bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paraventricular Thalamus Neuronal Ensembles Encode Early-life Adversity and Mediate the Consequent Sex-dependent Disruptions of Adult Reward Behaviors
Authors: Kooiker Cassandra L. , Birnie Matthew T. , Floriou-Servou Amalia , Ding Qinxin , Thiagarajan Neeraj , Hardy Mason , Baram Tallie Z.
Published: May 2024

Early-life adversity increases risk for mental illnesses including depression and substance use disorders, disorders characterized by dysregulated reward behaviors. However, the mechanisms by which transient ELA enduringly impacts reward circuitries are not well understood. In mice, ELA leads to anhedonia-like behaviors in males and augmented motivation for palatable food and sex-reward cues in females. Here, the use of genetic tagging demonstrated robust, preferential, and sex-specific activation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) during ELA and a potentiated reactivation of these PVT neurons during a reward task in adult ELA mice. Chemogenetic manipulation of specific ensembles of PVT neurons engaged during ELA identified a role for the posterior PVT in ELA-induced aberrantly augmented reward behaviors in females. In contrast, anterior PVT neurons activated during ELA were required for the anhedonia-like behaviors in males. Thus, the PVT encodes adverse experiences early-in life, prior to the emergence of the hippocampal memory system, and contributes critically to the lasting, sex-modulated impacts of ELA on reward behaviors.
Understanding the effective reproduction number ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria with seasonal variation at sub-national level in Nigeria
Authors: Musa Rabiu , Afeez Abidemi , Isaac Olasupo Idowu , Akinlo Mogbojuri Oluwaseun , Osikoya Samuel Abidemi , Onyebuchi Nwana Aaron , Oluwaseun Oniyelu Dolapo , Samson Olagbami Oluwafemi , Afolabi Bakare Emmanuel
Published: May 2024

Background

With the highest burden in northern Nigeria, malaria is a vector-borne disease that causes serious illness. Nigeria contributed 27% (61.8 million) of malaria burden worldwide and 23% (94 million) of malaria deaths globally in 2019. Despite the fact that Nigeria has made a significant step in malaria elimination, the process has remained stagnant in recent years. The global technical strategy targets of reducing malaria death to less than 50 per 1000 population at risk was unachievable for the past 5 years. As part of the national malaria strategic plan of 2021-2025 to roll back malaria, it’s imperative to provide a framework that will aid in understanding the effective reproduction number (ℛe) and the time dependent-contact ratesC(t) of malaria in Nigeria which is quite missing in the literature.

Methods

The data of the reported malaria cases between January 2014 and December 2017 and demography of all the northern states are used to estimateC(t) and ℛeusing Bayesian statistical inference. We formulated a compartmental model with seasonal-forcing term in order to account for seasonal variation of the malaria cases. In order to limit the infectiousness of the asymptomatic individuals, super-infection was also incorporated into the model.

Results

The posterior mean obtained shows that Adamawa state has the highest mean ℛeof 5.92 (95% CrI : 1.60-10.59) while Bauchi has the lowest 3.72 (95% CrI : 1.11-7.08). Niger state has the highest mean contact rateC(t) 0.40 (95% CrI : 0.08-0.77) and the lowest was Gombe 0.26 (95% CrI: 0.04-0.55 ). The results also confirm that there is a mosquito abundance and high reproduction number during the rainy season compared to the dry season. The results further show that over 60% of the reported cases are from the asymptomatic individuals.

Conclusion

This research continues to add to our understanding of the epidemiology of malaria in Nigeria. It is strongly advised that a complete grasp of the malaria reproduction number and the contact rate between human and mosquitoes are necessary in order to develop more effective prevention and control strategies. It will support the public health practitioner’s strategy and effective planning for malaria eradication.
Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS): A Brief Psychometrically-Robust Metric of Patient-Reported Cognitive Difficulty
Authors: Sumowski James F. , Sandry Joshua
Published: May 2024

Background

Cognitive decline is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), but existing metrics of patient-reported cognitive difficulties are lengthy, lack psychometric rigor, and/or fail to query expressive language deficits prevalent in MS.

Objective

To develop the Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS) as a brief psychometrically-robust metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits.

Method

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on 20 items of the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) plus five newly developed language questions in a large sample of patients with MS and matched respondents without neurologic disease. Confirmatory principal components analysis (PCA) in an independent sample assessed the EFA factor structure. Reliability of the new scale and subscales was assessed, and we evaluated the relationship between the new scale and objective cognitive impairment.

