bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
System and transcript dynamics of cells infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Silva João M. F. , Oteo Jose Á. , Garay Carlos P. , Elena Santiago F. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractStatistical laws arise in many complex systems and can be explored to gain insights into their structure and behavior. Here, we investigate the dynamics of cells infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the system and individual gene levels; and demonstrate that the statistical frameworks used here are robust in spite of the technical noise associated with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. A biphasic fit to Taylor’s power law was observed, and it is likely associated with the larger sampling noise inherent to the measure of less expressed genes. The type of the distribution of the system, as assessed by Taylor’s parameters, varies along the course of infection in a cell type-dependent manner, but also sampling noise had a significant influence on Taylor’s parameters. At the individual gene level, we found that genes that displayed signals of punctual rank stability and/or long-range dependence behavior, as measured by Hurst exponents, were associated with translation, cellular respiration, apoptosis, protein-folding, virus processes, and immune response.Author summaryViruses replicate within susceptible cells by exploiting the cellular machinery. Consequently, cells initiate defenses against the virus and signal other cells, notably immune cells. This ongoing battle prompts significant alterations in the cells’ gene expression patterns throughout the infection process. In this study, we apply statistical principles from complex systems theory to analyze gene expression data from individual cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our research aims to elucidate how viral infection impacts cells at both systemic and individual gene levels. Our primary findings are twofold: (i) the virus influences the distribution of gene transcripts over the course of infection, varying depending on cell type. (ii) As the infection progresses, numerous genes associated with critical cellular functions and immunity exhibit signs of punctual instability and/or autocorrelation, indicating their response to viral infection at various stages of the process.
Marine biofilms: cyanobacteria factories for the global oceans
Authors: Zhong Cheng , Yamanouchi Shun , Li Yingdong , Chen Jiawei , Wei Tong , Wang Ruojun , Zhou Kun , Cheng Aifang , Hao Weiduo , Liu Hongbin , Konhauser Kurt O. , Iwasaki Wataru , Qian Pei-Yuan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMarine biofilms were newly revealed as a giant microbial diversity pool for global oceans. However, the cyanobacterial diversity in marine biofilms within the upper seawater column and its ecological and evolutionary implications remains undetermined. Here, we reconstructed a full picture of modern marine cyanobacteria habitats by re-analysing 9.3 terabyte metagenomic datasets and 2648 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). The abundance of cyanobacteria lineages exclusively detected in marine biofilms were up to 9-fold higher than those in seawater at similar sample size. Analyses revealed that cyanobacteria in marine biofilms are specialists with strong geographical and environmental constraints on their genome and functional adaption, which in stark contrast to the generalistic features of seawater-derived cyanobacteria. Molecular dating suggests the important diversifications in biofilm-forming cyanobacteria appear to coincide with the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), “boring billion” middle Proterozoic, and the Neoproterozoic Oxidation Event (NOE). These new insights suggest that marine biofilms are large and important cyanobacterial factories for the global oceans.ImportanceCyanobacteria, highly diverse microbial organisms, play a crucial role in Earth’s oxygenation and biogeochemical cycling. However, their connection to these processes remains unclear, partly due to incomplete surveys of oceanic niches. Our study uncovered significant cyanobacterial diversity in marine biofilms, showing distinct niche differentiation compared to seawater counterparts. These patterns reflect three key stages of marine cyanobacterial diversification, coinciding with major geological events in Earth’s history. Thus, surface-associated biomass within oceanic niches emerges as a pivotal factor in Earth’s evolution.
Taming Brillouin Optomechanics Using Supermode Microresonators
Authors: Wang Min , Hu Zhi-Gang , Lao Chenghao , Wang Yuanlei , Jin Xing , Zhou Xin , Lei Yuechen , Wang Ze , Liu Wenjing , Yang Qi-Fan , Li Bei-Bei 
Published: March 2024

