and the coordination of body, narratives and materialities.

Originality/value

This study extends current materialistic and communicative approaches on the construction of servicescapes by claiming that the servicescape in not only a physical and narrative construction but something that is also configured through the body; provides three clusters of embodied practices deployed by service providers; theorizes the intertwined nature of narratives, materiality and the body; defines servicescapes as dynamic socio-spatial entities emerging from the constant {narrative-material-body} arrangements orchestrated by service providers; and sheds light on the mediating role of the body in the social production of servicescapes.
Financial awareness, investment strategies and investor satisfaction: a multilayered empirical model testing in the Indian context
Authors: Saini Shallu , Sharma Tejinder , Parayitam Satyanarayana
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This research explores the relationships between financial awareness and investor satisfaction about retirement planning, particularly in the Indian context. We developed a conceptual model involving double moderation effects of post-retirement objectives and external factors influencing investor satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A carefully crafted survey instrument was designed to collect data from the 480 employees working in six administrative departments in the northern part of India. After checking the measurement properties of the survey instrument through the Lisrel package of structural equation modeling, the hypotheses were tested using Hayes PROCESS macros.

Findings

The results indicate that financial awareness is positively related to (1) investor satisfaction and (2) investment purpose; investment purpose is positively related to investor satisfaction; post-retirement objectives moderate the relationship between financial awareness and investment purpose; external factors moderate the moderated relationship between financial awareness and post-retirement objectives (first moderator) and investor satisfaction mediated through investment purpose.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this study have important implications for the employees embarking on making decisions concerning their retirement. The conceptual model provides a simple framework explaining how financial awareness and investor satisfaction are affected by the post-retirement objectives of individuals. This study highlights the importance of considering the effect of external factors influencing financial decisions.

Originality/value

The three-way interactions in this exploratory research contribute to the growing literature on behavioral finance, particularly concerning retirement planning involving pension.
Artificial intelligence and decision-making in government functions: opportunities, challenges and future research
Authors: Alshahrani Albandari , Griva Anastasia , Dennehy Denis , Mäntymäki Matti
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has received much attention due to its promethean-like powers to transform the management and delivery of public sector services. Due to the proliferation of research articles in this context, research to date is fragmented into research streams based on different types of AI technologies or a specific government function of the public sector (e.g. health, education). The purpose of this study is to synthesize this literature, identify challenges and opportunities, and offer a research agenda that guides future inquiry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aggregates this fragmented body of knowledge by conducting a systematic literature review of AI research in public sector organisations in the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)-ranked journals between 2012 and 2023.

Findings

The search strategy resulted in the retrieval of 2,870 papers, of which 61 were identified as primary papers relevant to this research. These primary papers are mapped to the ten classifications of the functions of government as classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the reported challenges and benefits aggregated.

Originality/value

This study advances knowledge by providing a state-of-the-art of AI research based the OECD classifications of government functions, reporting of claimed benefits and challenges and providing a research agenda for future research.
Lingering legacies: Past growth and parental experience influence somatic growth in a fish population
Authors: Almeida L. Zoe , Ludsin Stuart A. , Faust Matthew D. , Marschall Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2024

Body size and growth rate can influence individual and population success by mediating fitness. Understanding the factors that influence growth can be difficult to disentangle, however, because growth can be shaped by environmental conditions recently experienced, as well as legacy effects from conditions experienced earlier in life and by parents (via parental effects).

To improve understanding of growth among annual cohorts (1982–2015) of Lake Erie Walleye (Sander vitreus), a species with life‐history and growth characteristics similar to many other long‐lived, iteroparous fishes, we determined the role of the following hypothesised factors: (H1) recent environmental conditions; (H2) traits and experiences of the cohort, including growth, in the previous year; (H3) early‐life cohort density; (H4) early‐life body size; and (H5) parental composition and environment. We evaluated the relative importance of these hypothesised factors using piecewise structural equation modelling in an information‐theoretic framework.

Our results indicated that cohort‐specific growth of Lake Erie Walleye was most strongly influenced by traits (growth) and experiences of the cohort during the previous year (H2) and parental composition and environment (H5). The observed negative relationship with growth during the previous year may indicate that Walleye exhibit compensatory growth. The relationships with parental sizes and environments may mean that parental contributions to offspring affects cohorts into adulthood, with serious implications for the effects of climate change. Warm winters appear to negatively influence offspring growth performance for many years.

Legacy effects had a stronger influence on cohort growth than recent environmental conditions, providing new understanding of how somatic growth is regulated in Lake Erie's Walleye population. Specifically, the parental composition and environment appear important via epigenetic and/or egg‐provisioning legacies, with carryover effects modifying growth among years. Ultimately, our findings demonstrate that understanding recent growth in animal populations similar to Lake Erie Walleye may require knowledge of past conditions, including those experienced by parents.
Remnant cholesterol is more positively related to diabetes, prediabetes, and insulin resistance than conventional lipid parameters and lipid ratios: A multicenter, large sample survey
Authors: Li Binqi , Liu Yang , Zhou Xin , Chen Lulu , Yan Li , Tang Xulei , Gao Zhengnan , Wan Qin , Luo Zuojie , Qin Guijun , Ning Guang , Gu Weijun , Mu Yiming
Published: August 2024

Background

Not many large‐sample investigations are available that compare the potency of the relationship of remnant cholesterol (RC) and other lipid parameters with diabetes and prediabetes. The goals of our study are to discover the relationship between RC and prediabetes, diabetes, and insulin resistance (IR) and to investigate RC, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), non‐HDL‐C, triglycerides (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), total cholesterol (TC), TC/HDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C, and TG/HDL‐C, which are the lipid parameters that are most positively related to diabetes, prediabetes, and IR.

Methods

This research enrolled 36 684 subjects from China's eight provinces. We employed multiple logistic regression analysis for testing the relationship between lipid parameters and diabetes, prediabetes, and IR.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, and comparing the results with other lipid parameters, the positive relationship between RC and diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.417, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.345–1.492), prediabetes (OR 1.555, 95% CI: 1.438–1.628), and IR (OR 1.488, 95% CI: 1.404–1.577) was highest. RC was still related to diabetes, prediabetes, and IR even when TG <2.3 mmol/L (diabetes: OR 1.256, 95% CI: 1.135–1.390; prediabetes: OR 1.503, 95% CI: 1.342–1.684; and IR: OR 1.278, 95% CI: 1.140–1.433), LDL‐C <2.6 mmol/L (diabetes: OR 1.306, 95% CI: 1.203–1.418; prediabetes: OR 1.597, 95% CI: 1.418–1.798; and IR: OR 1.552, 95% CI: 1.416–1.701), or HDL‐C ≥1 mmol/L (diabetes: OR 1.456, 95% CI: 1.366–1.550; prediabetes: OR 1.553, 95% CI: 1.421–1.697; and IR: OR 1.490, 95% CI: 1.389–1.598).

Conclusion

RC is more positively related to diabetes, prediabetes, and IR than conventional lipids and lipid ratios in the general population, the relationships between RC and diabetes, prediabetes, and IR are stable, even if HDL‐C, LDL‐C, or TG are at appropriate levels.

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