Results

EFA in patients (n=502) and controls (n=350), item analyses, and confirmatory PCA in an independent sample of patients (n=361) and controls (n=150) supported construction of an eight-item scale with four 2-item subscales assessing Executive / Speed, Working Memory, Expressive Language, and Episodic Memory. Internal consistency was excellent for the total MSCS (α=0.93) and good for each subscale (Executive / Speed, α=0.85; Working Memory, α=0.83, Expressive Language, α=0.87; Episodic Memory, α=0.85). There was a medium-sized relationship between objective cognitive impairment and MSCS scores (η2[95%CI] = 0.06 [0.01, 0.13], but cognitive impairment was not related to the traditional PDQ (0.01 [0.00, 0.06]).

Conclusion

The MSCS is supported as a brief, psychometrically-robust, reliable, and valid metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits in MS. The MSCS holds promise for improving assessment of MS cognitive dysfunction in clinical and research settings.
Single-cell RNA sequencing of mutant whole mouse embryos: from the epiblast to the end of gastrulation
Authors: Abraham Elizabeth , Zubillaga Mikel , Roule Thomas , Stronati Eleonora , Akizu Naiara , Estaras Conchi
Published: May 2024

Over the last decade, single-cell approaches have become the gold standard for studying gene expression dynamics, cell heterogeneity, and cell states within samples. Before single-cell advances, the feasibility of capturing the dynamic cellular landscape and rapid cell transitions during early development was limited. In this paper, we designed a robust pipeline to perform single-cell and nuclei analysis on mouse embryos from E6.5 to E8, corresponding to the onset and completion of gastrulation. Gastrulation is a fundamental process during development that establishes the three germinal layers: mesoderm, ectoderm, and endoderm, which are essential for organogenesis. Extensive literature is available on single-cell omics applied to WT perigastrulating embryos. However, single-cell analysis of mutant embryos is still scarce and often limited to FACS-sorted populations. This is partially due to the technical constraints associated with the need for genotyping, timed pregnancies, the count of embryos with desired genotypes per pregnancy, and the number of cells per embryo at these stages. Here, we present a methodology designed to overcome these limitations. This method establishes breeding and timed pregnancy guidelines to achieve a higher chance of synchronized pregnancies with desired genotypes. Optimization steps in the embryo isolation process coupled with FAST genotyping protocol (3 hours) allow for microdroplet-based single-cell to be performed on the same day, ensuring the high viability of cells and robust results. We also include guidelines for optimal nuclei isolations from embryos. Thus, these approaches increase the feasibility of single-cell approaches of mutant embryos at the gastrulation stage. We anticipate this method will facilitate the analysis of how mutations shape the cellular landscape of the gastrula.

We establish a pipeline for high-quality single-cell and nuclei suspensions of gastrulating mouse embryos for sequencing of single cells and nuclei.
Validity of Umbilical Cord Blood Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Early-Onset Neonatal Infection
Authors: Tran Uyen Le , Giang Linh Tran Phuong , Nguyen Tinh Thu
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Early-onset neonatal infection (EONI) poses significant risks to neonatal health, necessitating reliable diagnostic markers for early detection. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic validity of procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in umbilical cord blood as a biomarker for EONI.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted at Ho Chi Minh University Medical Center from April 2022 to September 2022. One hundred eighty neonates with risk factors for EONI were recruited. The PCT level was measured in umbilical cord blood at birth. Based on clinical, laboratory, and microbiologic results, neonates were classified into infected and non-infected groups.

Results

Among the neonates studied, 22 (12.2%) were classified as infected and 158 (87.8%) as non-infected. The median PCT in the infected group was significantly higher than that in the non-infected group (0.389 ng/mL vs 0.127 ng/mL, p = 0.007). The optimal PCT cut-off was found by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) to be 0.23 ng/mL, with an area under the curve of 0.87. The results were 59.1%, 98.7%, 86.2%, 94%, 45, and 0.41 for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, respectively. The post-test probability was 86% if the test was positive and 5% if it was negative.

Conclusion

Umbilical cord blood PCT is a reliable marker in the diagnosis of EONI, and its value helps limit the harmful effects of unnecessary prescriptions in non-infected neonates.
The tryptophan catabolite or kynurenine pathway in Long COVID disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Almulla Abbas F. , Thipakorn Yanin , Zhou Bo , Vojdani Aristo , Paunova Rossitsa , Maes Michael
Published: May 2024

Background

Recent studies confirm the involvement of activated immune-inflammatory responses and increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in Long COVID (LC) disease. However, the influence of these pathways on the metabolism of tryptophan (TRP) through the TRP catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway and their mediating effects on LC pathophysiology, has not been fully explored.

Objective

This meta-analysis investigates peripheral TRP and TRYCAT levels and the TRYCAT pathway in patients with LC disease.

Method

This review utilized systematic searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciFinder, including 14 full-text articles and 1,167 participants, consisting of 480 patients with LC and 687 normal controls.