Electrostrictive Brillouin scattering provides a ubiquitous mechanism to optically excite high-frequency (>10  GHz), bulk acoustic phonons that are robust to surface-induced losses. Resonantly enhancing such photon-phonon interactions in high-Q microresonators has spawned diverse applications spanning microwave to optical domains. However, tuning both the pump and scattered waves into resonance usually comes with the cost of photon confinement or modal overlap, leading to limited optomechanical coupling. Here, we introduce Bragg scattering to realize strong bulk optomechanical coupling in the same spatial modes of a micron-sized supermode microresonator. A single-photon optomechanical coupling rate up to 12.5 kHz is demonstrated, showing more than 10 times improvement than other devices. Low-threshold phonon lasing and optomechanical strong coupling are also observed for the 10.2-GHz mechanical mode. Our work establishes a compact and efficient paradigm to optically control bulk acoustic phonons, paving the way toward optomechanical coupling at the single-photon level and providing a powerful engine for large-scale integration of quantum networks in which quantum states are massively transferred and stored.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
How trustful are food safety control measures – insight into their validation
Authors: Djekic Ilija , Smigic Nada 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper was to evaluate the validation process of food safety control measures.Design/methodology/approachThe validation of control measures has been analyzed at 50 food companies in Serbia. The sample included companies that produce food of both plant and animal origin and have certified food safety management systems. A total of 156 control measures that combat physical hazards (41.6%), followed by microbial hazards (34.0%) and chemical hazards (24.4%), have been analyzed. To enable quantification of the validation protocols, each control measure was assigned a score.FindingsThe validation scores showed that the highest level of validation was observed in large companies, as opposed to small and medium-sized companies (p < 0.05). The type of food safety hazards and the food sector did not reveal any statistical differences in-between the scores. The main approach to validating control measures was referring to the technical documentation of equipment used (52.6%), followed by scientific and legal requirements (30.7%). Less than 20% of the analyzed control measures were validated with operational data collected on-site. No mathematical modeling was observed for the sampled food companies. Future steps should include the development of validation guides for different types of control measures and training modules.Practical implicationsThis study can serve as an improvement guide for food safety consultants, food safety auditors, certification bodies, inspection services, food technologists and food managers.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to provide an insight into how food companies validate their control measures to combat microbial, chemical and physical food safety hazards.
The impact of customer pressures and government regulations on the implementation of socio-environmental practices in organic certification in the Amazon region
Authors: Martins Cyntia Meireles , Pereira Susana Carla Farias , Scarpin Marcia Regina Santiago , Queiroz Maciel M. , Cavalcante Mariana da Silva 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThis research analyses the impact of customers and government regulations on the implementation of socio-environmental practices in certifying organic agricultural products. It explores the dyad’s relationship between the focal company and its suppliers in the application of socio-environmental practices.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative methodology through a survey approach, with a sample of 206 agro-extractivists from the acai berry supply chain. The data are evaluated using regression analysis.FindingsThe main results reveal that customer pressure positively influences the implementation of social and environmental practices, but suggest a non-significant relationship between government regulations and the impact on environmental practices implementation. Social and environmental practices are positively related to operational performance. A moderating effect of organic certification is found in the relationship between customer pressure and the application of environmental practices.Originality/valueThe main contributions are exploring the use of socio-environmental practices in an emerging economy and organic certification as a moderating variable, revealing an “institutional void” that may hamper the enforcement of government regulations.
The power of purpose: how material sustainability and stakeholder orientation drive financial success
Authors: Joudi Samira , Mansourfar Gholamreza , Homayoun Saeid , Rezaee Zabihollah 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
Considering the standards developed by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), this study aims to examine whether the link between material sustainability and financial performance depends on the extent to which the company is oriented toward stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach
To test the predictions, 13,942 firm-year observations from 43 different countries are used, covering the period from 2010 to 2019. Using a hand-mapping approach to match the indicators suggested by the SASB with those of the ASSET4, the authors realize that there are 170 material sustainability indicators among 466 indicators of the ASSET4. The authors use three different methods to verify if the materiality matters, including the alphas obtained from the Fama and French factor models, comparing the average abnormal returns of the portfolios and the bootstrapped Cramer technique.

Findings
The findings show that companies investing in material sustainability activities perform better than those investing in immaterial activities. Also, consistent with the theoretical foundations, the authors find that the effect of investing in material sustainability activities is more pronounced in stakeholder-oriented countries than that in shareholder-oriented countries. The results are robust to a battery of sensitivity tests.

Research limitations/implications
Owing to COVID-19 in late 2019, data from 2020 to 2022 have not been used to obtain reliable results.

Practical implications
The results obtained in the current research provide valuable guidance for investors to make investments considering the degree of materiality of sustainability activities in different industries. It also helps managers to increase the company’s financial performance, make efficient decisions related to investment in sustainability activities and find investment strategies on the material sustainability issues in their industries.