Results

The results indicated a significant increase in the kynurenine (KYN)/TRP ratio, with a large effect size (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.755; confidence intervals, CI: 0.119;1.392), in LC patients compared to normal controls. Additionally, LC patients exhibited a significant decrease in TRP levels (SMD = -0.520, CI: -0.793; -0.246) and an increase in KYN levels after imputing missing studies (SMD = 1.176, CI: 0.474; 1.877), suggesting activation of the Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme and upregulation of the TRYCAT pathway. No significant elevation in TRYCAT-related neurotoxicity, kynurenic acid (KA)/KYN and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK)/KYN ratios were observed in LC patients compared to normal controls.

Conclusion

The current findings indicate that an activated TRYCAT pathway, characterized by decreased TRP levels and maybe elevated KYN levels, plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of LC.
Stepping in Place (SIP) as a Novel Physical Ability Assessment in Neurorehabilitation: A Wearable Device-based Validation Study
Authors: Hu Bin , Amini Doreen , Ghani Izma , Ahmed Abdul-Samad , Wasif Shahryar , Chomiak Taylor
Published: May 2024

The assessment of physical ability is a critical component in developing personalized exercise prescriptions, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating intervention outcomes across various clinical and general populations. This study evaluates how objective physical performance parameters, measured during a stepping in place (SIP) exercise via Ambulosono wearable system, relate to subjective perceptions of fatigue and breathlessness using Borg and Fatigue Scores. Our overall results show that SIP, as a convenient and simple exercise modality, can be used to rank a user’s physical ability level based on both objective and subjective parameters. Furthermore, while the objective walking/gait parameters may have some predictive ability for the such parameter as cadence, they do not appear to significantly predict the subjective fatigue or breathlessness scores, either before or after the activity. This lack of significant relationships suggests that factors other than the measured objective gait metrics may play a more important role in determining subjective experiences of fatigue and breathlessness during the stepping exercise.
Analysis of changes in inter-cellular communications during Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis reveals conserved changes in glutamatergic transmission in mice and humans
Authors: Bartas Katrina , Hui May , Zhao Wei , Macchia Desiree , Nie Qing , Beier Kevin T.
Published: May 2024

Analysis of system-wide cellular communication changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has recently been enabled by single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and new computational methods. Here, we combined these to analyze data from postmortem human tissue from the entorhinal cortex of AD patients and compared our findings to those from multiomic data from the 5xFAD amyloidogenic mouse model at two different time points. Using the cellular communication inference tool CellChat we found that disease-related changes were largely related to neuronal excitability as well as synaptic communication, with specific signaling pathways including BMP, EGF, and EPHA, and relatively poor conservation of glial-related changes during disease. Further analysis using the neuron-specific NeuronChat revealed changes relating to metabotropic glutamate receptors as well as neuronal adhesion molecules including neurexins and neuroligins. Our results that cellular processes relating to excitotoxicity are the best conserved between 5xFAD mice and AD suggest that excitotoxicity is the main common feature between pathogenesis in 5xFAD mice and AD patients.
Biostimulation methods based on chemical communication improve semen quality in male breeder rabbits
Authors: Villamayor Paula R. , Yañez Uxía , Gullón Julián , Sánchez-Quinteiro Pablo , Peña Ana I. , Becerra Juan J. , Herradón Pedro G. , Martínez Paulino , Quintela Luis A.
Published: May 2024

Biostimulation aims to optimize reproductive parameters as part of animal management practices by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term male rabbit exposure to different biological secretions, potentially pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of males. Four groups of 18 males each were exposed to A) doe urine, B) 2-phenoxyethanol, C) doe vaginal swab, and D) distilled water (control), three times over a 2.5h exposure window, just before semen collection. Semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, as well as subpopulation analysis of the spermatozoa were assessed for each condition. Additionally, testosterone levels in blood samples were monitored at five time points over the 2.5 h exposure window. We found a higher percentage of motile, progressive, fast progressive and mid-progressive spermatozoa in any of the three experimental groups compared to the control group. In contrast, the semen volume and the percentage of immotile and non-progressive spermatozoa was generally higher in the control group. We then identified a higher proportion of a subpopulation of fast and progressive spermatozoa in groups A, B, and C compared to group D. Our data indicates that sperm motility increases when animals are exposed to specific biological fluids potentially containing pheromones, and that an increase in sperm volume does not correlate with an increase in spermatozoa concentration, progressiveness, and speed. Finally, no differences in testosterone levels were found among comparisons, although males of groups A and C (exposed to natural female biological fluids) showed a tendency towards higher testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that rabbit sperm quality increases upon exposure to the biological secretions proposed, thereby supporting further investigation into their molecular identity. This exploration could eventually pave the way for implementing the use of pheromones in rabbit husbandry to enhance reproductive and productive parameters in farmed rabbits.
Neural pathway activation in the subthalamic region depends on stimulation polarity
Authors: Borgheai Seyyed Bahram , Opri Enrico , Isbaine Faical , Cole Eric , Deligani Roohollah Jafari , Laxpati Nealen , Risk Benjamin B , Willie Jon T , Gross Robert E , Yong Nicholas Au , McIntyre Cameron C , Miocinovic Svjetlana
Published: May 2024