Social implications
This study provides a clearer understanding of investment in sustainability activities in different industries by separating material and immaterial sustainability activities in stakeholder and shareholder-oriented countries, and the results obtained can change the perspective of investors and company managers regarding investing in such activities in different countries. Investing in more materiality sustainability activities than the immateriality dimension can be new opportunities for companies to achieve predetermined goals, help retain and attract business partners or be a source of innovation for new product lines or services. Internal morale and employee engagement may increase while increasing productivity and firm performance. This discussion opens the way for future research.

Originality/value
This study provides insight into the effect of investing in material and immaterial sustainability activities in different industries on the company’s performance in shareholder and stakeholder-oriented countries.
Key performance indicators of construction companies in branding products and construction projects for success in a competitive environment in Iran
Authors: Anjomshoa Erfan 
Published: March 2024

PurposeKey performance indicators (KPIs) play a pivotal role in evaluating the level of success of an organization in achieving its business objectives. The objective of the current research is to identify and prioritize effective KPIs in branding products and construction projects, which contribute to the success of construction companies in a competitive environment.Design/methodology/approachThe present research is of an inferential, descriptive and survey nature. In this study, we identified the influential key performance indicators of construction companies in branding products and construction projects for success in a competitive environment through a literature review and expert opinions. The data were collected using a questionnaire, and a combination of the one-sample t-test method with a 95% confidence level and the fuzzy multiple attribute decision-making (FMADM) method was employed for analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that the most influential key performance indicators for construction companies in branding products and construction projects for success in a competitive environment are, in order of significance, the following indices: “Marketing and Advertising,” “Financial,” “Creativity,” “Technical and Operational” and “Social and Political.”Originality/valueThe present research examines the importance of branding construction products and projects for the success of construction companies by improving their business objectives and utilizing key performance indicators throughout the product lifecycle (production and construction). This study provides solutions on how construction companies can increase their competitive advantage through branding and achieve long-term success in the global construction industry.
An impact of ternary nanofluid on a micropolar fluid with inclined MHD, slip flow and heat transfer
Authors: Mahabaleshwar U.S. , Rudraiah Mahesh , Huang Huang , Sunden Bengt Ake 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of inclined magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and thermal radiation on the flow of a ternary micropolar nanofluid on a sheet that is expanding and contracting while applying mass transpiration and velocity slip conditions to the flow. The nanofluid, which is composed of Au, Ag and Cu nanoparticles dispersed in water as the base fluid, possesses critical properties for increasing the heat transfer rate and is frequently used in manufacturing and industrial establishments.

Design/methodology/approach
The set of governing nonlinear partial differential equations is transformed into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The outcome of this differential equation is solved and obtained the closed-form solution and energy equation in the form of hypergeometric functions.

Findings
The velocity, micro-rotation and temperature field are investigated versus a parametric variation. The physical domains of mass suction or injection and micropolar characteristics play an important role in specifying the presence, singleness and multiplanes of exact solutions. In addition, many nondimensional characteristics of the profiles of temperature, angular velocity and velocity profiles are graphically shown with substantial consequences. Furthermore, adding nanoparticles increases the heat transfer rate of the fluid used in manufacturing and industrial establishments. The current findings may be used for better oil recovery procedures, smart materials such as magnetorheological fluids, targeted medicine administration and increased heat transmission. Concerning environmental cleanup, nanomaterial fabrication and biomedical devices, demonstrate their potential influence in a variety of disciplines.

Originality/value
The originality of this paper is to analyze the impact of inclined MHD at an angle with the ternary nanofluid on a micropolar fluid over an expanding and contracting sheet with thermal radiation effect.
Assessing impacts of emergency industry demonstration on firm profitability: the role of blockchain strategies and technologies
Authors: Ju Yingjie , Yang Jianliang , Ma Jingping , Hou Yuehang 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThe objective of this study is to explore the impact of a government-supported initiative for operational security, specifically the establishment of the national security emergency industry demonstration base, on the profitability of local publicly traded companies. Additionally, the study investigates the significance of firms' blockchain strategies and technologies within this framework.Design/methodology/approachUsing the differences-in-differences (DID) approach, this study evaluates the impact of China's national security emergency industry demonstration bases (2015–2022) on the profitability of local firms. Data from the China Research Data Service (CNRDS) platform and investor Q&As informed our analysis of firms' blockchain strategy and technology, underpinned by detailed data collection and a robust DID model.FindingsEmergency industry demonstration bases have notably boosted enterprise profitability in both return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Companies adopting blockchain strategies and operational technology see a clear rise in profitability over non-blockchain peers. Additionally, the technical operation of blockchain presents a more pronounced advantage than at the strategic level.Originality/valueWe introduced a new perspective, emphasizing the enhancement of corporate operational safety and financial performance through the pathway of emergency industry policies, driven by the collaboration between government and businesses. Furthermore, we delved into the potential application value of blockchain strategies and technologies in enhancing operational security and the emergency industry.
Intellectual capital and competitiveness improvement among micro-small-medium enterprises: a resource orchestration view
Authors: Rahman Syed Abidur , Taghizadeh Seyedeh Khadijeh , Khan Golam Mostafa , Radomska Malgorzata 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThe study aims to test the framework that proposes the role of resources (intellectual capital) in mobilizing entrepreneurial orientation that influences the competitiveness improvement of micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the lens of resource orchestration theory.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, 347 respondents from the MSMEs participated through a structured questionnaire. For the data analysis purpose, the structural equation modeling technique was employed using SmartPLS software.FindingsThe results suggest human, structural, and relational capital are significant antecedents of entrepreneurial orientation, which leads to competitiveness improvement. The findings also indicate the mediation role of entrepreneurial orientation between intellectual capital and competitiveness improvement.Practical implicationsThe current study presumably will supplement the promising research effort to progress the research orchestration theory and also could be a strategic guideline for the managers/owners of the MSMEs.Originality/valueThis study is possibly a novel attempt to divulge the association between intellectual capital (tripartite model) and competitiveness improvement of firms under the lens of resource orchestration theory.
Social enterprise growth by design: using design to incubate and accelerate social enterprises
Authors: Kwon Hyejin , Choi Youngok , Hazenberg Richard 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
The paper aims to explore the roles and impact of design in incubating and accelerating social enterprises. It aims to understand design’s influence on social enterprise ecosystems and in improving outcomes for social enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used an exploratory, qualitative approach, using case studies and interviews. The comparative case-study methodology was applied to evaluate the influence of design on the development of social enterprises in the UK and South Korea and identify critical issues in their utilisation of design. Empirical data included: in-depth case studies of design utilisation practices (UK = 6; South Korea = 15) and design applications (UK = 2; South Korea = 2) for the growth of social enterprise and its ecosystem; 27 social enterprise/design experts (UK = 17; South Korea = 10); and 22 social enterprises (UK = 12; South Korea = 10). Content and thematic analysis were used to synthesise the findings.

Findings
Findings demonstrate the differing influences of design on social enterprise, from improving products/services and business models to enhancing social enterprise ecosystem support and networks. Future directions are suggested for applying design for social enterprise growth, business stage development and systematising interactions between the social enterprise and design sectors.

Research limitations/implications
The research is based on case studies from only two countries. Further, the adoption of working definitions of social enterprise in the countries may result in the research underestimating the heterogeneity of social enterprise.

Practical implications
The findings contribute to optimising efficient ecosystem development to improve social enterprise competitiveness and innovation.

Originality/value
This paper establishes a research foundation on design for social enterprise, offering theoretical and practical insights into its impact on growth.
Chinese young consumers’ response to negative brand information of electric vehicles – do personal cultural values matter?
Authors: Shen Xiaoting , Zhao Yimeng , Yu Jia , Yu Mingzhou 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the responses of young Chinese consumers with different cultural characteristics to negative brand information about electric vehicles.

Design/methodology/approach
The current study is quantitative research with an experimental method. It shows two different levels of severity for negative publicity and asks participants to self-report through questionnaires.

Findings
Chinese young consumers, being collectivist and of high uncertainty avoidance, tend to search for and spread information; consumers with low power distance search and share information more under low information severity. In addition, information search positively affects brand attitude under lower severity; negative word-of-mouth intention negatively affects brand attitudes at both severity levels.

Research limitations/implications
The current study examines the influence of personal cultural values on information searching and negative information dissemination among young consumers, providing insights to complement previous studies. Furthermore, it explores how such exposure influences young consumers’ brand attitude and intention to purchase. Limitations include simple sample scopes and single-product stimuli.

Practical implications
This research highlights the importance of cultural dimensions in shaping young consumers’ responses to negative publicity. Marketers worldwide should consider cultural influence and develop specific strategies to address negative information about different products. Understanding customers’ unique characteristics and preferences can help marketers effectively tailor their approaches to counter negative publicity.

Originality/value
This study originally provides a supplement to prior studies on cultural dimensions and consumer behavior and provides suggestions to marketers on young Chinese consumers.