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, there is limited understanding of which subthalamic pathways are recruited in response to stimulation. Here, by focusing on the polarity of the stimulus waveform (cathodic vs. anodic), our goal was to elucidate biophysical mechanisms that underlie electrical stimulation in the human brain. In clinical studies, cathodic stimulation more easily triggers behavioral responses, but anodic DBS broadens the therapeutic window. This suggests that neural pathways involved respond preferentially depending on stimulus polarity. To experimentally compare the activation of therapeutically relevant pathways during cathodic and anodic subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS, pathway activation was quantified by measuring evoked potentials resulting from antidromic or orthodromic activation in 15 PD patients undergoing DBS implantation. Cortical evoked potentials (cEP) were recorded using subdural electrocorticography, DBS local evoked potentials (DLEP) were recorded from non-stimulating contacts and EMG activity was recorded from arm and face muscles. We measured: 1) the amplitude of short-latency cEP, previously demonstrated to reflect activation of the cortico-STN hyperdirect pathway, 2) DLEP amplitude thought to reflect activation of STN-globus pallidus (GP) pathway, and 3) amplitudes of very short-latency cEP and motor evoked potentials (mEP) for activation of cortico-spinal/bulbar tract (CSBT). We constructed recruitment and strength-duration curves for each EP/pathway to compare the excitability for different stimulation polarities. We compared experimental data with the most advanced DBS computational models. Our results provide experimental evidence that subcortical cathodic and anodic stimulation activate the same pathways in the STN region and that cathodic stimulation is in general more efficient. However, relative efficiency varies for different pathways so that anodic stimulation is the least efficient in activating CSBT, more efficient in activating the HDP and as efficient as cathodic in activating STN-GP pathway. Our experiments confirm biophysical model predictions regarding neural activations in the central nervous system and provide evidence that stimulus polarity has differential effects on passing axons, terminal synapses, and local neurons. Comparison of experimental results with clinical DBS studies provides further evidence that the hyperdirect pathway may be involved in the therapeutic mechanisms of DBS.
Cyclical transcription factor AP2XII-9 is a key activator for asexual division and apicoplast inheritance inToxoplasma gondiitachyzoite
Authors: Shi Yuehong , Li Xuan , Xue Yingying , Hu Dandan , Song Xingju
Published: May 2024

Toxoplasma gondiiis an intracellular parasitic protozoan that poses a significant risk to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. T. gondiitachyzoites duplicate rapidly in host cells during acute infection through endodyogeny. This highly regulated division process is accompanied by complex gene regulation networks. TgAP2XII-9 is a cyclical transcription factor, but its specific role in the parasite cell cycle is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that TgAP2XII-9 is identified as a nuclear transcription factor and is dominantly expressed during the S/M phase of the tachyzoite cell cycle. CUT&Tag results indicate that TgAP2XII-9 targets key genes for the moving junction machinery (RON2, 4, 8) and daughter cell inner membrane complex (IMC). TgAP2XII-9 deficiency resulted in a significant downregulation of rhoptry proteins and rhoptry neck proteins, leading to a severe defect in the invasion and egress efficiency of tachyzoites. Additionally, the loss of TgAP2XII-9 correlated with a substantial downregulation of multiple IMC and apicoplast proteins, leading to disorders of daughter bud formation and apicoplast inheritance, and further contributing to the inability of cell division and intracellular proliferation. Our study reveals that TgAP2XII-9 acts as a critical S/M-phase regulator that orchestrates the endodyogeny and apicoplast division inT. gondiitachyzoite. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the complexity of the parasite’s cell cycle and its key regulators.

Significance: The intracellular apicoplast parasiteToxoplasma gondiiposts great threat to the public health. The acute infection ofT. gondiitachyzoite relies on efficient invasion by forming a moving junction structure and also fast replication by highly regulated endodyogeny. This study shows that an ApiAP2 transcription factor TgAP2XII-9 acts as an activator for the S/M-phase gene expression, including genes related to daughter buds and moving junction formation. Loss of TgAP2XII-9 results significant growth defects and disorders in endodyogeny and apicoplast inheritance of the parasites. Our results provide valuable insights into the transcriptional regulation of parasite cell cycle and invading machinery inT. gondii.
Magnetism in the axion insulator candidate
Eu5In2Sb6
Authors: Rahn M. C. , Wilson M. N. , Hicken T. J. , Pratt F. L. , Wang C. , Orlandi F. , Khalyavin D. D. , Manuel P. , Veiga L. S. I. , Bombardi A. , Francoual S. , Bereciartua P. , Sukhanov A. S. , Thompson J. D. , Thomas S. M. , Rosa P. F. S. , Lancaster T. , Ronning F. , Janoschek M.
Published: May 2024

Eu5In2Sb6 is a member of a family of orthorhombic nonsymmorphic rare-earth intermetallics that combines large localized magnetic moments and itinerant exchange with a low carrier density and perpendicular glide planes. This may result in special topological crystalline (wallpaper fermion) or axion insulating phases. Recent studies of Eu5In2Sb6 single crystals have revealed colossal negative magnetoresistance and multiple magnetic phase transitions. Here, we clarify this ordering process using neutron scattering, resonant elastic x-ray scattering, muon spin-rotation, and magnetometry. The nonsymmorphic and multisite character of Eu5In2Sb6 results in coplanar noncollinear magnetic structures with an Ising-like net magnetization along the a axis. A reordering transition, attributable to competing ferro- and antiferromagnetic couplings, manifests as the onset of a second commensurate Fourier component. In the absence of spatially resolved probes, the experimental evidence for this low-temperature state can be interpreted either as an unusual double-q structure or in a phase separation scenario. The net magnetization produces variable anisotropic hysteretic effects which also couple to charge transport. The implied potential for functional domain physics and topological transport suggests that this structural family may be a promising platform to implement concepts of topological antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Multi-Higgs boson signals of a modified muon Yukawa coupling at a muon collider
Authors: Dermisek Radovan , Hermanek Keith , Lee Taegyu , McGinnis Navin , Yoon Sangsik
Published: May 2024

We study di-Higgs and tri-Higgs boson productions at a muon collider as functions of the modification of the muon Yukawa coupling resulting from new physics parametrized by the dimension-six mass operator. We show that the di-Higgs signal can be used to observe a deviation in the muon Yukawa coupling at the 10% level for s=10  TeV and at the 3.5% level for s=30  TeV. The tri-Higgs signal improves the sensitivity dramatically with increasing s, reaching 0.8% at s=30  TeV. We also study all processes involving Goldstone bosons originating from the same operator, discuss possible model dependence resulting from other operators of dimension-six and higher, and identify μ+μ−→hh, μ+μ−→hhh, and μ+μ−→hZLZL as golden channels. We further extend the study to an effective field theory including two Higgs doublets with type-II couplings and show that di-Higgs and tri-Higgs signals involving heavy Higgs bosons can be enhanced in the alignment limit by a factor of (tanβ)4 and (tanβ)6, respectively, which results in the potential sensitivity to a modified muon Yukawa coupling at the 10−6 level already at a s=10  TeV muon collider. The results can easily be customized for other extensions of the Higgs sector.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quark mass dependence of the
Ds0*(2317)
and
Ds1(2460)
resonances
Authors: Gil-Domínguez F. , Molina R.
Published: May 2024

We determine the quark mass dependence—light and heavy—of the Ds0*(2317) and Ds1(2460) properties, such as, mass, coupling to D(*)K, scattering lengths and compositeness, from a global analysis of D(*)K energy levels from LQCD. In particular, we analyze the HSC energy levels for DK scattering in I=0 for different boosts and two pion masses. The formalism is based in the local hidden-gauge interaction of Weinberg-Tomozawa type which respects both chiral and heavy quark spin symmetries, supplemented by a term that takes into account the D(*)K coupling to a bare cs¯ component. The isospin violating decay of the Ds0*(2317)→Ds+π0 is also evaluated.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gribov problem in the eletroweak and gluon confined theories
Authors: Amaral R. L. P. G. , Lemes V. E. R. , Ventura O. S. , Vilar L. C. Q.
Published: May 2024

We show that gauge fields after a spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) mechanism do not have a Gribov problem along the broken directions. In order to make this proof, we describe a gauge fixing procedure inspired on Morse’s theory leading to the concept of a gauge fixing generating functional. This approach is specially suited in order to understand the unitary gauges of ’t Hooft. The conclusion is that after a SSB process, the generalized Faddeev-Popov operator acquires a positive definite value along the broken directions. We show how this works in the eletroweak SU(2)XU(1) theory, where such a result is in fact expected as in this case the gauge fields acquire masses after the SSB. Then we apply this development to the SL(3,c) confining model of Amaral [A path to confine gluons and fermions through complex gauge theory, ]. The final result explains why such confining mechanism is actually a solution to the Gribov problem for the confined gauge fields. These cases show that although confinement is not a general effect of the solution of the Gribov problem, as we can infer from the eletroweak example, its solution indeed seems to be necessary in order to achieve confinement. In the end, these conclusions allow us to speculate that the strong interaction confinement may be the result of some hidden SSB mechanism yet to be described.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Double space
T
dualization and coordinate dependent RR field
Authors: Nikolić B. , Obrić D.
Published: May 2024

In this article, we examine T dualization in the double space formalism of type II superstring theory in pure spinor formulation. All background fields are constant except the Ramond-Ramond field, which depends infinitesimally on bosonic coordinates xμ. In double space, T dual transformations are represented as permutations of the starting xμ and dual coordinates yμ. Combining these two sets of coordinates into the double coordinate ZM=(xμ,yμ), while demanding that the T dual double coordinate has the same T dual transformation law as the initial ones, we obtain how background fields transform under T duality. Comparing these results with ones obtained using the Buscher T dualization procedure, we conclude that these two approaches are equivalent for the considered choice of the background fields.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Modeling the performance of early fault-tolerant quantum algorithms
Authors: Liang Qiyao , Zhou Yiqing , Dalal Archismita , Johnson Peter
Published: May 2024

Progress in fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC) has driven the pursuit of practical applications with (EFTQC). These devices, limited in their qubit counts and fault-tolerance capabilities, require algorithms that can accommodate some degrees of error, which are known as EFTQC algorithms. To predict the onset of early quantum advantage, a comprehensive methodology is needed to develop and analyze EFTQC algorithms, drawing insights from both the methodologies of noisy intermediate-scale quantum and traditional FTQC. To address this need, we propose such a methodology for modeling algorithm performance on EFTQC devices under varying degrees of error. As a case study, we apply our methodology to analyze the performance of randomized Fourier estimation (RFE) [Kshirsagar, Katabarwa, and Johnson, ], an EFTQC algorithm for phase estimation. We investigate the runtime performance and the fault-tolerant overhead of RFE in comparison to the traditional quantum phase estimation algorithm. Our analysis reveals that RFE achieves significant savings in physical qubit counts while having a much higher runtime upper bound. We anticipate even greater physical qubit savings when considering more realistic assumptions about the performance of EFTQC devices. By providing insights into the performance trade-offs and resource requirements of EFTQC algorithms, our work contributes to the development of practical and efficient quantum computing solutions on the path to quantum advantage.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Short-voltage pulse generation for induction heating load detection on a multi-output inverter with shared power devices
Authors: Guillén Pablo , Sarnago Hector , Lucia Oscar , Burdio José M.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a load detection method for domestic induction cooktops. The solution aims to minimize its impact in the converter power transmission while enabling the estimation of the equivalent electrical parameters of the load. This method is suitable for a multi-output resonant inverter topology with shared power devices.

Design/methodology/approach

The considered multi-output converter presents power devices that are shared between several loads. Thus, applying load detection methods in the literature requires a halt in the power transfer to ensuring safe operation. The proposed method uses a complementary short-voltage pulse to excite the induction heating (IH) coil without stopping the power transfer to the remaining IH loads. With the current through the coil and the analytical equations, the equivalent inductance and resistance of the load is estimated. The precision of the method has been evaluated by simulation, and experimental results are provided.

Findings

The measurement of the current through the induction coil as a response to a short-time single-pulse voltage variation provides enough information to estimate the load equivalent parameters, allowing to differentiate between no-load, non-suitable IH load and suitable IH load situations.

Originality/value

The proposed method provides a solution for load detection without requiring additional circuitry. It aims for low power transmission to the load and ensures zero-voltage switching and reduced peak current even in no-load cases. Moreover, the proposed solution is extensible to less complex converters, as the half bridge.
Education stakeholders’ perceptions on the relevant management model towards development of infrastructure facilities in public secondary schools
Authors: Joseph Musa Mashauri , Ndeskoi Thaudensia Thomas
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to communicate the relevant management model with optimal performance in the collection of construction resources (human, non-human), supervision of workers and activities in the development of adequate and quality school infrastructure facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a mixed methods research approach in collecting and analysing research findings. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews and questionnaires which consisted of closed questions were the data collection tools. Numerical data collected were processed and analysed by using quantitative methods and techniques such as descriptive analysis, whereas text data were subjected to content analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed that the Post-New Public Management (PNPM) is relevant in the collection of construction resources and suitable for the supervision of workers and tasks towards the development of adequate and quality school infrastructure facilities. Based on the evidence generated, the PNPM model was recommended to be adapted to collection of construction resources and supervision of workers and activities.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the need for construction committees and other education policy implementers to adapt a relevant management model in realising optimal performance in the development of adequate and quality school infrastructure facilities.
Fraud intention and the relationship with selfishness: the mediating role of moral justification in the accounting profession
Authors: Çollaku Lum , Ramushi Arbana Sahiti , Aliu Muhamet
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between selfishness, moral justification and intention to fraud among accounting certified professionals. It focuses on the role of moral justification in explaining the link between selfishness and intention to fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected with the help of a structured questionnaire. The final sample includes 240 accounting certified professionals. To test the hypothesized model in this study, IBM AMOS ver26 was used to perform the structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of this study show that selfishness has no direct impact on the intention to commit fraud. However, selfishness does have a positive impact on moral justification. Furthermore, the study found that moral justification mediates the relationship between selfishness and fraud intention.

Practical implications

This study provides important implications for accounting firms and other organizations and recommends that they implement the necessary practices to reduce the fraudulent intentions of certified accounting professionals while simultaneously reducing selfishness and moral justification.

Originality/value

This research is among the few studies in the accounting field that address the mediating role of moral justification in the relationship between selfishness and fraud intention among certified accounting professionals.
Implementation of sustainability principles in landscape architecture education: an examination of faculty attitudes and course syllabi
Authors: Park Hye Yeon , Licon Carlos V. , Givens Jennifer , Sleipness Ole Russell
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) into landscape architecture (LA) programs in North American universities to understand its benefits and challenges and provide insights into the implementation of sustainability principles, pedagogies and teaching methods.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed survey data from 128 LA faculty members from 85 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture member schools. The survey assessed the implementation of sustainability principles, pedagogies, teaching benefits and challenges to integrating sustainability into their courses. To complement the survey data, 62 LA course syllabi were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to identify the topics covered, learning objectives and learning activities.

Findings

The study revealed that LA programs incorporate sustainability topics in various courses using project-based and interdisciplinary learning approaches. Integrating ESD into LA curricula promotes sustainability literacy, improved understanding of sustainability concepts and the development of sustainability skills. The study also found positive correlations between teaching methods, the enhancement of sustainability literacy and the development of design and planning skills.

Originality/value

This research examined the effects of teaching methods on student learning outcomes and the challenges instructors faced, providing practical insights into the integration of ESD in LA education. It offers recommendations to enhance the ESD knowledge of future LA practitioners, considering the inclusion of ESD as a core value of the standard by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board.
Revealing the tribological mechanism of synergistic effect between MoDTC and P-containing additives in aluminum-based grease
Authors: Zhao Hui , Ren Shunzhen , Zhong Zhengbo , Li Zhipeng , Ren Tianhui
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to reveal the tribological mechanism of synergistic effect between MoDTC and P-containing additives in aluminum-based grease.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors prepared a molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) and revealed the tribological mechanism of synergistic effect between MoDTC and P-containing additives in aluminum-based grease by combining with ZDDP and P-containing and S-free additives.

Findings

The MoDTC the authors prepared has good friction-reducing and anti-wear properties in aluminum-based grease and has an obvious synergistic effect with ZDDP. MoDTC and ZDDP have a significant synergistic effect on the tribological properties in aluminum-based grease, mainly because of the formation of phosphates and metaphosphates as well as more MoS2 in the friction film. P element plays a facilitating role in the chemical conversion of MoDTC to MoS2.

Originality/value

The experiments of MoDTC with tributyl phosphate and trimethylphenyl phosphate confirm that the P element plays a facilitating role in the chemical conversion of MoDTC into MoS2.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2023-0410
Exploring the greenium in the green Sukuk universe: evidence from the primary market
Authors: Pirgaip Burak , Arslan-Ayaydin Ozgur
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to fill a gap in the literature by providing evidence for a “greenium” in the primary Sukuk market. The term “greenium” is defined in the study as the lower cost of capital or reduced yields that green Sukuk may offer compared to non-green Sukuk, reflecting investor willingness to accept lower returns for green investments. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of “greenium” as an incentive for issuers to fund eco-friendly projects, contributing to a sustainable environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses propensity score matching techniques to provide an accurate comparison of pricing differences between green and non-green Sukuk issued in global primary markets during the period 2017–2022.

Findings

The results reveal that green Sukuk signify a “greenium” effect. This suggests that investors find green Sukuk attractive, willing to accept lower returns. Given the positive investor response to green initiatives in the market, issuers can capitalize on the growing demand for green Sukuk, leading to low-cost funding.

Originality/value

This study makes an important contribution to the literature at the interface of Islamic finance and environmental sustainability. In particular, it stands out by focusing on the pricing dynamics in the green Sukuk market and highlights the potential benefits of issuing green Sukuk to help achieve sustainability goals while providing access to lower cost of capital for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Attitudes of college seniors toward graduate student loan debt: the role of financial education
Authors: Salas-Velasco Manuel
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine prospective graduate students' attitudes toward educational loan borrowing in an experimental setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and one control group. Subjects in experimental group 1 received financial education: a short online course on the economic viability of getting a master's degree and how to finance it with a graduate student loan, while subjects in experimental group 2 received financial education along with information on the availability bias.

Findings

Relying on a control group in the assessment of financial literacy education intervention impacts, this research finds positive causal treatment effects on individuals’ attitudes toward debt-financed graduate education. In comparison to the control group, experimental subjects perceived the possibility of going into debt with a graduate loan to complete a master’s degree as less stressful and worrying.

Practical implications

This study has important educational policy implications to prevent students from stopping investing in human capital by perceiving educational loan debt as something stressful or worrying. The results can help potential (and current) grad students develop a feasible financial plan for graduate school by encouraging higher education institutions to implement educational loan information and financial education into university seminar courses for better graduate student loan decision-making.

Originality/value

Student attitudes toward debt have been analyzed in the context of higher education, but only a few researchers internationally have used an experimental design to study personal financial decision-making.
The impact of knowledge sharing on employee engagement through the mediating role of competency development and moderating role of social climate
Authors: Naim Mohammad Faraz , Shehzad Nazia , Al Nahyan Moza Tahnoon , Jabeen Fauzia , Usai Antonio
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to test the relationship between knowledge sharing and employee engagement. In particular, the mediating and moderating roles of competency development and social climate, respectively, are also the focus of this research.

Design/methodology/approach

Of self-completed questionnaires collected from luxury hotels in India, 507 are usable for data analysis. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The structural equation modeling–based results illustrate a positive significant association between knowledge sharing and employee engagement. Also, there is a significant support to establish the mediating effect of competency development and the moderating effect of social climate on this relationship. The expansion of competencies of employees achieved through knowledge sharing leads to higher engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This work is carried out in Indian hospitality sector and may not be generalizable to other cultural settings.

Practical implications

This study’s results add to the knowledge sharing scholarship by envisaging a possible association with an employee attitudinal outcome, i.e. employee engagement.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to unravel the social processes through which knowledge sharing enhances competency development, and subsequently employee engagement, mainly through the influence of social climate.
Filling in the gaps: a service ecosystem perspective on purchase groups as interstitial markets
Authors: Gupta Aditya , Roy Sheila , Kamath Renuka
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Given the continuing need to study service marketing adaptations that emerged in the wake of Covid-19, this paper aims to look at the formation and evolution of purchase groups (PGs) that arose in Indian gated communities during the pandemic and have continued functioning in the post-pandemic marketplace. Not only did these groups act as much-needed interstitial markets during a time of significant external disruption, but they also served as sites of value co-creation, with consumers collaborating with each other and with service providers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a phenomenological research approach, the authors conducted 22 in-depth interviews with Indian consumers and small service providers to gather accounts of how PGs started and evolved with time. Subsequent data coding and analyses are conducted with NVivo 12.

Findings

Using the service ecosystem perspective, the authors illustrate seven distinct themes that capture the nuances of the formation and evolution of PGs. These consist of entrepreneurality, collectivity, and fluidity at the service ecosystem level, hybridity and transactionality at the servicescape level, and mutuality and permeability at the service encounter level.

Originality/value

This study provides an empirical and theoretically grounded account of a long-term service marketing adaptation that has persisted in the post-pandemic marketplace. This helps us address recent calls for such research while also adding to the work on value co-creation in collective consumption contexts and extant discourse on service ecosystems.
The roots of errors in adaptive performance: clustering behavioral patterns after the introduction of a change
Authors: Roling Wiebke M. , Grum Marcus , Gronau Norbert , Kluge Annette
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate work-related adaptive performance from a longitudinal process perspective. This paper clustered specific behavioral patterns following the introduction of a change and related them to retentivity as an individual cognitive ability. In addition, this paper investigated whether the occurrence of adaptation errors varied depending on the type of change content.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 35 participants collected in the simulated manufacturing environment of a Research and Application Center Industry 4.0 (RACI) were analyzed. The participants were required to learn and train a manufacturing process in the RACI and through an online training program. At a second measurement point in the RACI, specific manufacturing steps were subject to change and participants had to adapt their task execution. Adaptive performance was evaluated by counting the adaptation errors.

Findings

The participants showed one of the following behavioral patterns: (1) no adaptation errors, (2) few adaptation errors, (3) repeated adaptation errors regarding the same actions, or (4) many adaptation errors distributed over many different actions. The latter ones had a very low retentivity compared to the other groups. Most of the adaptation errors were made when new actions were added to the manufacturing process.

Originality/value

Our study adds empirical research on adaptive performance and its underlying processes. It contributes to a detailed understanding of different behaviors in change situations and derives implications for organizational change management.